Racist black Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee's next move post-mayoral defeat: congressional reelection or retirement?

[Black Lying Maggots]

Following her decisive defeat in Saturday's mayoral runoff, U.S.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee now has less than two days to decide her
political future.



Jackson Lee, 73, who conceded the mayoral election to state Sen.
John Whitmire Saturday night, has until 6 p.m. Monday to file for
reelection. She has not confirmed whether she would run for
reelection but noted during her concession remarks that she planned
to continue to serve communities in Houston and find her place as a
public servant “in any way possible.”

After losing the mayoral runoff by a massive 35.6% to 64.4% margin,
Jackson Lee could be facing "the most formidable challenge" of her
decades-long political career if she opts to run for her current
congressional seat, according to Michael Adams, a political science
professor at Texas Southern University.

For one, she will face 41-year-old Amanda Edwards, a former Houston
City council member who holds a financial edge over Jackson Lee and
is perceived by many as a fresher voice in the political arena.
Edwards dropped out of the mayoral race earlier this year and
pivoted to Jackson Lee’s seat after the congresswoman announced her
own mayoral bid.

But this time, Edwards told the Chronicle she would continue seeking
the Democratic nomination in Jackson Lee’s 18th Congressional
District, even if it means going up against the longtime incumbent.

“I think there is a real excitement about the prospect of having new
leadership come in and have a focus on addressing challenges today,
but also the challenges of tomorrow,” Edwards said. “People are
wanting to look forward and realize the changes that we talk about
on these campaign trails.”

Impact of unsuccessful mayoral run
Jackson Lee was first elected to represent the 18th Congressional
District in 1994 when she unseated incumbent Craig Washington by
nearly 27 percentage points in a bitter Democratic primary. Since
then, she has routinely cruised to victory in nearly every election.

She ran unopposed in the Democratic primary in 10 of her 14
reelection bids and, on the four occasions anyone has bothered to
challenge her, she’s won at least two-thirds of the vote each time.
Her worst showing came in 2010 when she ran against then-Councilman
Jarvis Johnson and one other opponent, but Jackson Lee still
received 67% of the vote. Her most recent primary challenge came in
2020, when she dispatched six opponents with 77% of the vote.

Jackson Lee’s failure to generate substantial voter interest in this
year’s mayoral race, however, could indicate that residents in her
district are open to new leadership, according to Adams. In
November’s general election, the average turnout in Jackson Lee’s
district was about 15%, lower than the already modest county-wide
turnout rate of 17%.


“Residents may be receptive to hearing other ideas in terms of how
the district can be moved,” Adams said. “It will rest with Amanda
Edwards in terms of how she messages and whether she presents
herself as being a new face and a fresh voice, coming up with a plan
and also making appeals to draw young people to the poll.”

Jackson Lee also lacks the typical financial advantage often held by
incumbents. Already a household name across much of the district,
she has rarely had to pour much effort into fundraising – never
spending more than $1 million on her reelection until the 2020
cycle.

Edwards, meanwhile, reported a $1 million fundraising haul over the
first three and a half months of her campaign. She had about
$829,000 in her campaign account at the end of September, nearly
four times the cash on hand in Jackson Lee’s federal coffers.

Moreover, controversies that emerged during this year’s competitive
mayoral race, including allegations of Jackson Lee’s mistreatment of
former staff, could also adversely impact her reelection prospects,
said Nancy Sims, a seasoned political consultant and lecturer at the
University of Houston.


“The audio release of her (allegedly) speaking to staff was beyond
detrimental to her campaign and the ongoing follow up of the way she
treats people may have impacted enthusiasm toward her,” Sims said.
“Does that concern carry over to her March primary? I think that's a
fair question to be considered.”

Facing ‘hotly contested election’ next year
The 18th Congressional District is known for producing some of the
most prominent Black lawmakers in Texas history, including Barbara
Jordan and Mickey Leland. The district’s current voting-age
population is about 40% Hispanic, 34% Black, 19% white and 6% Asian,
according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

The district covers a number of key Houston neighborhoods, such as
downtown, EaDo, Third Ward and Fifth Ward. It runs northwest through
part of The Heights and Acres Homes, stretching beyond Beltway 8
before looping east to take in George Bush Intercontinental Airport
and more than half the residents of Humble. It also covers a swath
of northeast Houston and unincorporated Harris County.


Edwards, a former intern in Jackson Lee’s office, did not specify
any policy differences or directly criticize Jackson Lee when asked
about what sets her apart from the incumbent. Instead, she framed
their differences as a generational issue, indicating a focus on
concerns of younger voters and future populations.

“I think what people are looking for is a reason to feel invested in
what's going to happen — what can they look forward to, what can be
done, as opposed to just what has been done,” Edwards said.

Edwards previously served a single term as an at-large Houston City
council member from 2016 to 2020. She opted not to seek a second
term, instead running for U.S. Senate and placing fifth in the
Democratic primary.

Since announcing her bid for Jackson Lee’s seat, Edwards has
garnered endorsements from local Democratic officials, including
Houston City Councilmembers Tarsha Jackson and Robert Gallegos and
Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones.

Former Council member Carroll Robinson, who had considered a run for
the seat, recently decided against it and instead endorsed Edwards.

Another potential challenger to Jackson Lee is Gen-Z candidate
Isaiah Martin, who interned for Jackson Lee before announcing his
congressional candidacy in September.

A University of Houston graduate, Martin, 25, had a brief stint
running for an at-large seat on Houston’s City Council this year but
withdrew in March to assist Jackson Lee’s mayoral campaign. He did
not respond to inquiries about whether he will stay in the race if
Jackson Lee decides to seek reelection.

Overall, Jackson Lee's incumbency and her solid voter base,
particularly among older Black women, mean her potential challengers
will still face a steep challenge, according to Adams. Meanwhile, he
said the congresswoman must actively fundraise, a task potentially
more difficult in light of her recent defeat.

“If you didn't make a strong showing in the mayoral race, why would
I put my money on you in this competitive congressional race?” Adams
said. “I think it would be a hotly contested election.”

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sheila-jackson-lee-mayoral-defeat-18545469.php