John Whitmire Wins All-Democratic Runoff for Mayor of Houston, Texas
Two-term Democratic incumbent Mayor Sylvester Turner was term-limited from seeking a third term.
The runoff occurred today to elect the Mayor of Houston, Texas. The runoff was called after none of the candidates achieved a 50%+1 majority during the November 7 nonpartisan ballot.
Two-term Democratic incumbent Mayor Sylvester Turner was term-limited and couldn’t seek re-election to a third term in office. As a result, Turner’s tenure as mayor will run from January 2016 to January 2024.
Democrat John Whitmire has been declared the winner of the mayoral runoff. The race was called in his favor as he’s currently leading with 64.42% against Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee with 35.58%. 201,018 votes have been counted.
Whitmire has represented District 15 in the Texas State Senate since January 1983. He previously served District 82 in the Texas House of Representatives from January 1973 to January 1983.
Jackson Lee has represented Texas’ 18th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since January 1995. She previously held an At-Large District on the Houston City Council from January 1990 to January 1995.
The Mayor of Houston, Texas serves for a four-year term with a limit of two terms they may serve. The Mayor also presides over a 16-member City Council. Democrats have controlled the mayor’s office since the election of Kathy Whitmire in 1981.
According to 2022 estimates, Houston is the fourth most populous city in the United States - following only New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago. Once Whitmire is sworn-in, Houston will become the country’s most populous city to be led by a white Democrat.