Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee to run for re-election after Houston mayor’s loss
After losing the Houston mayoral runoff election by a wide margin, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) announced Monday that she will run for a 16th term in the House.
“I thought about the many gifts I have to give to my constituents in the 18th Congressional District,” said Jackson Lee, 73. saying in a post for X before deadline to submit for the 2024 primary later that day.
“Those gifts involve more hard work and my ability to do the work! Together, let us build on the progress we have made and work towards an even better future for all,” she added.
With Jackson Lee’s decision to seek re-election, Generation Z candidate Isaiah Martin announced that he would suspend his campaign and endorse the incumbent.
I thought about the many gifts I have to give to my constituents in the 18th Congressional District. Those gifts involve more hard work and my ability to do the work! Together, let’s build on the progress we’ve made and work toward an even better future for all. pic.twitter.com/DNylOdgfmk
—Sheila Jackson Lee (@SJacksonLee) December 11, 2023
“Our focus should be on changing the House and electing more good Democrats, not on electing great members in primaries,” Martin said in a post to X. “I couldn’t be more grateful for all your support; This is not the end of our story; trust me.”
Jackson Lee faced off against Texas state Sen. John Whitmire, a fellow Democrat, in the Houston mayoral runoff over the weekend after took the first two places in last month’s election, but failed to reach the 50% threshold needed to win outright at that time.
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During the campaign, Jackson Lee faced controversy with the release of a tape that allegedly contained audio of the congresswoman berating her staff. He also cut a campaign ad that showed the incorrect date for the runoff.
The second round of the election itself was not close. Whitmire, a tough anti-crime defenderreceived approximately two thirds of the votes to prevail in the contest. In her victory speech, Whitmire appeared to attack Jackson Lee over the leaked audio debacle that she blame his opponents.
“People want to work for me because we respect people. “We don’t intimidate people,” Whitmire saying. “My family taught me to treat people the way you want to be treated, and that works wherever you are, no matter what community you visit. Treat these people the way you want to be treated.”
