Houston on Saturday night elected Democratic state Sen. John Whitmire as its next mayor, elevating a Texas lawmaker who has represented the city for 50 years by giving him a victory over U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in a runoff election.
Whitmire, 74, one of the most powerful Democratic legislators in Texas, will now be in charge of the fourth largest city in the United States.
His campaign focused on reducing crime, improving streets and bringing people together. She outspent Jackson Lee, who was running to become Houston’s first black mayor.
The congresswoman’s campaign also had to deal with the fallout from the October release of an unverified audio recording purporting to capture her staff profanely berating.
Whitmire built an insurmountable lead among early voters, winning among those voters by 30 percentage points.
U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee had represented the city for the past 50 years before losing to Whitmire on Saturday. AP
Standing before a ballroom full of cheering supporters at the city’s convention center, Whitmire said he was excited and ready to get to work as mayor.
“I don’t mind telling people we have a great city. But we have great challenges. If we unite and realize, it will not be easy. Indeed, we will face challenges. But I see it as an opportunity. And I need you to join me. We will face our challenges. It will be an opportunity to show the nation what the city of Houston can do,” Whitmire said.
At her election night party, Jackson Lee thanked her supporters, congratulated Whitmire and said she was committed to working with him. Jackson Lee said she planned to announce a decision in the near future on whether she would run for re-election next year to her congressional seat.
Whitmire and Jackson Lee speak at a mayors’ forum on December 3, 2023 in Houston. AP
“It’s sweeter to say that it’s such a sweet victory. It is equally sweet to recognize that we put up a good fight,” Jackson Lee said.
Whitmire and Jackson Lee made it to Saturday’s runoff after emerging from a crowded field of nearly 20 candidates in the Nov. 7 general election.
Both candidates, two of Houston’s most prominent political figures, touted their decades-long political experience as strong qualifications to lead a growing city facing challenges including crime, crumbling infrastructure and potential budget shortfalls.
Whitmire takes photos with supporters during an election viewing party on Nov. 7, 2023, in Houston. AP
Whitmire began in the Texas Legislature in 1973, first as a state representative and most of his time as a state senator. Jackson Lee has represented Houston in Congress since 1995 and, prior to that, served on the Houston City Council.
The growth spurt over the past decade has caused headaches for municipalities, but it has also turned the Houston area into a growing stronghold for Texas Democrats. Although the mayoral race is nonpartisan, Whitmire and Jackson Lee are both Democrats.
Whitmire will be America’s longest-serving big-city mayor. He is called upon to lead a city that is becoming younger, with a median age of about 35 and with 25% of its population under 18, according to census figures.
Jackson Lee attends a voter outreach event on Sunday, December 3, 2023 in Houston. AP
The choice between Whitmire and Jackson Lee, 73, frustrated some Democratic voters, particularly younger ones, at a time when the party is searching for new political stars in Texas who could end 30 years of Republican dominance throughout the state.
The new mayor will have to deal with new laws from the GOP-led state government over control of local elections and the ability to impose local regulations.
Whitmire will replace Mayor Sylvester Turner, who has served eight years and cannot run again due to term limits.
Whitmire will also lead what is considered one of the most diverse cities in the country. Of the city’s 2.3 million residents, 45% are Latino, 23% black and 24% white. One in four Houston residents was born outside the United States.
Known as the energy capital of the world, Houston’s economy has long been tied primarily to the oil industry. But the city is working to become a leader in the transition to cleaner energy. Like other large American cities, Houston also faces a lack of affordable housing and concerns among residents about growing gaps between rich and poor.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn