State legislature | Importance: More Important Reference: Analysis of answers from 302 voters that voted for John Whitmire in the 2018 Texas District 15 State Senate election. School districts | flex: 0 0 150px; Campaign Website. .hideResponses { display: none;} .votebox-scroll-container {
} Fertitta previously attracted attention for contributing more than $100,000 to Donald Trumps re-election bid. Last year, Whitmire voted for a GOP-backed bail bill that limits the opportunity for defendants to be released on no-cost personal bonds and gives judges more information about a defendants criminal history when setting bail. } Whitmire said his first response was "no" because he liked the work he was doing in the Senate. .inner_percentage { Whitmire launches his Mayoral campaign - Off the Kuff U.S. President | display: block; Incumbents are bolded and underlined. font-weight: 200; | Sen. John Whitmire announces 2023 run for Houston mayor Whitmire for Mayor? Hollins for Houston? Let's Speculate. At the Capitol, Whitmire is the dean of the Senate where he took office in 1983 the title reserved for its longest-serving member. font-weight: bold; text-align: left; A free bi-weekly commentary on current events by Konni Burton. display: inline-block; 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. height: 50px; Serving in the Texas Senate since 1983, Whitmire boasts about $11 million in his campaign account. }
font-size:1.2em; He defeated his intraparty challenger, Damian LaCroix, 9,756 (75.1 percent) to 3,232 votes (24.9 percent). It is no different than running a huge company, said Fertitta. } } From improving public safety by being tough but smart on crime to promoting economic development, especially small businesses, to making City . They include State Sen. John Whitmire, former city councilmember Amanda Edwards, former county . } Texas Senator John Whitmire announced he will be running for mayor in 2023, kicking. Education, Crime, Transportation Divide State Sen. John Whitmire Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law. border-top: 1px solid #aaa; The legislation allowed the judge to release the prisoners on bond pending the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeals. From improving public safety by being tough but smart on crime to promoting economic development, especially small businesses, to making City Hall more efficient to benefit everyone, John Whitmire wants to use his years of experiencetomake Houston abetterplace to work and live. color: #fff; } Campaign. .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h5.votebox-header-election-type { color: #0645ad; There were no incumbents in this race. [6] Whitmire captured the Senate District 15 seat, taking office in 1983. width: 50%; . State executives | 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. 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. John Whitmire's most recent views and policy on Gun Buyback in 2023. letter-spacing: .04em; 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. Over 3 million Texans impacted as emergency New loan available to help students complete 19 women-owned businesses to support in the Texas General Land Office posts Harris County Speaker Phelan announces new House priority bills Gov. width: 90%; max-width: 75px; Strong leadership and commitment to public service defines John Whitmire. width: 100% !important; 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. Cities | Theres people that like the city is operating because they are profiting real well. 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. margin-right: 12px; Those who donate at least seven items will receive tickets to the Rockets' Oct. 24 home game against Utah. Ballotpedia features 395,557 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. There are people who like the status quo. font-size: 90%; Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. display: inline-block; State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, told supporters on Wednesday he plans to run for mayor of Houston in 2023. "[11],During his remarks, Whitmire said he faced opposition from those who like the status quo.. Known as a can do public servant, John often says, "Houston is not New York or Chicago we areHouston. .race_header, .results_text, .results_table_container, .votebox_legend { State Sen. John Whitmire Announces Run for Houston Mayor in 2023 My question is how long are we going to wait until they fix the schools in Northeast Houston? fontFamily: "Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif", --link-color: #337ab7; On October 26, 2010, Governing magazine named Whitmire and Texas Representative Jerry Madden as two of eight "Public Officials of the Year" for their work on reforming the Texas correctional system. text-align: center; .key-messages li {margin-bottom: 10px;} When you had a strong mayor form of government and when you are the mayor in this city, you run this city. } }. (Contributed photo) State Sen. John Whitmire said he plans to run for mayor of Houston in 2023, after the next biennial session of the Texas Legislature. padding-bottom: 8px; top: -1px; Pol. The idea that we are losing control of our schools is undemocratic if you ask Commentary. background-color: red; } In 2019, the Texas State Legislature was in its 86th legislative session from January 8 through May 27. .results_table { Leah is a cat mom to a sweet tabby and enjoys retail therapy. See the content from The Texans 88th Session Kickoff! Later, both Houston and Harris County were temporarily excluded from receiving relief funds. John Whitmire - Ballotpedia On Jan. 17, Whitmire reported $10.1 million cash. At the Capitol, Mr. Whitmire is the dean of the Senate where he took office in 1983 the title reserved for its longest-serving member. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. } Whitmire has $11 million in his political war chest, a considerable head start for a candidate running a mayoral election. Democrat State Sen. John Whitmire to Run for Houston Mayor in 2023 that forced the city to implement a boil water notice, keeping businesses and schools closed for two days. State Sen. John Whitmire opted out of collecting a $140,000 annual pension courtesy of a new amendment that was added into the state employee retirement system in the last regular legislative session. } The. .external_links_table { width: auto !important; } 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. Other notable host committee members include the Harris County Deputies Organization, Houston Professional Firefighters Association, and Houston Police Officers Union, as well as long-time Turner supporter and fundraiser Cindy Clifford. [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. He noted some courtrooms were still closed despite nearly 2,000 murder suspects awaiting trial and more than 900 suspects out on bond for murder or capital murder. } background-color: #f9f9f9; float: left; } .results_row { General District Capitol. 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. font-weight: bold; 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. The Return of "Quitmire": Democratic Sen. John Whitmire Again Helps GOP }) $8,368,554 Total Expenditures. .race_header.green { --subtitle-background: #334aab; Explore his positions, donors, and political history. He has spent his adult life working for Houstonians in our state's Capitol and now John is running for Houston Mayor. John Whitmire Receives Endorsement From Gulf Coast AFL-CIO in Houston .top_disclaimer { background-color: #db0000; The measure died after nearly every Democrat in the House voted against it, denying the two-thirds support needed to pass. legislatorID: 1521, In 2018, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. His tenure earns him the title of Dean of the Senate. } Former City Council Member Amanda Edwards has raised $789,000, and local attorney Lee Kaplan has $900,000. State Sen. John Whitmire, the longest-serving member of the Texas Senate, announced Wednesday night he will run for Houston mayor in 2023. Campaign. font-weight: bold; display: block; This membership information was last updated in March 2021. border: 1px solid #aaa; .outer_percentage { It isn't Whitmire's first time preventing Democrats from breaking quorum, as he's previously undermined his colleagues' legislative strategies. BT50.Widget({ } Incumbent John Whitmire defeated Molly Cook in the Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 15 on March 1, 2022. With almost a year to go until next years Nov. 7 election, Whitmire outlined his platform and kickstarted his campaign at Tuesdays fundraiser. John Whitmire Endorsed for Houston Mayor By Former Mayor Lee P. Brown position: relative; .leg-hnt-district-number { .inner_percentage.Libertarian { Every single department here is yours. Whitmire, the longest-tenured member of the Texas Senate, has joined a Houston mayoral race that includes Amanda K. Edwards, Chris Hollins and Lee Kaplan. for Tuesdays event included many Republicans such as retiring state Rep. Dan Huberty (R-Humble) and real estate developer Dick Weekley. John Whitmire will focus on better streets, improved drainage and reliable garbage pickup.. Previously he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1973 through 1982. .results_text { font-size: 20px; padding-bottom: 8px; In 2013, the Texas State Legislature was in its 83rd legislative session from January 8 through May 27. font-weight: 100; Elections in 2023 | Capitol Webmail Capitol Website More Office Contactskeyboard . .leg-hnt-leadership > div { (function() { border-bottom: 1px solid grey; Kathy Whitmire's exposure to and interest in city politics began in her parents' home. } Ballot measures, Who represents me? Federal courts | padding-left: 0; Campaign. The impending takeover of HISD by the TEA dates back to 2019, when Wheatley High School triggered a state law by failing to meet accountability standards for seven consecutive years. John Whitmire for Mayor. currentSession: false margin-bottom: 0px; State Sen. John Whitmire speaks during a campaign rally last year in Houston. width: 100%; .election_results_text { **Please note** If you are already signed up for the newsletter, you do not need to sign up again. "I'm John Whitmire, a public servant, and I go where I'm called. padding-left: 8px; 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. display: inline-block; margin-top: 1px; 5:32 PM Dec 5, 2022 CST, On Nov. 29, Sen. John Whitmire announced his official run to become Houston's next mayor. Ron Hale was unopposed in the Republican primary, while incumbent John Whitmire defeated Damian LaCroix in the Democratic primary. .inner_percentage, .inner_percentage.Nonpartisan, .inner_percentage.Independent, .inner_percentage.Constitution, .inner_percentage.unknown { } When Harvey happened and the state got billions and billions of dollars, Houston didnt get any money for years. [14] The district attorney eventually cleared him of wrongdoing. . .votebox_bp_logo { Whitmire already has huge support from some very important figures, including former Houston PoliceChief Art Acevedo and Houston billionaire and philanthropist Tilman Fertitta. When Harvey happened and the state got billions and billions of dollars, Houston didnt get any money for years.. During that election cycle, Whitmire raised a total of $1,360,871. 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. } font-size: 12px; John Whitmire speaking at his mayoral announcement. .leg-hnt-district-container { .widget-row.value-only {
} If you'd like to sign up now, fill out the form below and we will add you as soon as we finish the transition. backImage: "flat", color: white; margin-right: 10px; background-color: black !important; --view-more-background: #f0a236; .mw-content-ltr td.votebox-results-cell--text, Credit- Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune 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. In 1392 John initiated a new partition of Bavaria since he refused to finance the Italian adventures of his brothers . overflow-y: hidden; display: inline-block; And early indications are that several of them are raising a lot of money.. } p.survey-question {font-weight:bold;} Previously he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1973 through 1982. Biography I love Houston, as so many of you do. .inner_percentage.Green { 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. Earlier this year, William Paul-Thomas, a senior aide to Turner, pled guilty to federal public corruption charges and resigned. .votebox-results-metadata-p { [3] He is married to Rebecca Dalby. font-weight: 300; [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. font-size: 0.9em; 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. Incumbent John Whitmire defeated Damian Lacroix and Hank Segelke in the Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 15 on March 6, 2018. Whitmire, who has previously criticized local leadership over public safety issues, highlighted city and county struggles to manage the criminal justice system. So how much money does Whitmire have available for his mayoral campaign [8], Senator Whitmire passed legislation to free the Texans who were imprisoned as a result of the Tulia drug raid. $('.pastResponses').show(); margin-bottom: 0; Whitmire ( Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Texas State Senate to represent District 15. Contact Information. .votebox-covid-disclaimer { } Ballotpedia completes yearly updates of committee membership. A primary election took place on March 4, 2014. .widget-value { johnwhitmire@johnwhitmire.com.
, See also:Texas State Senate elections, 2022. div.survey-scrollbox { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } letter-spacing: .03em; A longtime Houston politician, Whitmire holds close ties to the city's public employee unions, including the police and fire unions. background-color: #f9d334; 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. } position: relative; z-index:1; tBackground: "#CCCCCC", } [10] Other honorees included Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and Connecticut Representative Diana Urban. by James Barragn Whitmire, a Democrat, has represented Houston in the Legislature since 1973, first as a state representative and then in the Senate beginning in 1983. John Whitmire faces a Texas Senate challenge after announcing his bid John Whitmire announced today that former Houston Mayor Lee P. Brown has endorsed him in his campaign for mayor of the City of Houston. top: -5px; Her former column, All In Perspective ran in The Georgetown Advocate, Jarrell Star Ledger, and The Hill Country News, and she has contributed to a variety of Texas digital media outlets. The Fund allowed the contract to expire following public scrutiny. .cfheader { Former Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins, former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards and businessman Lee Kaplan are also running for Houston mayor. 92 talking about this. margin: 0; } He has an $11 million campaign war chest,. In 2022, the Texas State Legislature was not in session. He told the newspaper a public announcement will come later but "it's no secret" that he plans to run for mayor. When I passed this law, I never thought this would happen. .results_table_container { width: 150px; } font-weight: 400; -. Campaign Website. [10], In 2021, Whitmire stirred controversy by responding to questions about the lack of air conditioning in prisons by saying: You know, we can talk about this all day, its not gonna change. Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. width: 43%; [12], In 2003, Whitmire was one of the "Texas Eleven", a group of Democrats who fled the state for New Mexico in 2003 in a quorum-busting effort aimed at preventing the passage of redistricting legislation that would have benefited Texas Republicans. I love Houston, as so many of you do. margin: 5px auto; Randy Orr advanced from the Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 15 on March 6, 2018. Yilun Cheng is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle, covering local politics and City Hall. } The atmosphere was more victory . State Sen. John Whitmire Announces Run for Houston Mayor in 2023 Election, 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 states most populous city, unveiling his campaign slogan: Fix Houston.. The results have been certified. 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. font-weight: bold; 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. Kathy Whitmire - Wikipedia color:white !important; .mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { [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. text-align: left !important; Are we headed into uncharted territory so to speak? font-size: 16px; position: relative; Should the firefighters prevail, the city may owe back wages topping $1 billion according to some estimates. John Harris Whitmire (born August 13, 1949) is an American attorney and politician who is the longest-serving current member of the Texas State Senate.Since 1983, he has represented District 15, which includes much of northern Houston, Texas.His tenure earns him the title of Dean of the Senate. } } else { FOX 26 Political Reporter Greg Groogan spoke with John Whitmire, Dean of the Texas Senate. } } }} .votebox-results-cell--check { font-size: 12px; background-color: #ccf; Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. height: 22px; The John Whitmire for Mayor Campaign put this out this morning: John Whitmire announced today that former Houston City Councilmember James Rodriguez has endorsed him in his campaign for mayor of the City of Houston. display: inline-block; Why Is John Whitmire Saying 'Hell No' To $140K Annual Pension? $(".collapse-all").on('click', () => { flex-direction: column; .key-messages li:last-child { margin-bottom: 0px;}