During that election cycle, Whitmire raised a total of $485,758. } else { Sen. John Whitmire kicks off campaign for Houston mayor "Well I can tell you that public safety to me is near and dear to my heart and I don't think there's a member of the legislature that's worked as hard on common sense reforms and on being practical, affirm but fair, as it relates to keeping people safe," Acevedo said. .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h3.votebox-header-office-name { display: inline-block; })(); See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection. display: block; State Sen. John Whitmire announces he will run for mayor of Houston in 2023 [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. By Leah Foreman }
background-color: #6db24f; .outer_percentage { We are not New York or Chicago. apiKey: "96B21126-2E98-49FB-B21F-619C471959AD", letter-spacing: .04em; clear: both; Nancy Sims, a longtime political consultant who now teaches political science at the University of Houston, said she had "never seen such hardcore fundraising this high and this early" in a Houston mayor's race. column-count: auto; But after he thought about all the issues that needed repairing in the city, he said he knew he would be the right person for the job. 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. I love Houston, as so many of you do. } } When you had a strong mayor form of government and when you are the mayor in this city, you run this city. position: absolute; Let the Houston Public Media newsroom help you start your day. He's also eyeing a run for Houston mayor in 2023. The following list may not be comprehensive. .contact_office { margin-top: 0.3em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} To see all bills sponsored by this person, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table. See the content from The Texans 88th Session Kickoff! [1] [2] 1175 - Munich gains official status as city. The results have been certified. Whitmire has. paid for by the John Whitmire Campaign. .election_results_text { "They know if I'm mayor it's going to be fair, transparent, honest and play no favorites.". font-size: 20px; 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. .votebox { .widget-row { float: right; . 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. background-color: #db0000 !important; Campaign Webmail. In 2017, the Texas State Legislature was in its 85th legislative session from January 10 through May 29. } This is from Fox 26 and the author of the legislation that provided the vehicle for the HISD takeover: I think I know how David felt against Goliath. padding-bottom: 8px; Featured Campaign 1 - John Whitmire }
overflow-y: auto; } 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. Contact our sales team. event.srcElement.innerText = '[hide]'; font-style: italic; The 11th-hour amendment made by Rep. Greg Bonnen currently allows 46 state employees in Texas, including the three . } } var nTimer = setInterval(function() { background-color: #f9d334; John Whitmire did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey. 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. Here is what State Rep. Jarvis Johnson put out this morning: Lets be clear: state takeovers have never worked anywhere much less for a district as large and diverse as Houston. display: block; background-color: grey; }. background-color: #f9d334; The report's staggering number, though, is the amount of cash he reports having on hand: about $10.1 million. } Whitmire has $11 million in his political war chest, a considerable head start for a candidate running a mayoral election. John Whitmire, state senator and brother-in-law of former mayor Kathy Whitmire (Party affiliation: Democratic) . .votebox-results-metadata { } top: -5px; max-height: 580px; } .results_row td { rowCount: "25", padding-left: 16px; He has spent his adult life working for Houstonians in our state's Capitol and now John is running for Houston Mayor. The Fund allowed the contract to expire following public scrutiny. } Cook is the sole Democratic opponent for state Sen. John Whitmire (D-Houston), incumbent for the safe blue Houston seat. State and local courts | background-color: #6db24f; Office. overflow-x: auto; A handful of other candidates have joined the race since then, including former Harris County clerk Chris Hollins, former city councilmember Amanda Edwards and attorney Lee Kaplan. .race_header { Houston has term limits, and Turner's second and final term will end in January 2024. State Senator John Whitmire Campaign Finance Report Filed - October 31 Get highlights, trending news, and behind-the-scenes insights from Houston Public Media delivered to your inbox each week. currentSession: false Exclusive: Abbott explains push against diversity hiring programs, Texas wants to ban delta-8, but veterans are pushing back, The Breakfast Klub sues prominent City Hall consultant for fraud, UH, Texas A&M removing DEI statements from hiring practices, Galveston gets fourth Carnival Cruise Line, Lauren Daigle at Houston Rodeo: 'God always has your number', Bun B, Badu, J.J. Watt celebrate RodeoHouston Southern Takeover, Houston is the most stressful city to work in, says new study, Man dead, person arrested after suspected homicide in League City, Houston mayoral contenders rake in millions in campaign cash, setting new bar for early fundraising, expected to start the race with a massive financial advantage over the rest of the field, Ahead of mayoral bid, state Sen. John Whitmire faces unexpected test in Senate primary, cast herself as a more progressive alternative, Texas GOP may censure Tony Gonzales over gay marriage, gun votes, Rep. Joaquin Castro's health plan points to a new Texas trend, Rep. Joaquin Castro diagnosed with cancer, undergoes surgery, Texas House Speaker appoints committee for gun legislation, Santa Fe families still denied video, records from 2018 shooting. So how much money does Whitmire have available for his mayoral campaign John Whitmire's most recent views and policy on Gun Buyback in 2023. margin-top: 0px; The general election was held on November 4, 2014. width: 100%; font-size: 1.2em; But Whitmire expressed this is not going to hold him back because he believes he's the only candidate who has the experience and resources to handle major problems when they arise. Democrat State Sen. John Whitmire to Run for Houston Mayor in 2023 A native of San Francisco, he graduated from Northwestern University in 2017 with degrees in journalism and political science, and has interned for the Tampa Bay Times, Washington Post and Fortune magazine. [8] Two additional called sessions were held from July 1 through July 30 and July 30 through August 5.[9]. letter-spacing: 0.03em; text-align: left !important; 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. Sen. John Whitmire announces 2023 run for Houston mayor .votebox-scroll-container { Apply today! } Lucio Vasquez produces stories for Houston Public Media's daily radio newscast and writes stories for HoustonPublicMedia.org. John Harris Whitmire [1] is an American attorney and politician who is the longest-serving current member of the Texas State Senate. display: inline-block; } over public safety issues, highlighted city and county struggles to manage the criminal justice system. How to run for office | Whitmire said he is expecting resistance from people who do not want to see the changes that he is advocating for, including a more transparent government than how the city is currently operating. Mayoral candidate Whitmire files campaign contribution report Groogan: No one knows more about criminal justice, in my opinion, than you. Every single department here is yours. In 2016, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. Theyre uncomfortable. Show us with your support. } break-inside: avoid-column; .widget-value { The host committee is filled with prominent lobbyists, business groups, labor unions, former elected officials and a mix of donors to both political parties. } [3], In 1993, weeks after passing a bill benefitting the Houston Firefighters' Relief and Retirement Fund, Whitmer was hired by the Fund as a Washington, D.C. lobbyist. .leg-hnt-leadership { clear: both; color: #fff; Since 1983, he has represented District 15, which includes much of northern Houston, Texas. (The Texan/Holly Hansen). Whitmire was not up for election to the Texas State Senate in 2004. He also referenced his history of working with both sides of the aisle and holding his committee chairmanship under Republican leadership. .votebox-results-metadata-p { } Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton this year. background-color: grey; font-weight: bold; }, 100); From improving public safety by being tough but smart on crime to promoting economic development, especially small businesses, to making City . Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislators political positions. FOX 26 Political Reporter Greg Groogan spoke with John Whitmire, Dean of the Texas Senate. The John Whitmire Campaign for Houston Mayor raised $1,148,015 from supporters in less than one month between the 2022 General Election and the legislative fundraising moratorium. [3], In his early teenage years, he moved to North Houston and attended Waltrip High School. 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. .widget-row.value-only.white { In 2019, the Texas State Legislature was in its 86th legislative session from January 8 through May 27. Dan Patrick often alluded to Whitmire's possible run during this year's special legislative sessions. div.oneoff-scrollbox.regular { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } Whitmire graduated with a B.A. .widget-row.Republican { Whitmire won re-election to the Texas State Senate in 2002. $('.showResponses').show(); He has nearly $10 million in his State Senate campaign account, and would easily be able to tap a long list of prospective donors he has strong relationships with to raise more. A primary election took place on March 4, 2014. In the Senate, Whitmire is best known for his work on criminal justice issues, having long served as chair of the Criminal Justice Committee, even under Republican leadership. position: relative; According to his latest campaign finance report, Whitmire leads the assembly of candidates for the most cash in his campaign bank account. } --highlights-background: #d3d4d5; The featured photo is the HISD Board officers. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was December 9, 2013. 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. State Sen. John Whitmire speaks during a campaign rally last year in Houston. When Harvey happened and the state got billions and billions of dollars, Houston didnt get any money for years. .hideResponses { display: none;} --view-more-background: #f0a236; } } $(".collapse-all").on('click', () => { | 1327. font-weight: 300; display: none; Known as a can do public servant, John often says, "Houston is not New York or Chicago we areHouston. State Sen. John Whitmire has identified as a Democrat for.
} The atmosphere was more victory . In response to the question "Should the federal government institute a mandatory buyback of assault weapons?", John Whitmire's response was. margin-bottom: 4px; Contact Information. margin-right: 10px; Cities | width: 57%; John Whitmire faces a Texas Senate challenge after announcing his bid .race_header, .results_text, .results_table_container, .votebox_legend { margin-bottom: .75em; font-weight: bold; left: 0; [8], Senator Whitmire passed legislation to free the Texans who were imprisoned as a result of the Tulia drug raid. } Whitmire is Texas Senate's longest-serving member, and his plans include running for reelection to the Senate in 2022, serving in the 2023 legislative session, and then running for mayor in November that year, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. width: 50%; They know if Im mayor, its going to be very transparent, honest and play no favors, he said. His bill-passing expertise and warm ties to the GOP. .leg-hnt-hide { borderColor: "#9C9C9C", }. [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. a[aria-expanded=true] .fa-chevron-right { display: none; } padding-left: 10px; Next week, they will likely be the former Board officers. The measure died after nearly every Democrat in the House voted against it, denying the two-thirds support needed to pass. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. width: 100%; State Sen. John Whitmire has set his sights on replacing Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner once Turner's term ends. Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update. .cf_bp_logo {width: 35px !important;}. 5:32 PM Dec 5, 2022 CST, On Nov. 29, Sen. John Whitmire announced his official run to become Houston's next mayor. ". Heres what you need to know. text-align: center; Tags Alan Rosen american red cross donations Harris County Precinct 1 Constables Office houston rockets Hurricane Ian hurricane relief Tilman Fertitta. } Whitmire won re-election to the 15th District Seat in the general election on November 2, 2010, defeating Republican Bill Walker. @media (max-width:600px) { From Gulf Coast AFL-CIO in Houston Mayor's Race. 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. [1] His parents divorced when he was seven years old, and the family moved several times, facing difficult financial circumstances. At the Capitol, Whitmire is the dean of the Senate where he took office in 1983 the title reserved for its longest-serving member. background-color: #6db24f; The idea that we are losing control of our schools is undemocratic if you ask Commentary. -. Overview; . }) John Whitmire | Houston TX border-radius: 50%; But how the mighty have fallen", "Democratic primary election returns, March 4, 2014 (Senate District 15)", "1992 Democratic Party Primary Runoff Election", Project Vote Smart - Senator John Whitmire (TX), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Whitmire&oldid=1136508454, This page was last edited on 30 January 2023, at 17:48. "We're running for mayor and we intend to win," he said at a Houston fundraiser captured by journalist Jose de Jesus Ortiz. vertical-align: top; font-weight: bold; Whitmire, a Democrat, has represented Houston in the Legislature since 1973, first as a state representative and then in the Senate beginning in 1983. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. State legislature | Whitmire said that this was Brewer's attempt to "make a mockery out of the process." [3] His father provided him a $5,000 loan for his campaign funds. John W. Whitmire August 22, 1944-September 15, 2021 COLONA-John W. Whitmire, 77, of Colona passed away September 15, 2021 at Hartland Healthcare Center in Moline and is now in the loving arms of h Importance: More Important Reference: Analysis of answers from 302 voters that voted for John Whitmire in the 2018 Texas District 15 State Senate election. background-color: red; As a former state representative, Turner was permitted to transfer the first $5,000 per donation in his state account to his mayoral campaign, but the total impact for Whitmire has yet to be determined. Prior to that, he served 10 years in the Texas House of Representatives. 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. } border:1px solid #FFB81F; Whitmire has served in the Senate since 1983. Thirty minutes after the regular session ended, Governor Rick Perry called legislators back for a special session starting that evening. [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. Whitmire ( Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Texas State Senate to represent District 15. .votebox_legend { background-color: #dac113; 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. font-weight: 500; box-sizing: border-box; Ballotpedia features 395,557 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. .contact_entity {font-size: 1.5em ;margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} In 2011, the Texas State Legislature was in its 82nd legislative session from January 11 through May 30. To contribute to the list of Texas scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org. Serving in the Texas Senate since 1983, Whitmire boasts about $11 million in his campaign account. Vote: John Whitmire voted Nay (Passage) - SB 260 - Amends Regulations Related to Immigration and Refugee Affairs 06/15/2011. $('.showResponses').hide(); --link-color: #337ab7; In 2014, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. 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. When Harvey happened and the state got billions and billions of dollars, Houston didnt get any money for years. Previously he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1973 through 1982. Another 6,266 votes (2.7 percent) went to the Libertarian choice, Gilberto "Gil" Velasquez, Jr.[7], In 1993, Whitmire was appointed by Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock as Chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, where he oversaw reforms to the penal code and increased construction of prisons, to generally favorable reception. div.survey-scrollbox { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } U.S. President | position: relative; The legislation allowed the judge to release the prisoners on bond pending the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeals. Then, donate to directly to his campaign. margin-bottom: -2px !important; background-color: #dac113; } background-color: #003388; .electionsectionheading { He also voted to amend the Texas Constitution to expand the charges under which judges could deny bail outright, extending the list to include certain violent and sexual crimes. document.getElementById('leg-hnt-content64038e9c5b59e').classList.remove('leg-hnt-hide'); We're in the process of transitioning services for our Today in Houston newsletter. Previously he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1973 through 1982. display: block; Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. Whitmire, a Democrat, was joined by several other Houston lawmakers at the event, including his Senate colleague Borris Miles. He also contributed $2,800 to Joe Bidens campaign in 2020. Texas state Sen. John Whitmire to run for Houston mayor in 2023 | The Campaign Website. If youd like to become one of the people were financially accountable to, click here to subscribe. background: #4c4c4c; State Sen. John Whitmire, the longest-serving member of the Texas Senate, announced Wednesday night he will run for Houston mayor in 2023. Biography John Whitmire's Political Summary Office: State Senate (TX) - District 15, Democratic Track This Politician Contact Information Campaign Campaign Webmail Campaign Website Office General District Capitol mail Email Capitol Webmail Capitol Website More Office Contacts keyboard_arrow_down perm_identity Who exactly is Whitmire?