He has also reported on local politics for both papers. [1] [2] 1175 - Munich gains official status as city. } Whitmire said that this was Brewer's attempt to "make a mockery out of the process." U.S. Congress | 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. Updated 10hrs ago. width: 35px !important; display: flex; .widget-row.value-only.white { font-weight: 300; 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. 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. } State Sen. John Whitmire, the longest-serving member of the Texas Senate, announced Wednesday night he will run for Houston mayor in 2023. font-weight: bold; } National Federation of Independent Business in Texas, Texas Tribune Guest Column: Mark P. Jones, John Buntin, "The Correctionists," October 2010, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=John_Whitmire&oldid=8769085, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections. 1158 - Duke Henry the Lion builds bridge, mint, and salt-depot. left: 0; .widget-row.value-only { .top_disclaimer { State and local courts | Whitmire, who is a moderate Democrat, said he got involved in the mayor's race when he got a call from constituents who told him that he can unite the community. mail Email. } .clearfix { He is running for re-election this year and said he plans to run for mayor of Houston in 2023. font-size: .9em; His current term ends on January 14, 2025. flex: 0 0 150px; .cftable td { .leg-hnt-responsive-columns { Contact our sales team. John Whitmire (Democratic Party) is a member of the Texas State Senate, representing District 15. If you'd like to sign up now, fill out the form below and we will add you as soon as we finish the transition. I wanted them to fix the schools. font-weight: bold; column-rule: 1px solid #aaa; Whitmire won re-election to the 15th District Seat in the general election on November 2, 2010, defeating Republican Bill Walker. } What will be their political backgrounds? .key-messages li {margin-bottom: 10px;} 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. }. We fix our problems.. . He has built up his war chest over a. 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. background-color: #db0000; mail Email. paid for by the John Whitmire Campaign. } else { John Whitmire did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey. margin-top: 1em; .votebox-scroll-container { color: #888; width: 90%; p.survey-response {margin-left:10px;} Former City Council Member Amanda Edwards has raised $789,000, and local attorney Lee Kaplan has $900,000. During that election cycle, Whitmire raised a total of $481,540. .outer_percentage { Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. font-size: 1.2em; top: 2px; } .cfheader.green { over public safety issues, highlighted city and county struggles to manage the criminal justice system. [11] Heat has killed numerous prisoners and cost Texas taxpayers million of dollars in wrongful death suits brought by victims' families. .inner_percentage.Libertarian { margin-bottom: 0px; [3] He began his law studies at the Bates College of Law, then passed the bar in 1981 while still serving in the House. width: 50%; It is no different than running a huge company, Fertitta said. General District Capitol. height: 100%; margin-top: 5px; Who will replace the school board members? .leg-hnt-leadership-title { .cftable th { .leg-hnt-section-title { I want you to tell Houstonians that help is on the way.. background-color: #f9d334; At the Capitol, Mr. Whitmire is the dean of the Senate where he took office in 1983 the title reserved for its longest-serving member. }. In 2022, the Texas State Legislature was not in session. } Will the takeover be a sort of dictatorship? color: #fff; -John Whitmire. --link-color: #337ab7; John Whitmire's Biography . linkColor: "#0b0080", We are not New York or Chicago. .widget-row.Independent, .widget-row.Nonpartisan, .widget-row.Constitution { Whitmire won re-election to the Texas State Senate in 2000. 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? [6] Whitmire captured the Senate District 15 seat, taking office in 1983. Strong leadership and commitment to public service defines John Whitmire. [6] He ran unopposed in the primary. if (typeof $ != 'undefined') { The longtime chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee is calling for a bi-partisan sense of urgency to restore crumbling public safety across the Lone Star State. Example video title will go here for this video. color: #6db24f; And early indications are that several of them are raising a lot of money.. } padding-top: 8px; max-width: 600px; background-color: #dac113; Are we headed into uncharted territory so to speak? On June 10, 2003, the Tulia defendants were freed on bond as provided for in Senator Whitmire's legislation. "[11],

[14][3], Whitmire won re-nomination to Senate District 15 in the Democratic primary election held on March 4, 2014. --subtitle-background: #334aab; In 2016, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. margin: auto; Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. font-weight: 300; From 1375 to 1392 John ruled in Bavaria-Landshut with his brothers Stephen III and Frederick. 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. John Whitmire is Candidate for State Senate, 15th District, 2022 Primary Election in Texas (TX). .votebox_legend { 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. The John Whitmire for Mayor Campaign put this out this morning: John Whitmire announced today that former Houston City Councilmember James Rodriguez has endorsed him in his campaign for mayor of the City of Houston. "I will be tough but smart on crime, keep our economy growing and ensure city services are working for all Houstonians. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022. background-color: red; Whitmire and his wife, Becki, have two children: Whitney and Sarah. He also referenced his history of working with both sides of the aisle and holding his committee chairmanship under Republican leadership. 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. top: -5px; He did not graduate, as state law at the time allowed legislators entrance to the bar without a full J.D. .votebox-results-cell--number { --progress-bar: #f0a236; overflow-y: hidden; } .cftable { The more pressing matter Whitmire's re-election to. The. His tenure earns him the title of Dean of the Senate. Addressing a bipartisan crowd of more than 600 at Houstons Post Oak Hotel, Whitmire said he had personally witnessed the fallout from homelessness, decaying streets. His tenure earns him the title of Dean of the Senate. 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]. John Whitmire Texas State Senate District 15 $9,503,981 Cash on Hand. Earlier this year, Whitmire survived a primary challenge from emergency room nurse Molly Cook, who cast herself as a more progressive alternative to Whitmire. Were not gonna air condition them. document.getElementById('leg-hnt-toggle64038e9c5b59e').addEventListener('click', event => { Whitmire said his first response was "no" because he liked the work he was doing in the Senate. [3], Whitmire won reelection to the state Senate in the general election held on November 6, 2018. 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. Whitmire was not up for election to the Texas State Senate in 2004. Public policy. Explore his positions, donors, and political history. .votebox { [14] The district attorney eventually cleared him of wrongdoing. } A ll that was missing in the Post Oak Hotel ballroom were balloons and confetti as State Senator John Whitmire officially dove into Houston's 2023 mayoral race. .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h5.votebox-header-election-type { Campaign Webmail. The Fund allowed the contract to expire following public scrutiny. Incumbent John Whitmire defeated George Vachris in the general election for Texas State Senate District 15 on November 8, 2022. [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. .widget-row.Democratic { Campaign. background-color: black !important; color: white; margin: 8px auto; In 1385 John II and his wife inherited a third of County of Gorizia with Lienz, but already in 1392 he sold his part to the Habsburgs. 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. 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. Whitmire graduated with a B.A. Whitmire is thelongest-serving member of the Texas Senate. Office: State Senate (TX) - District 15, Democratic Track This Politician. } Texas Senator John Whitmire announced he will be running for mayor in 2023, kicking. [10] Other honorees included Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and Connecticut Representative Diana Urban. [6], Whitmire raised $1,072,000 while DeLaRosa raised $12,808.[7]. I believe using my experience and commitment to public service we will make Houston even better. clear: both; ". background-color: grey; John Whitmire's most recent views and policy on Gun Buyback in 2023. margin: 0 5px; 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. The longest-serving member of the Texas Senate, Democrat State Sen. John Whitmire (Houston), announced that he is running for mayor of the City of Houston in 2023 while at a campaign event for his re-election to the Senate on Wednesday. .race_footer { How to vote | The billionaire also faulted Mayor Sylvester Turner for not taking a stronger stance to represent the citys interest. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. height: 22px; width: 50%;

font-size:1.2em; 	color: white; Other notable host committee members include the Harris County Deputies Organization, Houston Professional Firefighters Association, and Houston Police Officers Union, as well as long-time Turner supporter and fundraiser Cindy Clifford. With almost a year to go until next years Nov. 7 election, Whitmire outlined his platform and kickstarted his campaign at Tuesdays fundraiser. We can fix our problems. RELATED: Houston mayoral contenders rake in millions in campaign cash, setting new bar for early fundraising. })  	} In response to the question "Should the federal government institute a mandatory buyback of assault weapons?", John Whitmire's response was. 	.race_header.republican {    color:white; 		width: 100%;  I want you to tell the firemen and the policemen that help is on the way, said Whitmire. [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. The following list may not be comprehensive. 		padding: 2px 0; 			overflow-x: scroll; .hideResponses { display: none;} BACKGROUND: Ahead of mayoral bid, state Sen. John Whitmire faces unexpected test in Senate primary. }) Jasper Scherer covers Texas politics and government for the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News.  Besides supporting law enforcement officers, he said he would also take a holistic approach to improving the criminal justice system including offering more resources to the court system and the crime lab. The results have been certified. Whitmire won re-election to the Texas State Senate in 2012. 

She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Central Florida with a degree in History, and in addition to writing about politics and policy, also writes about faith and culture. $(".expand-all").on('click', () => { In 2014, 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. This is what the Whitmire Campaign for Mayor put out yesterday: John Whitmire Receives Endorsement. by James Barragn }. } div.oneoff-scrollbox.regular { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } -. .mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { margin-bottom: 4px; } } Her former column, All In Perspective ran in The Georgetown Advocate, Jarrell Star Ledger, and The Hill Country News, and she has contributed to a variety of Texas digital media outlets.

complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. .mw-content-ltr td.votebox-results-cell--text, Campaign Webmail. JOHN LISTON: WEEKLEY, RICHARD WELDON (DICK) UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON: Democratic State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, announced Wednesday that he would be running for the mayor of Houston in 2023. width: 100%; Whitmire (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Texas State Senate to represent District 15. He assumed office in 1983. } Overview; . .race_header.green { 5:04 PM Dec 5, 2022 CST width: 100% Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. 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. Her father had been active in precinct-level politics, and the family frequently talked about local political issues. clearInterval(nTimer);

} Contact Information. position: absolute; Whitmire was not available for comment Thursday afternoon. } } $626,696 Total Contributions. font-weight: bold; The measure died after nearly every Democrat in the House voted against it, denying the two-thirds support needed to pass. border: 1px solid #999; tForeground: "#444444", 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. Source1Source2. 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. } His current term ends on January 14, 2025. He is a longtime ally of Houston and Harris Countys police union groups, which also are on the host committee for his kickoff fundraiser. document.getElementById('leg-hnt-content64038e9c5b59e').classList.remove('leg-hnt-hide'); Ron Hale was unopposed in the Republican primary, while incumbent John Whitmire defeated Damian LaCroix in the Democratic primary. In 2020, a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development audit flagged Houstons slow pace in administering Hurricane Harvey recovery funds, prompting the. .panel-heading:hover { cursor: pointer;}

.contact_office { margin-top: 0.3em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} During his remarks, Whitmire said he faced opposition from those who like the status quo.. A number of Democrats, including former state representative and city councilmember Ellen Cohen and former Harris County Democratic Party chair Lane Lewis, also are on the host committee. .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h3.votebox-header-office-name { margin-right: 10px; width: 100%; School districts | } In 2018, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session.

float:right; Meet John. 		background-color: #f4f4f4; Meet John; Conoce a John; Contact Us; GET IN TOUCH.  		letter-spacing: .03em; 	} .infobox { From improving public safety by being tough but smart on crime to promoting economic development, especially small businesses, to making City . Apply today! Campaign finance reports as of January 3, 2023; Candidate Raised Amanda Edwards $1,100,000 Chris Hollins $1,400,000 Lee Kaplan $1,300,000 John Whitmire paid for by the John Whitmire Campaign. "As Houston's first African-American police chief and mayor, I am proud to endorse Senator John Whitmire to be Houston's next mayor," said Former Mayor Brown. The featured photo is the HISD Board officers.    } 	font-weight: bold; He told the newspaper a public announcement will come later but "it's no secret" that he plans to run for mayor. 	margin-bottom: 1px; 		justify-content: center; 		background-color: #003388; "He was always someone I could . .cfheader.libertarian { 
   background-color: #6db24f; 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. They were later pardoned by the Governor. Get highlights, trending news, and behind-the-scenes insights from Houston Public Media delivered to your inbox each week. The event comes roughly a year after Whitmire told supporters at a campaign rally that he planned to run for mayor. 
font-size:1.2em; 	.inner_percentage.Green { 	    fontFamily: "Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif",  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. Takeover Look. Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. }, .leg-hnt-container { 	.leg-hnt-hide { Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. .widget-key { [3] Whitmire remains the chair as of the Eighty-seventh Texas Legislature. 	font-weight: bold;  2023 CAMPOS COMMUNICATIONS. U.S. President | 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. 
 If you'd like to sign up now, fill out the form below and we will add you as soon as we finish the transition. It isn't Whitmire's first time preventing Democrats from breaking quorum, as he's previously undermined his colleagues' legislative strategies. 	}  CONTACT [email protected] PO BOX 7271 Houston, TX 77248 . A primary election took place on March 4, 2014. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. FOX 26's Gabby Hart spoke with local criminal defense attorney Price Brown about if the . Incumbents are bolded and underlined. 	margin-top: 1px;    color:white; If John Whitmire is our mayor, that wouldnt have happened.. 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. In the Senate, Whitmire is best known for his work on criminal justice and public safety. 
   .contact_entity {font-size: 1.5em ;margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} 	 	} 		overflow-x: auto; I am thinking the GOP is biting off a bit more than they can chew on this call. 		text-align: left !important;  State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, told supporters on Wednesday he plans to run for mayor of Houston in 2023. 
 		font-size: 110%; When Harvey happened and the state got billions and billions of dollars, Houston didnt get any money for years. The report's staggering number, though, is the amount of cash he reports having on hand: about $10.1 million.  } From Gulf Coast AFL-CIO in Houston Mayor's Race. Houston Sen. John Whitmire (left) and local organizer Molly Cook (right) faced off in a primary this year to represent District 15. [8], Senator Whitmire passed legislation to free the Texans who were imprisoned as a result of the Tulia drug raid. General District Capitol. 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. 		vertical-align: middle; The host committee for Tuesdays event included many Republicans such as retiring state Rep. Dan Huberty (R-Humble) and real estate developer Dick Weekley. "As a former Houston city councilmember, I know city government's job is to provide core basic services . Kaplan raised $800,000 and pitched in another $100,000 of his own money. 	} Together we can make it better." 	.votebox-results-metadata { 	.results_row td { He's also eyeing a run for Houston mayor in 2023. Tilman Fertitta, billionaire investor and owner of the Houston Rockets basketball team, introduced Whitmire, and while not mentioning incumbent term-limited Mayor Sylvester Turner by name, referenced several controversies under Turners leadership. 	.votebox_bp_logo { .cfheader.republican { Vote: John Whitmire voted . Office. He was elected to the Texas Senate in 1982 after serving 10 years in the Texas House of Representatives. Elections for 15 of the 31 seats in the Texas State Senate took place in 2014. 		text-align: center;