font-size:1.2em;. a[aria-expanded=true] .fa-chevron-right { display: none; } .results_table { In 2011, the Texas State Legislature was in its 82nd legislative session from January 11 through May 30. Meet John; Conoce a John; Contact Us; GET IN TOUCH. 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. .votebox-results-metadata-p { width: 350px; Credit- Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune 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. In 2019, the Texas State Legislature was in its 86th legislative session from January 8 through May 27. width: 57%; 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. .widget-row.Republican { Updated 1255 - City becomes ducal residence of Upper Bavaria. Contact Information. background-color: #003388; .cfheader.libertarian { John Whitmire will focus on better streets, improved drainage and reliable garbage pickup.. color: white; Its rattlesnake season in Texas. } height: 100%; We're in the process of transitioning services for our Today in Houston newsletter. His views on criminal justice, and his support from GOP-aligned donors, have attracted some early backlash from Democrats, including Hollins, who noted last month on Twitter that Whitmire had not endorsed Hidalgo in the county judges race. display: inline-block; font-weight: bold; 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. One could mount a statewide campaign while . }); What's on my ballot? "I will be tough but smart on crime, keep our economy growing and ensure city services are working for all Houstonians. Ballotpedia completes yearly updates of committee membership.
} 5:32 PM Dec 5, 2022 CST, On Nov. 29, Sen. John Whitmire announced his official run to become Houston's next mayor. Get highlights, trending news, and behind-the-scenes insights from Houston Public Media delivered to your inbox each week. Dan Patrick often alluded to Whitmire's possible run during this year's special legislative sessions. I wanted them to fix the schools. Sims said Whitmires war chest gives him an edge, but one that is surmountable for the other candidates. margin-bottom: 0; background-color: #6db24f; His bill-passing expertise and warm ties to the GOP. 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. 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. The following list may not be comprehensive. } Whitmire already has huge support from some very important figures, including former Houston PoliceChief Art Acevedo and Houston billionaire and philanthropist Tilman Fertitta. } .widget-row.Green {
text-align:center; 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.". Other announced candidates include former Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins, who presided over the controversial 2020 general election in Harris County and has raised $1.1 million. Jasper Scherer covers Texas politics and government for the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News. Mealer donors serving on the host committee for Tuesdays fundraiser include Fertitta, Gallery Furniture owner Jim Mattress Mack McIngvale, real estate developer Richard Weekley, Fidelis Realty Partners CEO Alan Hassenflu and Houston beer distributor John Nau, among others. Takeover Look. I am often asked why would I leave a state senate position to serve as mayor - simply because I care about Houston and its citizens who want to be safe to live, work, and raise their families in our great city. text-align: center; Number two, we couldnt afford it if we wanted to. Whitmire's quote was featured the following month on a segment on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver criticizing Texas for not air conditioning its prisons, exacerbating medical conditions and even causing the death of some prisoners. complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. overflow-x: auto; Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. John Whitmire Texas State Senate District 15 $9,503,981 Cash on Hand. In the Senate, Whitmire is best known for his work on criminal justice and public safety. State and local courts | padding-left: 10px; .widget-row.value-only { Whitmire won re-election to the Texas State Senate in 2000. Kaplan raised $800,000 and pitched in another $100,000 of his own money. .mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { On June 10, 2003, the Tulia defendants were freed on bond as provided for in Senator Whitmire's legislation. In 2022, the Texas State Legislature was not in session. Should the firefighters prevail, the city may owe back wages topping $1 billion according to some estimates. width: 100%; Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Groogan: No one knows more about criminal justice, in my opinion, than you. .race_header.democratic { Campaign Webmail. Whitmire, the longest-tenured member of the Texas Senate, has joined a Houston mayoral race that includes Amanda K. Edwards, Chris Hollins and Lee Kaplan. The senator contacted the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and asked the agency to end the practice of last meal requests or he would get the State Legislature to pass a bill doing so. padding: 2px 0; a[aria-expanded=false] .fa-chevron-down { display: none; } From Gulf Coast AFL-CIO in Houston Mayor's Race. If John Whitmire is our mayor, that wouldnt have happened.. padding-bottom: 8px; In 2017, the Texas State Legislature was in its 85th legislative session from January 10 through May 29. } padding-bottom: 7px; width: 50%; Meet John; Conoce a John; Contact Us; GET IN TOUCH. .widget-row.heading { I can tell you this. max-width: 600px; 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 hcolor: #337ab7, font-size: .9em; background-color: #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa; letter-spacing: 0.03em; Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. He has spent his adult life working for Houstonians in our state's Capitol and now John is running for Houston Mayor. Whitmire was not up for election to the Texas State Senate in 2008. During that election cycle, Whitmire raised a total of $613,615. . display: inline-block; [14][3], Whitmire won re-nomination to Senate District 15 in the Democratic primary election held on March 4, 2014. After she married, her husband's brother, John Whitmire, already a rising star in the Texas Democratic Party, was a willing political mentor. Democratic State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, announced Wednesday that he would be running for the mayor of Houston in 2023. It is no different than running a huge company, Fertitta said. Fertitta, who chairs the Houston Police Foundation, a nonprofit formed by business leaders that supports the Houston Police Department, is serving as Whitmires campaign finance chair. 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. padding-top: 3px;} Whitmire (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Texas State Senate to represent District 15. .widget-img { Whitmire has. 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. .votebox-results-metadata { position: absolute; [3] He began his law studies at the Bates College of Law, then passed the bar in 1981 while still serving in the House. The atmosphere was more victory . .leg-hnt-flex-item { } }. With all voting centers reporting, John Whitmire has won the Democratic primary for Texas Senate District 15 with 57.5% of the vote, or 24,724 votes. div.survey-scrollbox { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } Let the Houston Public Media newsroom help you start your day.
background-color: #003388; padding:7px 8px 8px; , and dysfunctional city services, and emphasized regional public safety challenges. Whitmire is the longest-serving member of the Texas Senate. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. .widget-row.value-only.white { } Show us with your support. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? } clear: both; For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. 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. [10] Other honorees included Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and Connecticut Representative Diana Urban. Contributions maintained by the Whitmire Campaign at the end of the year total $10,100,086. In 2016, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. font-weight: 500; .votebox_legend .non_result_row { HOUSTON The race for Houston mayor is starting to heat up as Sylvester Turner 's term limit ends next year. State Sen. John Whitmire speaks during a campaign rally last year in Houston. I want you to tell the firemen and the policemen that help is on the way, said Whitmire. }); .votebox { background-color: grey; Senate seat will be on the ballot in 2032, and the next Governor's race would be in 2034. 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? He is running for re-election this year and said he plans to run for mayor of Houston in 2023. Former Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins, former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards and businessman Lee Kaplan are also running for Houston mayor. } Her father had been active in precinct-level politics, and the family frequently talked about local political issues. Whitmire ( Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Texas State Senate to represent District 15. } Whitmire won re-election to the 15th District Seat in the general election on November 2, 2010, defeating Republican Bill Walker. } 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 has identified as a Democrat for. He has served in the upper chamber since 1982. color: white; }.results_row td { Democratic state Sen. John Whitmire is facing a new challenge in the legislature from a local community organizer after announcing his bid for mayor of Houston next year. Since 1983, he has represented District 15, which includes much of northern Houston, Texas. "He was always someone I could . color: white; Elections for 15 of the 31 seats in the Texas State Senate took place in 2014. [11] Heat has killed numerous prisoners and cost Texas taxpayers million of dollars in wrongful death suits brought by victims' families. padding-bottom: 0px; .cftable td { Among them, public safety is a driving issue for the candidate. Lt. Gov. .cfheader { clearInterval(nTimer); (Contributed photo) State Sen. John Whitmire said he plans to run for mayor of Houston in 2023, after the next biennial session of the Texas Legislature. } He won in the general election on November 8, 2022. Hollins reported a $1.1 million haul during the first five months of his campaign, while Edwards took in about $789,000 in a shorter span. "We want to see somebody that can have a true impact on the city. } Though his record generally aligns with those of his Democratic colleagues on other issues, Whitmire has broken with his party on a number of votes related to criminal justice. border-top: 1px solid #aaa; [3] Whitmire remains the chair as of the Eighty-seventh Texas Legislature. Office. } width: 150px; Texas Senator John Whitmire announced he will be running for mayor in 2023, kicking off his campaign Wednesday. Who will replace the school board members? By Leah Foreman Get highlights, trending news, and behind-the-scenes insights from Houston Public Media delivered to your inbox each week. He's also eyeing a run for Houston mayor in 2023. .large-date { text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600;} max-height: 580px; vertical-align: top; .top_disclaimer { As the longest-serving member of the states upper chamber, Whitmire is known as Dean of the Senate. He touts a campaign war chest of $9.7 million, but not all of those funds are available for his mayoral campaign due to the city-imposed contribution limits. } .leg-hnt-district-number { 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. Houston Sen. John Whitmire (left) and local organizer Molly Cook (right) faced off in a primary this year to represent District 15. --highlights-background: #d3d4d5; padding-left: 10px; And the real solution is, dont commit a crime and you stay at home and be cool. display: block; }) .panel-heading:hover { cursor: pointer;} Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. width: 250px; RELATED: Houston mayoral contenders rake in millions in campaign cash, setting new bar for early fundraising. letter-spacing: 0.03em; With 774 of 782 precincts reporting, Democrat incumbent John Whitmire is projected to win the race for Texas Senate District 15. over Republican challenger George Brian Vachris. padding: 2px 0; Im not going to get into squabbles with other elected officials about what the numbers are, but the bottom line is we have a crime issue in Houston, Harris County, said Whitmire. Later, both Houston and Harris County were temporarily excluded from receiving relief funds. Houston Public Media is supported with your gifts to the Houston Public Media Foundation and is licensed to the University of Houston. 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. background-color: #ccc; } 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. overflow-y: auto; FOX 26's Gabby Hart spoke with local criminal defense attorney Price Brown about if the . 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. background-color: #6db24f; .votebox-covid-disclaimer { Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer. Previously he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1973 through 1982. font-size: 12px; All Rights Reserved. color:white; } John Whitmire ( Democratic Party) is a member of the Texas State Senate, representing District 15. font-size: 20px; Incumbents are bolded and underlined. State Sen. John Whitmire, the longest-serving member of the Texas Senate, announced Wednesday night he will run for Houston mayor in 2023.} In the hotel's reception room, Whitmire's first words to . In 2021, the Texas State Legislature was in session from January 12 to May 31. $('.pastResponses').hide(); On Jan. 17, Whitmire reported $10.1 million cash.