Democrat John Whitmire elected Houston mayor, defeating foul-mouthed congresscoon Sheila Jackson Lee

[Black Lying Maggots]

HOUSTON – Houston elected Democratic state Sen. John Whitmire as its
next mayor on Saturday night, elevating a Texas lawmaker who has
represented the city for 50 years by giving him a victory over U.S.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in a runoff.

Whitmire, 74, who is one of Texas’ most powerful Democratic
legislators, will now be at the helm of America’s fourth-largest
city. His campaign focused on reducing crime, improving streets and
bringing people together. He heavily outspent Jackson Lee, who was
running to become Houston’s first Black female mayor.

The congresswoman’s campaign also had to deal with fallout from the
release in October of an unverified audio recording that purported
to capture her profanely berating staff.

Whitmire built an insurmountable lead among early voters, winning
among those voters by 30 percentage points.

Standing before a ballroom full of cheering supporters in the city's
convention center, Whitmire said he was fired up and ready to go to
work as mayor.

“I don’t mind telling folks what a great city we have. But we’ve got
great challenges. If we will come together and realize it won’t be
easy. In fact, we will face challenges. But I see that as an
opportunity. And I need you to join hands with me. We’ll meet our
challenges. It’ll be an opportunity to show the nation what the city
of Houston can do,” Whitmire said.

At her election night party, Jackson Lee thanked her supporters,
congratulated Whitmire and said she was committed to working with
him. Jackson Lee said she planned to announce in the near future a
decision on whether she would run for re-election next year for her
congressional seat.

“It’s sweeter to be saying what a sweet victory it is. It's equally
as sweet to acknowledge we put up a good fight,” Jackson Lee said.

Whitmire and Jackson Lee had made it to Saturday’s runoff after
emerging from a crowded field of nearly 20 candidates in the Nov. 7
general election.

Both candidates — two of Houston’s biggest political fixtures —
touted their decades-long political experience as strong
qualifications to lead a growing city facing challenges that include
crime, crumbling infrastructure and potential budget shortfalls.

Whitmire started in the Texas Legislature in 1973, first as a state
representative and the majority of his time as a state senator.
Jackson Lee has represented Houston in Congress since 1995 and
before that had served on Houston’s City Council.

Booming growth over the last decade has caused municipal headaches
but has also turned the Houston area into an expanding stronghold
for Texas Democrats. Although the mayoral race is nonpartisan,
Whitmire and Jackson Lee are both Democrats.

Whitmire will be the oldest big city mayor in the U.S. He is set to
lead a city which is becoming younger, with a median age of around
35 and with 25% of its population below 18, according to census
figures.

The choice between Whitmire and Jackson Lee, who is 73, frustrated
some Democratic voters, particularly younger ones, at a time when
the party is searching for new political stars in Texas who might
end 30 years of GOP dominance statewide.

The new mayor will have to deal with new laws from the GOP-led state
government over control of local elections and the ability to impose
local regulations.

Whitmire will replace Mayor Sylvester Turner, who has served eight
years and can’t run again because of term limits.

Whitmire will also lead what is considered one of the country’s most
diverse cities. Of the city’s 2.3 million residents, 45% are Latino,
with 23% Black and 24% white. One in every four Houston residents
was born outside the U.S.

Known as the energy capital of the world, Houston’s economy has long
been tied mainly to the oil industry. But the city is working to
become a leader in the transition to cleaner energy. Like other
large U.S. cities, Houston is also dealing with a lack of affordable
housing and concerns among residents over growing gaps between the
rich and poor.

https://www.click2houston.com/news/politics/2023/12/09/voters-to-
choose-between-us-rep-sheila-jackson-lee-and-state-sen-john-
whitmire-for-houston-mayor/

[Black Lying Maggots]