Houston’s next Mayor will either be U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee or state Sen. John Whitmire.
As expected, the two frontrunners in a field of 18 candidates will face one another in a runoff election Dec. 9.
Whitmire, the longest-serving member of the Texas Senate, got 43 percent of the vote, and the congresswoman received 36 percent of the vote. The runoff is necessary since neither candidate won 50 percent of the vote. No other candidate topped 8 percent.
Whitmire secured a sizable proportion of undecided voters, doubling his projected lead over Jackson Lee.
Houston’s real estate industry overwhelmingly backs Whitmire, although the two candidates have similar platforms on real estate.
Whitmire’s track record, bipartisan appeal and commitment to streamlining permitting and housing policies have resonated with the city’s real estate insiders. As the frontrunner, Whitmire secured the backing of prominent real estate organizations in Houston including the Houston Association of Realtors, Houston Building Owners and Managers Association and the Greater Houston Homebuilders Association.
He has garnered support from Republican megadonor and co-founder of David Weekley Homes, Richard Weekley, as well as Fidelis Realty CEO Alan Hassenflu who served on the host committee of Whitmire’s campaign launch fundraiser last year.
Many real estate insiders view him as a champion for consistency, housing affordability, regulatory oversight, increased development and innovative solutions for crime that many argue continues to plague development. Whitmire suggested bringing 200 DPS troopers to help aid police combat crime in Houston.
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Jackson Lee, who is backed by big-name Democrats such as Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi, has vowed to stand up to “MAGA Republicans.”
Whitmire’s substantial campaign spending, totaling over $9 million, has dwarfed the competition.
With his strong support among Republican voters, Whitmire is positioned for success in the runoff election. The last pre-election poll conducted by the University of Houston showed Whitmire defeating Jackson Lee by 14 percentage points.