Democratic State Senator John Whitmire secured victory over Democratic U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee in Houston’s closely-watched mayoral race, according to the Associated Press. Whitmire held a commanding lead of 65.27% to 34.73% as of Saturday evening. The mayoral campaign took an unexpected turn when an ad for Jackson Lee urged residents to “vote on or before December 7th,” despite the runoff election taking place on a Saturday and early voting ending on December 5. The incident, along with the general lack of awareness about the election date, reflected the low-turnout dynamics of the final major election of 2023 in the fourth-largest city in the U.S.
Leading up to the runoff, Jackson Lee, a 30-year Congressional veteran, trailed in polls to Whitmire, who boasts over 50 years of public service. The initial general election on Nov. 7 featured 17 candidates, with Whitmire securing 43% of the vote compared to Jackson Lee’s 36%. The turnout for the November election was relatively low, with around 21% of Houston’s 1.2 million registered voters participating. The nonpartisan race, despite having Democratic candidates, didn’t captivate voters’ attention as much as previous mayoral contests.
Despite endorsements from prominent figures like Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, and Lina Hidalgo, Jackson Lee struggled to gain momentum, with the race being largely characterized as “sleepy.” Whitmire secured local support, including backing from notable figures like “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, former Republican candidate Jack Christie, and GOP megadonor Tilman Fertitta. Houston’s diverse demographic composition makes winning the mayor’s office contingent on building a coalition of voters.
While Jackson Lee aimed to become the city’s first Black female mayor, she faced challenges in rallying Black voters. In precincts with high numbers of Black voters, there was a noticeable decrease in turnout. Whitmire, who actively courted Republican support, held a significant advantage among GOP voters, reflecting the importance of bipartisan appeal in a city with Republican influence. Additionally, he sought support from the Latino community, holding a 20-point advantage among Latino voters, who constitute around 45% of Houston’s population.
Houston’s average voter age of 62 highlighted the significance of addressing local concerns, particularly around crime. Both candidates expressed support for Police Chief Troy Finner in the final debate. With overlapping positions on many issues, the race became a closely contested battle between Whitmire and Jackson Lee, reflecting the diverse and dynamic nature of Houston’s political landscape.
