Texas state Sen. John Whitmire emerged victorious in the special mayoral runoff election in Houston, defeating his opponent, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, handily. With this win, Whitmire is set to take on the challenges facing the city, including crime, infrastructure issues, and potential budget shortfalls. Despite these difficulties, Houston has seen significant growth over the past decade, solidifying its status as a growing stronghold for Texas Democrats.
Both candidates, Democrats Jackson Lee and Whitmire advanced to the runoff after navigating through a crowded field of nearly 20 candidates in the general election on Nov. 7.
Jackson Lee, 73, a longstanding representative for Houston in Congress since 1995, emphasized her extensive experience in bringing federal funding to the city for initiatives such as flooding relief, job training programs, and education. On the campaign trail, she assured voters of her ability to swiftly implement solutions and programs upon taking office.
Whitmire, 74, one of Texas’ influential Democratic lawmakers with 50 years of service in the state Legislature, positioned himself as a tough-on-crime advocate and a reformer. His campaign priorities included tackling crime, improving infrastructure, and fostering bipartisan collaboration.
Acknowledging the challenges ahead, Whitmire expressed determination to bring people together and address issues such as crime reduction and infrastructure improvement. He is poised to succeed Sylvester Turner, who served eight years as mayor and is unable to seek re-election due to term limits.
Whitmire’s campaign notably outspent Jackson Lee, who faced challenges following the release of an unverified audio recording in October, purportedly capturing her using profanity to berate her staff.
Jackson Lee was endorsed by failed 2020 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and ex-U.S. House speaker, Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California.