Progress Texas endorses and recommends that Houstonians cast their vote for Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in the 2023 election for Mayor on Nov. 7. 

After 28 years as Texas’ 18th Congressional District Representative, and several years on Houston’s City Council, Jackson Lee wants to bring “the power, the resources, the knowledge, of government management and leadership” back to Houston.

The race between her and John Whitmire is tight and newsworthy, but she’s our pick because of her longstanding dedication to Houston’s residents and her position on standing up to those in state government who want to overturn our elections and take over our schools. Her priorities are improving public safety, infrastructure, housing, helping working families thrive, reproductive and civil rights, and promoting small businesses.

We can trust that the congresswoman will deliver because of her record of cosponsoring both the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Protecting the DREAM Act of 2019 (H.R. 2820), in addition to her sponsorship of the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act (H.R. 35). Count on her to protect your civil rights, health care, and public safety—all issues on the ballot. Jackson Lee wants Houston “[to] have a mayor that they could trust…to also have a mayor that cares, who can fix the basic services.”

Other candidates in this race include State Senator John Whitmire, Gilbert Garcia, Jack Christie, Robert Gallegos, Lee Kaplan, and MJ Khan. Current polling suggests this is a two-person race between Jackson Lee and Whitmire. As the longest-serving current member of the state Senate and chair of the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice, he is supported by law enforcement and police unions. He has faced concerns regarding the disproportionate sizing of his campaign fund, with its largest donations from the Houston Police Officer Union PAC, Austin Fire Fighters PAC, and Texas Association of Realtors at $10,000 each.

Other allies are saying Vote Sheila Jackson Lee

Her lengthy endorsement list includes Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, and US Rep. Nancy Pelosi, EMILY’s List, Higher Heights for America PAC, and many, many, teacher unions (the Houston Federation of Teachers, Alief American Federation of Teachers, Aldine American Federation of Teachers, Cy-Fair American Federation of Teachers, and Northeast Houston American Federation of Teachers.) Even her opponent’s sister-in-law (former Houston Mayor and City Council member, Kathy Whitmire) saw her potential, appointing her to her first judgeship.

We strongly recommend Sheila Jackson Lee in the 2023 Houston Election for Mayor.

• Important Election Dates
  • Early Voting: Open from Oct. 23 to Nov. 3. at 68 voting locations from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon – 7 p.m. on Sunday.
  • Ballot-by-mail applications received: by Oct. 27
  • Ballot-by-mail itself must be received by Nov. 7 unless postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election day, then it must be received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 8.
  • Election day: Nov. 7, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Other Resources
  • Vote your full ballot! Read our Statewide Progressive Voter Guide for the 14 statewide constitutional amendment ballot propositions.

Voting Qs? Visit our website, GoVoteTexas.org.