Sheila Jackson Lee spearheads captivating mayoral races in November.

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November to Remember: The Battle for Houston’s Mayor

The ‌2023 elections may not have the fireworks‌ of 2024, but there is still ⁤plenty up for grabs. In this “off-year,” most of which takes place on Nov. 7, Virginia will be keenly watched,⁢ particularly by followers of Gov. Glenn ‍Youngkin, and whether he can springboard Republican success​ into national aspirations. Meanwhile, the governor’s mansion is up for grabs in Kentucky and Mississippi. New Jersey’s‌ Republicans believe they have a real shot at turning the state red in ⁢legislative elections, while there are also fierce mayoral and​ district attorney battles throughout the United States. Voters will also decide ‍several fascinating referendums, particularly in Ohio, Maine,⁢ and Texas. This Washington⁢ Examiner series, November to Remember, will dive into all of these and more ‌over the following two weeks. Part Five will take a ​closer look at the mayoral race in Houston.

Houston residents have begun voting in the ‌expensive and crowded contest to serve as mayor of the Lone Star State’s largest city.

Houston is a Democratic stronghold in the⁣ otherwise red state, and the two leading candidates in next month’s mayoral⁢ race are longtime‌ party members. ‌Texas Democratic‌ state Sen. John⁤ Whitmire and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) ​have dominated polling in the contest.

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The 16 others in the running have failed to amass any ‌traction, with‍ none polling over 4%. This ​isn’t entirely surprising given Whitmire’s and Jackson Lee’s political power in the area.

Jackson Lee has represented part of the Houston area, which currently ⁣has‌ three⁤ members in the House given its mass and population size, since 1995. That’s more than two decades after Whitmire, the ‌longest-serving state senator in Texas’s history, entered the state legislature representing the nation’s fourth-largest city.

With so many candidates diluting the field, it ‌is unlikely that Whitmire, Jackson Lee, or ‌anyone else will⁣ reach the 50% threshold required to avoid a runoff. Polls indicate that the two longtime Houston lawmakers will be the⁣ ones ⁤who advance to the runoff ⁣race.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, one ⁤longtime‌ Texas lawmaker who has worked with both ⁤front-runners predicted to the Washington Examiner this ‍week that Whitmire would emerge​ victorious in the all-but-certain runoff.

Whitmire has led Jackson Lee in polling ⁤that excludes other‌ candidates by double digits, though that gap could close between the Nov. 7 general election and the eventual two-way showdown.

Jackson Lee boasts the endorsements of⁣ former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and several progressive groups,⁤ which ‌will help her ‍in bringing ​out multiple voting coalitions on Election Day. Whitmire, who has a long record as ​a centrist, has a more delicate path to⁣ follow, not alienating his moderate base while winning over the city’s ​growing​ progressive constituency.

The economy and crime have been the two biggest focuses for both candidates, with each highlighting how they’d address the lack of economic investment in the city amid its massive population⁣ boom.

Jackson Lee has promoted her Hill experience as a ​necessary asset to ensure Houston can tap into millions in untouched federal funds.

But she has also had to deal with the emergence of⁤ leaked audio in which she can be heard berating staffers.

The audio, given to ‍the Texas outlet Current Revolt, appeared to⁤ be recorded by one of her staffers. He promised he would contact another staffer about a paper she had given them. From there, ⁤the congresswoman‍ accused the staffer of not ​”having a f***ing brain” and⁤ shouted several expletives at him.

Without apologizing to the staffer directly, Lee said in ⁢a ⁢statement via the Texas Tribune that she believes “everyone deserves to be treated with dignity⁢ and​ respect” and​ that she knows⁣ she is not perfect.

“I recognize that in‍ my zeal to do everything possible to deliver for my constituents, I have in the past fallen short of my own⁣ standards, and there is no excuse for that,” Jackson Lee said.

Concerning her Houston mayoral ‌run, she said, “To anyone who has listened⁤ to‍ this recording ‌with concern, I am regretful and⁢ hope you will judge me not‍ by something trotted out​ by a political opponent, that worked to‍ exploit this, and​ backed by extreme Republican supporters on the very day that polls open, but from what I’ve delivered to Houstonians over my years of public service.”

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Whitmire, meanwhile, has touted his work leading the state Senate Committee on Criminal Justice since 1993.

“Certainly, public safety will be my highest priority,” Whitmire said at a mayoral debate last week.

How have both candidates addressed ‌the issue⁤ of public safety in their campaigns, ​and what approach do they ⁤take ⁤towards addressing crime⁤ in ‍Houston?

Ow. He will need to mobilize support from both⁢ moderate Democrats and conservative-leaning voters in order to secure victory in the runoff.

The race for Houston’s mayor is ‌not ‌just⁣ about party ‍affiliation, however. It is also about the ​future direction of the⁢ city and the⁢ issues that matter most to‌ its residents. One of the key‌ issues that​ has emerged is ​public safety. ⁤Houston, like many other cities across the country, has seen a‍ rise in crime in recent years. ⁤Both Whitmire and ⁢Jackson Lee have made ⁣addressing this issue a central⁣ part of their campaigns.

Whitmire has‍ emphasized his experience ​as a state senator, where he has worked on criminal justice reform initiatives. He believes‌ that ⁢more resources ⁢should be dedicated to law enforcement, including hiring additional police officers ​and improving community policing efforts. Jackson ‍Lee, on‌ the other hand, has advocated for a holistic approach to⁣ public safety, focusing on addressing‌ underlying issues such as ⁣poverty, education,⁣ and mental health.

Another key ⁤issue in the mayoral race is‌ addressing Houston’s infrastructure challenges. The city has a growing population and an aging infrastructure system that is ⁣struggling to keep ⁤up with the demands of residents. Both candidates have proposed plans to‍ invest ‌in upgrading and expanding the city’s transportation networks, improving ‍water and sewer systems, and ‌addressing​ issues related to flooding and climate change.

The outcome of the mayoral race in Houston will have implications for the entire state of Texas, and even beyond. Houston is not only the largest ⁢city in Texas but also serves as an economic ​and cultural hub‌ for the region. ​The ⁤policies and ‍priorities of the next⁤ mayor will shape the ⁤future of this ⁣vibrant city and influence​ the direction of the state as a whole.

As the November election draws‌ nearer, the race for Houston’s mayor will undoubtedly heat up.⁤ Voters ⁢will ⁣have⁢ the opportunity to decide who they believe is best equipped to lead the city and address its pressing‍ challenges. Whether it is ‍Whitmire, Jackson Lee, or​ another candidate who emerges as the winner, one thing​ is⁣ certain – Houston’s future is at stake in‌ this November to ‌remember.