Danielle Keys Bess

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Danielle Keys Bess

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

March 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

University of Texas at Arlington, 2005

Graduate

Texas Women's University, 2017

Personal

Birthplace

Houston, Texas

Religion

Christian

Profession

Real estate and consultant

Contact

Personal LinkedIn

Danielle Keys Bess (Democratic Party) ran for election for Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector in Texas. She lost in the Democratic primary on March 5, 2024.

Biography

Danielle Keys Bess was born in Houston, Texas. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2005 and an M.B.A. from Texas Women's University in 2017. Her career experience includes working in real estate and as a consultant. Bess has also been involved with Obama for America in Houston, the Sheila Jackson Lee for Congress campaign, Annise Parker for Mayor, and Ron Kirk for Senate campaign.

Bess has served with the Courtesy Corps of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church and as the Fashion Show tri-chair for the Women's Guild. She has also been affiliated with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Tierwester Civic Club, the Houston Association of Realtors, the Houston Black Real Estate Association, the INROADS Alumni Association, the Greater Houston Black Chamber, National Women of Achievement, the Houston Texans YMCA Community Board, and Julia F. Thompson, Inc. Bess was a 2010 to 2020 Womack Development top producer, a former Miss Black Houston, and a former Miss Black & Gold.

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Harris County, Texas (2024)

General election

General election for Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector

Annette Ramirez defeated Steve Radack in the general election for Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Annette Ramirez (D)	51.2	755,786
	Submit photo	Steve Radack (R)	48.8	719,555

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,475,341
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary runoff election

Democratic primary runoff for Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector

Annette Ramirez defeated Desiree Broadnax in the Democratic primary runoff for Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector on May 28, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Annette Ramirez	55.9	24,619
	Submit photo	Desiree Broadnax	44.1	19,427

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 44,046
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector

Annette Ramirez and Desiree Broadnax advanced to a runoff. They defeated Danielle Keys Bess, Jerry Davis, and Claude Cummings III in the Democratic primary for Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Annette Ramirez	40.6	63,325
✔	Submit photo	Desiree Broadnax	17.5	27,260
		Danielle Keys Bess	16.9	26,410
		Jerry Davis	15.4	24,023
	Submit photo	Claude Cummings III	9.5	14,818

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 155,836
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector

Steve Radack advanced from the Republican primary for Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Steve Radack	100.0	152,368

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 152,368
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Mike Wolfe (R)

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Bess in this election.

2023

See also: City elections in Houston, Texas (2023)

General runoff election

General runoff election for Houston City Council At-large Position 2

Willie R. Davis defeated Nick Hellyar in the general runoff election for Houston City Council At-large Position 2 on December 9, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Willie R. Davis (Nonpartisan)	55.1	95,470
		Nick Hellyar (Nonpartisan)	44.9	77,845

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 173,315
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

General election

General election for Houston City Council At-large Position 2

The following candidates ran in the general election for Houston City Council At-large Position 2 on November 7, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Willie R. Davis (Nonpartisan)	32.2	63,943
✔		Nick Hellyar (Nonpartisan)	22.7	45,139
		Danielle Keys Bess (Nonpartisan)	18.4	36,651
		Holly Maria Flynn Vilaseca (Nonpartisan)	10.5	20,971
	Submit photo	Marina Coryat (Nonpartisan)	8.5	16,841
		Obioha Nwabara (Nonpartisan)	7.7	15,265

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 198,810
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Bess in this election.

Regular election

See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

The general election was canceled. Incumbent Jolanda Jones won election in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 147.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Damien Thaddeus Jones (R)

Democratic primary runoff election

Democratic primary runoff for Texas House of Representatives District 147

Incumbent Jolanda Jones defeated Danielle Keys Bess in the Democratic primary runoff for Texas House of Representatives District 147 on May 24, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jolanda Jones	53.7	3,588
		Danielle Keys Bess	46.3	3,092

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,680
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 147

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 147 on March 1, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jolanda Jones	41.8	4,950
✔		Danielle Keys Bess	19.9	2,351
		Reagan Flowers	17.4	2,062
		Aurelia Wagner	8.5	1,010
		Namrata Subramanian	6.8	808
		Somtoochukwu Ik-Ejiofor	3.1	369
	Submit photo	Akwete Hines	2.4	289

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 11,839
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 147

Damien Thaddeus Jones defeated Rashard Baylor in the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 147 on March 1, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Damien Thaddeus Jones	53.7	1,117
	Submit photo	Rashard Baylor	46.3	965

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,082
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Special election

See also: Texas state legislative special elections, 2022

General election

Special general election for Texas House of Representatives District 147

Jolanda Jones defeated Danielle Keys Bess in the special general election for Texas House of Representatives District 147 on May 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jolanda Jones (D)	52.3	2,330
		Danielle Keys Bess (D)	47.7	2,125

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,455
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Danielle Keys Bess did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2023

Danielle Keys Bess did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Danielle Keys Bess completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Bess' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Danielle has over 20 years of experience in community activism, government relations and campaign logistics.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Key solutions through community collaboration
• Representation that prioritizes people over politics
• You can either have excuses or you can have results, you can’t have both.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

- Community Infrastructure

- Educational Reform
- Healthcare & Medicaid
- Senior Initiatives
- Civil & Equal Rights

- Public Safety

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My mother. She is the epitome of resiliency, leadership and integrity, and I would like to follow her example.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, Fairness & Honesty

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have a proven track record of exceptional outcomes in deadline-driven operations, excellence in public/government affairs, strategic marketing communication, conflict resolution, fundraising, project management and community outreach initiatives.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

True representation of constituents.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to leave a legacy of positive, lasting change for all Texans that improves one's quality of life.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Barack Obama's election as the first African- American President when I was 24 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Sales Associate at Academy Sports & Outdoors (1 Year)

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Bible, because it is one of the best love stories ever written.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Wonder Woman

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Say So, by PJ Morton & Jo Jo

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Having limitations in ways I can help others.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

The ideal is to have resolutions for all persons in the state.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Working in a minority capacity.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

A benefit and drawback is that legislation only goes up for vote once.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes, because it's a collective effort to move/pass legislation.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Fairness with no gerrymandering.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Urban Affairs & County Affairs

If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?

N/A

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Barbara Jordan

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

The hardships of not having expanded medicaid for Seniors monthly medical prescriptions.

Tell us your favorite joke.

I will name my children... 'Who's The', 'I'm The' and 'My Mom's The'

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Yes

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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2024 Elections

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