Houston elected Democratic state Sen. John Whitmire as its next mayor on Saturday night, giving him a victory over U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) in a runoff.
Mr. Whitmire, 74, who is one of Texas’s most powerful Democratic legislators, will now be at the helm of America’s fourth-largest city. His campaign focused on reducing crime, improving the streets, and bringing people together. He heavily outspent Ms. Jackson Lee.
The congresswoman’s campaign also had to deal with fallout from the release in October of an unverified audio recording that purported to capture her profanely berating staff.
Mr. Whitmire built an insurmountable lead among early voters, winning among those voters by 30 percentage points.
Standing before a ballroom full of cheering supporters in the city’s convention center, Mr. Whitmire said he was fired up and ready to go to work as mayor.
“I don’t mind telling folks what a great city we have. But we’ve got great challenges,” Mr. Whitmire said. “If we will come together and realize it won’t be easy. In fact, we will face challenges. But I see that as an opportunity. And I need you to join hands with me. We’ll meet our challenges. It’ll be an opportunity to show the nation what the city of Houston can do.”
At her election night party, Ms. Jackson Lee thanked her supporters, congratulated Mr. Whitmire, and said she was committed to working with him. Ms. Jackson Lee said she planned to announce in the near future a decision on whether she would run for reelection next year for her congressional seat.
“It’s sweeter to be saying what a sweet victory it is. It’s equally as sweet to acknowledge we put up a good fight,” Ms. Jackson Lee said.
Mr. Whitmire and Ms. Jackson Lee had 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 biggest political fixtures—touted their decades-long political experience as strong qualifications to lead a growing city facing challenges that include crime, crumbling infrastructure, and potential budget shortfalls.
Mr. Whitmire started in the Texas Legislature in 1973, first as a state representative and the majority of his time as a state senator. Ms. Jackson Lee has represented Houston in Congress since 1995 and before that had served on Houston’s City Council.
The choice between Mr. Whitmire and Ms. 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 might end 30 years of GOP dominance statewide.
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.
Mr. Whitmire will replace Democrat Mayor Sylvester Turner, who has served eight years and can’t run again because of term limits.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
