Democratic state Sen. John Whitmire Defeats Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in Houston Mayoral Race
In a surprising turn of events, Democratic state Sen. John Whitmire defeated Democratic U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in Houston’s mayoral race. According to the Associated Press, Whitmire emerged victorious on Saturday night with a resounding lead of 65.27% over Jackson Lee’s 34.73%.
The mayoral race in Houston has been closely watched, with significant attention on the final week before the runoff election. However, an ad for Jackson Lee urging residents to “vote on or before December 7th” was found to be erroneous, as the runoff election took place on Saturday and the early voting period ended on December 5th. Jackson Lee’s office quickly pulled the ad, stating that it was created by an outside ad agency and not the campaign.
Heading into the final week before the runoff election, the race saw Whitmire leading in polls against Jackson Lee, who has served as a U.S. congresswoman for 30 years. Whitmire received 43% of the vote in the general election, while Jackson Lee garnered 36%. The low voter turnout and lack of public engagement in the race have characterized it as “sleepy,” according to political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus at the University of Houston.
Despite endorsements from prominent figures like Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Jackson Lee was unable to significantly sway the numbers in her favor. Whitmire, on the other hand, received support from local figures and courted Republican support, showcasing his ability to appeal to a diverse voter base in Houston.
As the city’s most diverse large city, winning the mayoral office in Houston requires a coalition of voters. While Jackson Lee aimed to make history as the city’s first Black female mayor, she struggled to mobilize Black voters as effectively as her opponent, according to Rottinghaus.
The mayoral race also highlighted the challenges of campaigning in a city with a significant Republican presence. Whitmire’s outreach to Republican voters and his courting of the Latino vote propelled him to victory, as he secured a 56-point advantage among Republicans and a 20-point advantage among Latino voters in a University of Houston poll.
Amid the heated campaigns, both Whitmire and Jackson Lee faced setbacks, including a leaked audio recording of Jackson Lee berating a staffer, as well as high unfavorable ratings for both candidates. Additionally, Whitmire has faced allegations of conflict of interest as a state senator, but maintained that it is unavoidable due to the part-time nature of the Legislature.
The election also unfolded amid state audits and changes to the election system in Harris County, raising concerns about the integrity and transparency of the voting process in the city.
With Whitmire’s victory, Houston is set to witness a transition in leadership as the city prepares to address critical issues such as crime and community engagement under a new administration.