Jalen McKee-Rodriguez

Jalen is a former high school math teacher and was elected to serve District 2 of San Antonio in 2021. He serves as a fierce advocate for equitable investment in his city’s infrastructure. He increased focus on the social determinants of health, advocated for accountability and transparency in city operations, and re-imagined public safety to prevent crime. When elected, Jalen will became the first openly-gay man elected to the San Antonio City Council and the first openly-gay Black man elected to any seat in Texas.

Jalen has brought a fiery (and colorful) brand of advocacy to the council, where he has successfully advocated for a street lighting index paired with record funding, a change to the city’s Equity Funding Formula, hired a Civil Rights Coordinator, added additional resources for Animal Care Services, and provided funding for home repair and housing assistance programs. His work on these issues has garnered the attention of public figures like Taraji P. Henson and Nicki Minaj.

In 2021, Jalen was ranked #71 on The Root’s annual list of 100 influential African-Americans. In 2022, he was voted San Antonio Magazine’s Best Politician in the publication’s annual “Best of SA” compilation and Best Community Activist in SA Current’s annual “Best of San Antonio” list.

Jalen and his husband Nathan have two cats and a dog: Cairo, Rome, and London. Jalen is a certified math teacher (grades 4-8 and 7-12), licensed bartender, and Zumba®️ instructor.