Whitmire said his campaign is motivated by his desire to solve a variety of problems that he has personally witnessed in Houston including homelessness, illegal dumping, rising crime and inefficient city services. In 2012, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law. 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. background-color: red; Leah is a cat mom to a sweet tabby and enjoys retail therapy. 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. overflow-y: hidden; Incumbent John Whitmire defeated Damian Lacroix and Hank Segelke in the Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 15 on March 6, 2018. .leg-hnt-title {
} .cfheader { 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. "They know if I'm mayor it's going to be fair, transparent, honest and play no favorites.". During that election cycle, Whitmire raised a total of $1,360,871. He assumed office in 1983. [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. .race_header.republican { (function() { We're in the process of transitioning services for our Today in Houston newsletter. Campaign Website. font-size: 16px; In 2021, the Texas State Legislature was in session from January 12 to May 31. } clearInterval(nTimer); Since 1983, he has represented District 15, which includes much of northern Houston, Texas. } [6] Whitmire captured the Senate District 15 seat, taking office in 1983. Whitmire, the longest-serving member of the Texas Senate, already has $9.5 million in his state campaign account, according to his most recent filing. background-color: grey; background-color: #003388; -. .indicate_scroll { padding-bottom: 0px; 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.". $('#candidate-connection-twitter-104978').on('click', () => { ga('send', 'event', 'surveycta', 'surveycta-click-twitter'); }); by James Barragn For example, an advocacy groups scorecard may assess a legislators voting record on one issue while a state newspapers scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety. Gilberto Velasquez, Jr. was running as a Libertarian candidate. .votebox_legend { [3], In his early teenage years, he moved to North Houston and attended Waltrip High School. border: 1px solid #aaa; Lucio Vasquez produces stories for Houston Public Media's daily radio newscast and writes stories for HoustonPublicMedia.org. $8,368,554 Total Expenditures. Prior to his election to the state senate, Whitmire was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1973 to 1982.[1]. text-align: left !important; } 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. Lt. Gov. 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. .votebox_legend .non_result_row { float: right; display: inline; As for his run for mayor, Whitmire says he won't start campaigning in earnest for mayor until July of 2023, a month after the regular session ends in June. .widget-row.Democratic { [5] Whitmire's political science professor Richard Murray was the one to inspire him to run for office as he illustrated the newly drawn district lines that encompassed Whitmire's neighborhood. vertical-align: top; background-color: #f9f9f9; Known as a can do public servant, John often says, "Houston is not New York or Chicago we areHouston. He has donated millions of dollars to a mix of Democratic and Republican candidates over the years, though he typically has favored Republicans in statewide contests, donating to Gov. I can tell you this. width: 100%; border-bottom: 1px solid grey; City officials waited nearly eight hours to notify the public, and never activated the emergency alert system until the notice was lifted Tuesday morning. Together we can make it better. Contact Information. column-rule: 1px solid #aaa; .contact_entity {font-size: 1.0em ;margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 0.5em;} A special session was held from July 18 to August 15. .leg-hnt-responsive-columns { Whitmire was not up for election to the Texas State Senate in 2008. $('.pastResponses').show(); Whitmire ( Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Texas State Senate to represent District 15. Federal courts | display: inline-block; "He was always someone I could . 92 talking about this. State Sen. John Whitmire, the longest-serving member of the Texas Senate, announced Wednesday night he will run for Houston mayor in 2023. 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. } .expand-all:hover, .collapse-all:hover {cursor: pointer; text-decoration: underline;} padding-left: 16px; } The prisons are hot. 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. Theyre uncomfortable. } width: 350px; letter-spacing: 0.03em; left: 0;
, See also:Texas State Senate elections, 2022. height: 300, Houstons mayoral and city council elections will take place on November 7, 2023, and voters will also have the opportunity to weigh in on a, Fort Worth Adds Two New Council Districts, Only Three Seats Unopposed, Austin Street Racing Shenanigans Light Fire Under Police Contract Debate, Austin Police Department to Host LGBT Criminal Justice World Conference in 2025. .inner_percentage.Libertarian { padding-left: 8px; Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. [10] Other honorees included Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and Connecticut Representative Diana Urban. I want you to tell the firemen and the policemen that help is on the way, said Whitmire. .votebox-results-metadata-p { , and dysfunctional city services, and emphasized regional public safety challenges. The featured photo is the HISD Board officers. Whitmire ran unopposed in the May 29 primary election and defeated Bill Walker (R) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[6]. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? State Sen. John Whitmire speaks during a campaign rally last year in Houston. font-weight: bold; Data Explanation Editorial Lobbying Money Myths . If youd like to become one of the people were financially accountable to, click here to subscribe. During that election cycle, Whitmire raised a total of $1,932,588. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. The results have been certified. .survey-result {padding:10px;} background-color: black !important; Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislators political positions. Whitmire won the primary following a runoff election and easily defeated his Republican opponent. font-size: 2em; .widget-row.Republican { --view-more-background: #f0a236; background-color: #db0000 !important; Whitmire has $11 million in his political war chest, a considerable head start for a candidate running a mayoral election. .widget-row.heading { .votebox_bp_logo { It is no different than running a huge company, Fertitta said. --title-background: #334aab; padding: 2px 0; legislatorID: 1521, Whitmire is thelongest-serving member of the Texas Senate. } overflow-x: scroll; 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. His current term ends on January 14, 2025. What will be their political backgrounds? } .widget-row.Libertarian { . Houston attorney weighs in on customer shooting, killing taqueria robber. 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. .panel-heading:hover { cursor: pointer;}
Whitmire has. } --subtitle-background: #334aab; Later, both Houston and Harris County were temporarily excluded from receiving relief funds. Earlier this year, William Paul-Thomas, a senior aide to Turner, pled guilty to federal public corruption charges and resigned. Watch Sen. Whitmire's full campaign announcement in the video player below: KHOU 11 on social media:Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube. In addition to being a senator, Whitmire is also an attorney of counsel at Locke, Liddell and Sapp. display: inline-block; The Public Officials of the Year program "recognizes leaders from state, city and county government who exemplify the ideals of public service. Holly Hansen is a regional reporter for The Texan living in Harris County. Your subscription will be migrated over. State Sen. John Whitmire has identified as a Democrat for. The. Example video title will go here for this video. } As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. } In 1392 John initiated a new partition of Bavaria since he refused to finance the Italian adventures of his brothers . 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 . } 5:32 PM Dec 5, 2022 CST, On Nov. 29, Sen. John Whitmire announced his official run to become Houston's next mayor. margin-bottom: 0; } "John looks at things the right way and isn't partisan when it comes to making the right decisions," Fertitta said. The results have been certified. } display: flex; Pol. He has served in the upper chamber since 1982. Apply today! max-width: 600px; font-size:1.2em; They were later pardoned by the Governor. } Resources like these are made possible by the generosity of our community of donors, foundations, and corporate partners. Whitmire said his first response was "no" because he liked the work he was doing in the Senate. They know if Im mayor, its going to be very transparent, honest and play no favors, he said. .results_table { How to run for office | Were not gonna air condition them. Previously he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1973 through 1982. margin: auto; float: left; The billionaire also faulted Mayor Sylvester Turner for not taking a stronger stance to represent the citys interest. With an $11 million warchest and thousands of. color: #888; Senate seat will be on the ballot in 2032, and the next Governor's race would be in 2034. flex: 0 0 150px; The longest-serving member of the Texas Senate, Democrat John Whitmire is the first of the now four candidates to announce his run for mayor. }, .leg-hnt-container { There will be an anti-takeover event this afternoon at Discovery Green. [13], During the 1990s, Whitmer was the subject of several controversies related to potential conflicts of interest with clients and employers stemming from his position on the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. I believe using my experience and commitment to public service we will make Houston even better. 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. margin: 3px 0; color:white !important; text-align:center; } } Campaign Website. } In 2020, a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development audit flagged Houstons slow pace in administering Hurricane Harvey recovery funds, prompting the federal agency to shift control of the recovery and rebuild efforts to the Texas General Land Office. It isn't Whitmire's first time preventing Democrats from breaking quorum, as he's previously undermined his colleagues' legislative strategies. John Whitmire Campaign (State Cmte) Johnson Victory PAC (State Cmte) Johnson for Congress: Joseph Sanchez for New Mexico (State Cmte) Josh Hawley for Senate: Juan J. Chuy Hinojosa Campaign (State Cmte) Kaptur for Congress: Karlins, Michael J. Kay Ivey for Governor, Inc. Keel, Thornton J. font-weight: bold; I want you to tell Houstonians that help is on the way.. [14] The district attorney eventually cleared him of wrongdoing. Incumbent John Whitmire defeated George Vachris in the general election for Texas State Senate District 15 on November 8, 2022. document.getElementById('leg-hnt-content64038e9c5b59e').classList.remove('leg-hnt-hide'); background-color: #003388; Whitmire won re-election to the Texas State Senate in 2002. Whitmires criminal justice stances are expected to bolster his position among Republican voters and donors, including those who supported Mealer in a county judge race that focused heavily on violent crime rates in Harris County. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022. background-color: #6db24f; The police chief had made a gentleman's agreement with John Whitmire, dean of the Texas Senate, not to run against him, should the Houston lawmaker seek the mayor's office, as has been speculated. } 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 citys political luminaries including the hotels billionaire owner, Tilman Fertitta, and several other Republican mega-donors who are opening their checkbooks for Whitmire, a moderate Democrat. a[aria-expanded=true] .fa-chevron-right { display: none; } Office: State Senate (TX) - District 15, Democratic Track This Politician. [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. display: inline-block; Later, both Houston and Harris County were temporarily excluded from receiving relief funds. } text-align: center; .non_result_row { color: #888; .contact_entity {font-size: 1.5em ;margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} })(); See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection. Whitmire, the longest-serving member of the Texas Senate, will first run for reelection to the chamber in 2022 before his mayoral run the following year. document.getElementById('leg-hnt-toggle64038e9c5b59e').addEventListener('click', event => { margin-bottom:16px; width: 250px; .inner_percentage.Green { General District Capitol. font-weight: 400; .widget-img { John Harris Whitmire (born August 13, 1949)[1] is an American attorney and politician who is the longest-serving current member of the Texas State Senate. Previously he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1973 through 1982. position: relative; Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. } John Whitmire ( Democratic Party) is a member of the Texas State Senate, representing District 15. Public policy. margin-bottom: 0px; div.oneoff-scrollbox.regular { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } Also on the host committee are several former Republican elected officials, including former state representative Dan Huberty, former city councilmember Greg Travis and two of Whitmires former Senate colleagues: Todd Staples, who also served as agriculture commissioner, and Kevin Eltife. But during the third special session, Patrick would often call instead on state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, the body's second-longest serving member, and refer to her as the "dean-in-waiting.". See the content from The Texans 88th Session Kickoff! Ballot measures, Who represents me? margin-bottom: .75em; background-color: #f9f9f9; } Next week, they will likely be the former Board officers. Previously he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1973 through 1982. width: 250px; } From improving public safety by being tough but smart on crime to promoting economic development, especially small businesses, to making City . [3] Whitmer also came under criticism from watchdog groups and colleagues for hiring a friend as a consultant to the Criminal Justice Committee. He assumed office in 1983. .widget-row.Green { That incident resulted in the conviction of 38 Texans based on the testimony of one individual who has since been indicted and arrested for perjury. 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. .outer_percentage { .widget-row.value-only.white { Staff. One of those senators is John Whitmire, a Democrat from Houston, and the longest-serving member of the Democratic caucus. They know if Im mayor, its going to be very transparent, honest, and play no favors, said Whitmire. paid for by the John Whitmire Campaign. .non_result_row th { .race_header, .results_text, .results_table_container, .votebox_legend { Who will replace the school board members? font-size: 90%; .race_header.green { .infobox { div.survey-scrollbox { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; }