Following a recent defeat in Houston’s mayoral race, veteran Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) swiftly filed for reelection, securing her candidacy just two days after the setback and ahead of the Monday 6 p.m. filing deadline.
The mayoral runoff election saw Jackson Lee’s loss to fellow Texas Democrat and longstanding state Senator John Whitmire, who emerged victorious to lead the nation’s fourth-largest city. This electoral battle proceeded to a runoff after both candidates advanced from the all-party primary held in November.
Reported by the Houston Chronicle on Monday and subsequently confirmed by Mike Doyle, chairman of the Harris County Democratic Party, news of Jackson Lee’s discreet filing for her 16th term in office was revealed.
Although Jackson Lee has been representing Texas’s 18th Congressional District since 1995 and consistently secured reelection during her tenure, she is set to face competition in the primary. Former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards, a previous intern for Jackson Lee, has declared her candidacy. Edwards had previously expressed her commitment to the race regardless of Jackson Lee’s decision to run for reelection. Initially entering the mayoral contest, Edwards shifted to the congressional race when Jackson Lee joined the mayoral race.
Highlighting the need for economic opportunity, infrastructure improvements, and addressing congressional dysfunction, Edwards emphasized the call for change in this election to achieve better outcomes for the community.
As of now, these two women are the sole declared candidates for the 18th District. The district remains a stronghold for Democrats in the predominantly Republican state, and the outcome of this election will not influence Republican control of the House in the upcoming year.
Notably, Jackson Lee faced repercussions during her mayoral campaign due to leaked audio recordings where she berated staff using profanities. In response, she expressed regret, acknowledging imperfection and falling short of her own standards in her zealous pursuit of delivering for her constituents. Despite the controversy, Jackson Lee is pushing forward with her bid for another term in Congress.
The mayoral runoff results favored Whitmire, who secured a decisive victory with nearly 30 percentage points, winning 64.4% to Jackson Lee’s 35.6%. With this win, Whitmire is set to become Houston’s 63rd mayor.
