float:right; } rowCount: "25", $('.pastResponses').hide(); All Rights Reserved. .cfheader.green { The prisons are hot. Federal courts | text-align: center; George Vachris advanced from the Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 15 on March 1, 2022. height: 300, .leg-hnt-flex-item { State Sen. John Whitmire formally launched his campaign for Houston mayor Tuesday evening with a fundraiser at the ritzy Post Oak Hotel, attended by dozens of the city's political luminaries including the hotel's billionaire owner, Tilman Fertitta, and several other Republican mega-donors who are opening their checkbooks for Whitmire, a moderate Democrat. Fertitta previously attracted attention for contributing more than $100,000 to Donald Trumps re-election bid. padding-left: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; The report's staggering number, though, is the amount of cash he reports having on hand: about $10.1 million. padding-bottom: 5px; font-style: italic; Houston attorney weighs in on customer shooting, killing taqueria robber. John Whitmire announced today that former Houston Mayor Lee P. Brown has endorsed him in his campaign for mayor of the City of Houston. })(); See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection. With 774 of 782 precincts reporting, Democrat incumbent John Whitmire is projected to win the race for Texas Senate District 15. over Republican challenger George Brian Vachris. General District Capitol. Tags Alan Rosen american red cross donations Harris County Precinct 1 Constables Office houston rockets Hurricane Ian hurricane relief Tilman Fertitta. .leg-hnt-flex-row { justify-content: center; over public safety issues, highlighted city and county struggles to manage the criminal justice system. [9], Whitmire was angered by convicted murderer's Lawrence Russell Brewer refusal to eat the extensive last meal he ordered prior to his September 21, 2011, execution. Earlier this year, William Paul-Thomas, a senior aide to Turner, In addition to a fundraising advantage, Whitmire although a, appears to be drawing support from both sides of the political aisle. $('.showResponses').show(); Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. 5:32 PM Dec 5, 2022 CST, On Nov. 29, Sen. John Whitmire announced his official run to become Houston's next mayor. Touting the campaign slogan Fix Houston, Whitmire discussed Houstons rising crime, fraying infrastructure, and need for transparency. } padding-left: 8px; font-weight: bold; I love Houston, as so many of you do. Whitmire, who is a moderate Democrat, said he got involved in the mayor's race when he got a call from constituents who told him that he can unite the community. . background-color: grey; text-align: left !important; On Nov. 29, Texas Sen. John Whitmire announced his official campaign to become Houston's next mayor at a fundraiser at the Post Oak Hotel. "John looks at things the right way and isn't partisan when it comes to making the right decisions," Fertitta said. . .votebox_bp_logo { $('.collapse').collapse('hide'); margin-top: 5px; padding: 2px 0; The Public Officials of the Year program "recognizes leaders from state, city and county government who exemplify the ideals of public service. } width: 250px; State Sen. John Whitmire has set his sights on replacing Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner once Turner's term ends. Whitmire has served in the Senate since 1983. Though his record generally aligns with those of his Democratic colleagues on other issues, Whitmire has broken with his party on a number of votes related to criminal justice. Counties | } color:white; If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org. .widget-row.value-only.white { } width: 100%; break-inside: avoid-column; color:white; Previously he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1973 through 1982. The measure died after nearly every Democrat in the House voted against it, denying the two-thirds support needed to pass. clear: both; $('#candidate-connection-email-104978').on('click', () => { ga('send', 'event', 'surveycta', 'surveycta-click-email'); }); background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 2px 0; Turner also delayed implementation of a financial transparency project that would have put the citys checkbook online until next year, and last year, former city housing director Tom McCasland accused the mayor of a lack of transparency in awarding a $15 million contract to a former law partner. } John Whitmire Campaign (State Cmte) Johnson Victory PAC (State Cmte) Johnson for Congress: Joseph Sanchez for New Mexico (State Cmte) Josh Hawley for Senate: Juan J. Chuy Hinojosa Campaign (State Cmte) Kaptur for Congress: Karlins, Michael J. Kay Ivey for Governor, Inc. Keel, Thornton J. Prior to that, he served 10 years in the Texas House of Representatives. } Whitmire ( Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Texas State Senate to represent District 15. font-size: 90%; font-size: .9em; Democratic state Sen. John Whitmire is facing a new challenge in the legislature from a local community organizer after announcing his bid for mayor of Houston next year. } left: 0; Texas Sen. John Whitmire District 15 ( D -Houston) Editor's note: The Tribune's directory is updated with Texas' new elected officials, who took office in January 2023 in recently redrawn. He told the newspaper a public announcement will come later but "it's no secret" that he plans to run for mayor. Those who donate at least seven items will receive tickets to the Rockets' Oct. 24 home game against Utah. That incident resulted in the conviction of 38 Texans based on the testimony of one individual who has since been indicted and arrested for perjury. Incumbent John Whitmire defeated Damian Lacroix and Hank Segelke in the Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 15 on March 6, 2018. $(".collapse-all").on('click', () => { Whitmire was assigned to the following committees: .subcommittee { } I want you to tell the firemen and the policemen that help is on the way, said Whitmire. He also referenced his history of working with both sides of the aisle and holding his committee chairmanship under Republican leadership. if (document.getElementById('leg-hnt-content64038e9c5b59e').classList.contains('leg-hnt-hide')) { Vote: John Whitmire voted . We fix our problems.. This is going to be one very expensive mayoral campaign, Sims said.
. Explore his positions, donors, and political history. As the dean of the Texas Senate, he would almost certainly lock up most of the big-name political endorsements on offer in Houston and across the state. They include State Sen. John Whitmire, former city councilmember Amanda Edwards, former county .
, See also:Texas State Senate elections, 2022. State Sen. John Whitmire has identified as a Democrat for. font-weight: bold; Elections for 15 of the 31 seats in the Texas State Senate took place in 2014. fontFamily: "Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif", } Let the Houston Public Media newsroom help you start your day. State Sen. John Whitmire on Wednesday was leading in the . color: #0645ad; His views on criminal justice, and his support from GOP-aligned donors, have attracted some early backlash from Democrats, including Hollins, who noted last month on Twitter that Whitmire had not endorsed Hidalgo in the county judges race. overflow-y: hidden; Bills are monitored by BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. I believe using my experience and commitment to public service we will make Houston even better. } Thirty minutes after the regular session ended, Governor Rick Perry called legislators back for a special session starting that evening. When Harvey happened and the state got billions and billions of dollars, Houston didnt get any money for years. Sims said Whitmires war chest gives him an edge, but one that is surmountable for the other candidates. Her father had been active in precinct-level politics, and the family frequently talked about local political issues. From improving public safety by being tough but smart on crime to promoting economic development, especially small businesses, to making City . in political science from the University of Houston and also attended Bates College of Law at the University of Houston. [10] Other honorees included Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and Connecticut Representative Diana Urban. . column-width: 175px; $626,696 Total Contributions. .widget-key { background-color: red; January 21, 2022. The more pressing matter Whitmire's re-election to. } } border: 1px solid #999; width: 100%; $('.hideResponses').show(); Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update. He is running for re-election this year and said he plans to run for mayor of Houston in 2023. } State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, told supporters on Wednesday he plans to run for mayor of Houston in 2023. On June 10, 2003, the Tulia defendants were freed on bond as provided for in Senator Whitmire's legislation. }. Holly Hansen is a regional reporter for The Texan living in Harris County. } John Whitmire ( Democratic Party) is a member of the Texas State Senate, representing District 15. See the content from The Texans 88th Session Kickoff! display: inline-block; Senate seat will be on the ballot in 2032, and the next Governor's race would be in 2034. z-index:1;
Whitmire said his first response was "no" because he liked the work he was doing in the Senate. Whitmire is Texas Senate's longest-serving member, and his plans include running for reelection to the Senate in 2022, serving in the 2023 legislative session, and then running for mayor in November that year, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. clearInterval(nTimer); background-color: #db0000 !important; Former City Council Member Amanda Edwards has raised $789,000, and local attorney Lee Kaplan has $900,000. Whitmire won the primary following a runoff election and easily defeated his Republican opponent. Below the Waterlines: Houston After Hurricane Harvey, Ryan Poppe | Lucio Vasquez / Houston Public Media, Texas proposed budget tackles property taxes, border security, Sergio Martnez-Beltrn, The Texas Newsroom, TxDOT hosts I-45 expansion meeting in Conroe as opposition continues to voice concerns, State Sen. John Whitmire displays bipartisan support while launching bid for Houston mayor, As Texas STAAR test goes fully online, teachers feel defeated, Texas Education Agency projects confidence, Santa Fe High School shooter remains mentally incompetent to stand trial, further dragging on 5-year-old case, Houston weather: Thursday night cold front could bring severe weather to region, Bun B announces part of RodeoHouston Southern Takeover lineup, Law enforcement cracking down on street takeovers ahead of Houston-area racing event, Houston's annual 'March on Crime' campaign focused on gun safety, car burglaries as violent crime decreases through the region, Federal judge rejects qualified immunity for Houston officers who shot Charion Lockett, Harris County Constable officers used excessive force in police K-9 attack, federal lawsuit says. According to his latest campaign finance report, Whitmire leads the assembly of candidates for the most cash in his campaign bank account. font-size: 1.25em; } They were later pardoned by the Governor. Data Explanation Editorial Lobbying Money Myths . background-color: grey; At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees: At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Whitmire served on the following committees: At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Whitmire served on the following committees: In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Whitmire served on the following Texas Senate committees: In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Whitmire served on the following Texas Senate committees: The following table lists bills sponsored by this legislator.Campaign Website. Whitmire, a Democrat, has represented Houston in the Legislature since 1973, first as a state representative and then in the Senate beginning in 1983. [3], In 1982, Senator Jack Ogg vacated his seat to pursue the Attorney General position. The John Whitmire Campaign for Houston Mayor raised $1,148,015 from supporters in less than one month between the 2022 General Election and the legislative fundraising moratorium. font-size: 12px; }); What's on my ballot? } The senator contacted the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and asked the agency to end the practice of last meal requests or he would get the State Legislature to pass a bill doing so. } Senator John Whitmire today expressed his gratitude for the endorsement of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Foundation, AFL-CIO in the Houston mayor's race. margin-right: 10px; When I passed this law, I never thought this would happen. He assumed office in 1983. There are people who like the status quo. .cftable td { During that election cycle, Whitmire raised a total of $1,932,588. .clearfix { } Im not going to get into squabbles with other elected officials about what the numbers are, but the bottom line is we have a crime issue in Houston, Harris County, he said at the fundraiser. Updated color: white; Whitmire was not available for comment Thursday afternoon. The longest-serving member of the Texas Senate, Democrat John Whitmire is the first of the now four candidates to announce his run for mayor. display: flex; Addressing a bipartisan crowd of more than 600 at Houstons Post Oak Hotel, Whitmire said he had personally witnessed the fallout from homelessness, decaying streets. .source-link { Number two, we couldnt afford it if we wanted to. Whitmire's quote was featured the following month on a segment on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver criticizing Texas for not air conditioning its prisons, exacerbating medical conditions and even causing the death of some prisoners. display: none; } We can fix our problems. } She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Central Florida with a degree in History, and in addition to writing about politics and policy, also writes about faith and culture. overflow-y: hidden; He won in the general election on November 8, 2022. , and dysfunctional city services, and emphasized regional public safety challenges. } font-weight: 100; Sheriff: 4 arrested, 3 vehicles seized after parking lot takeover near Missouri City, Houston forecast: Get ready for a picture perfect weekend, Damage reported throughout North Texas area during severe weather, longest-serving member of the Texas Senate, Former U.S. Senate candidate Amanda Edwards announces run for Houston mayor, Chris Hollins will run to replace Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. ", "There are people that like the way the city is being operated because they are profiting really well," Whitmire said. } State Sen. John Whitmire, the longest-serving member of the Texas Senate, announced Wednesday night he will run for Houston mayor in 2023.
} border-top: 1px solid #aaa; National Federation of Independent Business in Texas, Texas Tribune Guest Column: Mark P. Jones, John Buntin, "The Correctionists," October 2010, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=John_Whitmire&oldid=8769085, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections. display: block; How to run for office | overflow-x: auto; | } As the long-time chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, Whitmire said he would bring an understanding of the criminal justice system, work to provide more resources to the courts and forensic crime lab, and improve collaboration between the multiple law enforcement agencies in the region. He has built up his war chest over a decades-long career in the Legislature dating back to 1972, when he was elected to the state House while a senior at the University of Houston. Ron Hale was unopposed in the Republican primary, while incumbent John Whitmire defeated Damian LaCroix in the Democratic primary. John Whitmire's Finances . John Harris Whitmire (born August 13, 1949)[1] is an American attorney and politician who is the longest-serving current member of the Texas State Senate. width: 500, Heres what you need to know. } color: white; Whitmire said he is expecting resistance from people who do not want to see the changes that he is advocating for, including a more transparent government than how the city is currently operating. [8] Two additional called sessions were held from July 1 through July 30 and July 30 through August 5.[9]. } flex: 0 0 150px; During that election cycle, Whitmire raised a total of $1,360,871. .cfheader.democratic { height: 50px; } BACKGROUND: Ahead of mayoral bid, state Sen. John Whitmire faces unexpected test in Senate primary. text-align: center; font-size: 0.9em;
background-color: black !important; .results_table { Former Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins, former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards and businessman Lee Kaplan are also running for Houston mayor. } margin: auto; RELATED: Houston mayoral contenders rake in millions in campaign cash, setting new bar for early fundraising. Austin, TX, November 30, 2022 Longtime state Sen. John Whitmire (D-Houston) formally launched his campaign for Houston mayor Tuesday evening with promises to address myriad problems faced by the state's most populous city, unveiling his campaign slogan: "Fix Houston.". "I will be tough but smart on crime, keep our economy growing and ensure city services are working for all Houstonians. document.getElementById('leg-hnt-content64038e9c5b59e').classList.add('leg-hnt-hide'); font-weight: 500; City term limit rules prevent Mayor Turner from seeking a third term after his current stint ends in January 2024. background: #4c4c4c; Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. We're in the process of transitioning services for our Today in Houston newsletter. height: 100%; With 152,728 votes (65.2 percent), he defeated the Republican candidate, Randy Orr, who polled 75,423 (32.2 percent). .leg-hnt-title { Hollins reported a $1.1 million haul during the first five months of his campaign, while Edwards took in about $789,000 in a shorter span. Resources like these are made possible by the generosity of our community of donors, foundations, and corporate partners. .votebox-scroll-container { One could mount a statewide campaign while . Takeover Look. Adv. In response to the question "Should the federal government institute a mandatory buyback of assault weapons?", John Whitmire's response was. If John Whitmire is our mayor, that wouldnt have happened.. margin-top: 16px; In 2012, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. Whitmire graduated with a B.A. } $('#candidate-connection-twitter-104978').on('click', () => { ga('send', 'event', 'surveycta', 'surveycta-click-twitter'); }); .leg-hnt-hide { How to vote | } Campaign Webmail. Whitmire was born in Hillsboro north of Waco, Texas, to James Madison Whitmire, the Hill County clerk, and the former Ruth Marie Harris, a nurse. } Answer: Pro-choice. John Whitmire formally launches Houston mayoral bid with backing of Tilman Fertitta, GOP mega-donors, Timeline: How battle between Houston ISD, TEA has reached the point of a looming takeover. Strong leadership and commitment to public service defines John Whitmire. State Sen. John Whitmire, the longest-tenured member of the Texas Senate, launched his campaign for Houston mayor on Tuesday. Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. And I've gotten a call from Houstonians to leave the legislature and come back and be elected mayor of the City of Houston," Whitmire said at the beginning of his campaign announcement. background-color: #f4f4f4; text-align: center; Other announced candidates include former Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins, who presided over the controversial 2020 general election in Harris County and has raised $1.1 million. line-height: 1.5em; } I thought they would fix the school, says Rep. (Harold) Dutton. I love Houston, as so many of you do. font-weight: bold; From 1375 to 1392 John ruled in Bavaria-Landshut with his brothers Stephen III and Frederick. The results have been certified. He has built up his war chest over a. .hideResponses { display: none;} Whitmire's first mayoral campaign finance report, filed Tuesday, shows $1.1 million in new donations in the nearly two months between his formal campaign launch in November and the end of the. Whitmire, the longest-serving member of the Texas Senate, already has $9.5 million in his state campaign account, according to his most recent filing. $('.hideResponses').on('click', () => { Tags Amanda Edwards campaign finance Chris Hollins houston mayor Houston mayoral election James McIngvale Jim Mattress Mack McIngvale John Whitmire Lee Kaplan Mattress Mack State Sen. John Whitmire Tilman Fertitta. Representative Dutton says he agrees the district has improved, but he says the problems in the failing schools still havent been fixed. width: 100% padding-left: 0; text-align:center; The announcement confirmed a move that was rumored for months and made Whitmire the first candidate to publicly announce his intention to succeed Sylvester Turner as the mayor of the state's most populous city.padding-left: 10px; He did not graduate, as state law at the time allowed legislators entrance to the bar without a full J.D. float: right; Well, Id have to think about that. Another 6,266 votes (2.7 percent) went to the Libertarian choice, Gilberto "Gil" Velasquez, Jr.[7], In 1993, Whitmire was appointed by Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock as Chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, where he oversaw reforms to the penal code and increased construction of prisons, to generally favorable reception.