} padding-left: 10px; color: white; .widget-row { .leg-hnt-leadership > div { complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. background-color: #f4f4f4; background-color: #f9f9f9; State Sen. John Whitmire, the longest-serving member of the Texas Senate, announced Wednesday night he will run for Houston mayor in 2023. .panel-heading:hover { cursor: pointer;} "We're running for mayor and we intend to win," he said at a Houston fundraiser captured by journalist Jose de Jesus Ortiz. [8], Senator Whitmire passed legislation to free the Texans who were imprisoned as a result of the Tulia drug raid. .leg-hnt-hide { .race_header.republican { display: inline-block; Whitmire's track record as a. background-color: #f9d334; font-weight: bold; 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. Sims said Whitmires war chest gives him an edge, but one that is surmountable for the other candidates. 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. There will be an anti-takeover event this afternoon at Discovery Green. } From 1375 to 1392 John ruled in Bavaria-Landshut with his brothers Stephen III and Frederick. padding-top: 8px; **Please note** If you are already signed up for the newsletter, you do not need to sign up again. Lucio Vasquez produces stories for Houston Public Media's daily radio newscast and writes stories for HoustonPublicMedia.org. a[aria-expanded=true] .fa-chevron-right { display: none; } We're in the process of transitioning services for our Today in Houston newsletter. State Sen. John Whitmire has set his sights on replacing Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner once Turner's term ends. John W. Whitmire August 22, 1944-September 15, 2021 COLONA-John W. Whitmire, 77, of Colona passed away September 15, 2021 at Hartland Healthcare Center in Moline and is now in the loving arms of h float: right; Serving in the Texas Senate since 1983, Whitmire boasts about $11 million in his campaign account. background-color: white; margin-bottom: 4px; color: #0645ad; When I passed this law, I never thought this would happen.
} Ballot measures, Who represents me? A number of Democrats, including former state representative and city councilmember Ellen Cohen and former Harris County Democratic Party chair Lane Lewis, also are on the host committee. letter-spacing: .03em; A special session was called for May 31 through June 29.[9]. 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.". The measure died after nearly every Democrat in the House voted against it, denying the two-thirds support needed to pass. Are we headed into uncharted territory so to speak? .large-date { text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600;} How many generations of children do we have to lose, Dutton asks. rowCount: "25", background-color: #003388; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 16px; 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. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. John Whitmire | Houston TX .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h5.votebox-header-election-type { In addition to being a senator, Whitmire is also an attorney of counsel at Locke, Liddell and Sapp. width: 50%; Lt. Gov. They were later pardoned by the Governor. He has also reported on local politics for both papers. top: 0px; Friday, March 20, 2020 - MONTGOMERY - The following statement from Secretary of State John H. Merrill is in direct response to this morning's opinion column written by Kyle Whitmire of AL.com: In an opinion column published this morning on AL.com, Kyle Whitmire stated "To preserve our right to vote and to protect public health, we must . 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. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. Prior to that, he served 10 years in the Texas House of Representatives. [15], (Third party index of birth records for Hill County), "Birth Certificate for John Harris Whitmire", "For Dean of Senate, Public and Private Blur", "WHITMIRE, REBECCA DALBY vs. WHITMIRE, JOHN HARRIS", "Overview: Texas House Districts 18461982", "The Texas State Senate Senator John Whitmire: District 15", "Texas Death Row Kitchen Cooks Its Last 'Last Meal', "John Oliver welcomes summer by reminding you that prisons are cooking people to death", "John Whitmire was on a roll coming into the 1995 Legislature. font-size: .9em; margin-top: 16px; 92 talking about this. In 2012, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. })(); See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection. JOHN LISTON: WEEKLEY, RICHARD WELDON (DICK) UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON: "I will be tough but smart on crime, keep our economy growing and ensure city services are working for all Houstonians. .widget-row.heading { font-size: 12px; In 2013, the Texas State Legislature was in its 83rd legislative session from January 8 through May 27. Updated font-size: 1.25em; } Since 1983, he has represented District 15, which includes much of northern Houston, Texas. .mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { "He was always someone I could . What will be their political backgrounds? .votebox { Whitmire's first mayoral campaign finance report, filed Tuesday, shows $1.1 million in new donations between his formal campaign launch in November and the end of the year. .source-link { box-sizing: border-box; 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. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org. To see all bills sponsored by this person, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table. It is no different than running a huge company, Fertitta said.
} His old friends call him something else: "Boogie," a. } .cf_bp_logo {width: 35px !important;}. Kaplan raised $800,000 and pitched in another $100,000 of his own money. .race_header.democratic { [3], Whitmire served in the Texas House with colleagues Gene Green, Craig Washington and Mickey Leland and eventually finished his undergraduate degree. 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. tBackground: "#CCCCCC", display: block;
float:right; Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Nov. 18, 20214 PM Central. Below the Waterlines: Houston After Hurricane Harvey, Mattress Mack asks Harris County voters to dish details about bad experiences on Election Day 2022, Harris County Election Administrator Clifford Tatum, Harris County Elections Administrator's Office, GOP donor Mattress Mack files lawsuit against Harris County Elections office for access to 2022 Election Day records, Houston Rockets, Harris County constable team up for Hurricane Ian relief drive, Harris County Precinct 1 Constables Office, 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 parks hosting free 'Jazzy Sundays' concerts from March through May, Historic Battleship Texas, parked for repairs, seeking high-traffic area for next home, Tim McGraw, Lil Nas X among headliners for March Madness Music Festival in Downtown Houston. John Whitmire's Political Summary Office: State Senate (TX) - District 15, Democratic Track This Politician Contact Information Campaign Campaign Webmail Campaign Website Office General District Capitol mail Email Capitol Webmail Capitol Website More Office Contacts keyboard_arrow_down perm_identity Who exactly is Whitmire? John Whitmire Texas State Senate District 15 $9,503,981 Cash on Hand. display: inline-block; flex: 0 0 175px; George Vachris advanced from the Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 15 on March 1, 2022. .clearfix { During that election cycle, Whitmire raised a total of $1,360,871. font-weight: bold; Whitmire, a Democrat, was joined by several other Houston lawmakers at the event, including his Senate colleague Borris Miles. fontFamily: "Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif", 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, said Whitmire. @media screen and (max-width: 350px) { background: #4c4c4c; p.survey-response {white-space: pre-line;} Incumbent John Whitmire defeated Randy Orr and Gilberto Velasquez Jr. in the general election for Texas State Senate District 15 on November 6, 2018. In the Senate, Whitmire is best known for his work on criminal justice and public safety. Prior to his election to the state senate, Whitmire was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1973 to 1982.[1]. Houston Sen. John Whitmire (left) and local organizer Molly Cook (right) faced off in a primary this year to represent District 15. width: 35px !important; Houston Public Media is supported with your gifts to the Houston Public Media Foundation and is licensed to the University of Houston. Campaign finance reports as of January 3, 2023; Candidate Raised Amanda Edwards $1,100,000 Chris Hollins $1,400,000 Lee Kaplan $1,300,000 John Whitmire [11] Heat has killed numerous prisoners and cost Texas taxpayers million of dollars in wrongful death suits brought by victims' families. Kathy Whitmire's exposure to and interest in city politics began in her parents' home. .infobox p { Data Explanation Editorial Lobbying Money Myths . A ll that was missing in the Post Oak Hotel ballroom were balloons and confetti as State Senator John Whitmire officially dove into Houston's 2023 mayoral race. In 2018, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. [citation needed] Whitmire attended college at the University of Houston to study political science while paying for his education by working for the Texas State Welfare Department, where he interviewed food stamp recipients for compliance. State Sen. John Whitmire speaks during a campaign rally last year in Houston. .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h3.votebox-header-office-name { } padding-top: 3px; width: 250px; He joined the Hearst Austin bureau in 2021 after nearly three years as a City Hall reporter for the Chronicle and a prior stint covering Bexar County for the Express-News. break-inside: avoid-column; text-align: center; I didnt want to take over either. background-color: grey; .cfheader { Incumbents are bolded and underlined. He was elected to the Texas Senate in 1982 after serving 10 years in the Texas House of Representatives. He ultimately returned to the legislature, creating a quorum and undoing the efforts of the rest of the Texas Eleven. Representative Dutton says he agrees the district has improved, but he says the problems in the failing schools still havent been fixed. .cfheader.republican { font-size: 110%; 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. Whitmire won re-election to the 15th District Seat in the general election on November 2, 2010, defeating Republican Bill Walker. It isn't Whitmire's first time preventing Democrats from breaking quorum, as he's previously undermined his colleagues' legislative strategies. Ron Hale was unopposed in the Republican primary, while incumbent John Whitmire defeated Damian LaCroix in the Democratic primary. [14] In 1995, Whitmer came under investigation by the Harris County district attorney's office for taking a job with a state agency whose funding he oversaw via the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. letter-spacing: 0.03em; Whitmire has $11 million in his political war chest, a considerable head start for a candidate running a mayoral election. font-size: 16px; $('.pastResponses').hide(); Apply today! .cfheader { The longtime Democrat, sitting on an $11 million campaign war chest, had recently announced his plan to run for mayor of Houston in 2023. Money is not everything, as we saw in the Harris County judges race, where the Republican candidate outraised the incumbent by 5-to-1, nearly 6-to-1, Sims said. .electionsectionheading { Incumbent John Whitmire defeated George Vachris in the general election for Texas State Senate District 15 on November 8, 2022. I am often asked why would I leave a state senate position to serve as mayor - simply because I care about Houston and its citizens who want to be safe to live, work, and raise their families in our great city. "We're running for mayor and we intend to win," he. During that election cycle, Whitmire raised a total of $485,758. display: none; Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. .cfheader.green { As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public.
He is running for re-election this year and said he plans to run for mayor of Houston in 2023. [3], Whitmire won reelection to the state Senate in the general election held on November 6, 2018. legislatorID: 1521, On June 10, 2003, the Tulia defendants were freed on bond as provided for in Senator Whitmire's legislation. height: 50px; With all voting centers reporting, John Whitmire has won the Democratic primary for Texas Senate District 15 with 57.5% of the vote, or 24,724 votes. $('.pastResponses').show(); border: 1px solid #999; His current term ends on January 14, 2025.} How to run for office | State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, told supporters on Wednesday he plans to run for mayor of Houston in 2023. event.srcElement.innerText = '[hide]'; } display: inline-block; 1239 - Coat of arms of Munich in use. } text-align: center; .percentage_number { letter-spacing: .04em;
font-size:1.2em; font-weight: 400; The two candidates participated in a virtual discussion on Tuesday night where Whitmire touted his seniority and experience while Cook billed herself as a more progressive grassroots alternative. margin-right: 10px; } Cities | .leg-hnt-leadership-title { Whitmire won the primary following a runoff election and easily defeated his Republican opponent. He has an $11 million campaign war chest,. Nancy Sims, a longtime political consultant who now teaches political science at the University of Houston, said she had "never seen such hardcore fundraising this high and this early" in a Houston mayor's race. [14] The district attorney eventually cleared him of wrongdoing. [8] Two additional called sessions were held from July 1 through July 30 and July 30 through August 5.[9]. Houston attorney weighs in on customer shooting, killing taqueria robber. He is a longtime ally of Houston and Harris Countys police union groups, which also are on the host committee for his kickoff fundraiser. I can tell you this, if John Whitmire is our mayor, that wouldnt have happened.. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; .succession-table th, .succession-table tr { "Well I can tell you that public safety to me is near and dear to my heart and I don't think there's a member of the legislature that's worked as hard on common sense reforms and on being practical, affirm but fair, as it relates to keeping people safe," Acevedo said.