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John Whitmire
2024 - Present
2028
1
John Whitmire is the Mayor of Houston in Texas. He assumed office on January 2, 2024. His current term ends on January 2, 2028.
Whitmire was born in Hillsboro, Texas, in 1949.[1] He received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Houston.[1] In 1971, Whitmire’s senior year of college, a political science professor showed him a newly drawn district for the Texas House of Representatives.[2] District 82 covered Whitmire’s home, high school, church, and the hospital where his mother worked.[3] Whitmire said then, “It looks like they drew that one for me.”[3]
Whitmire was elected to represent District 82 in the state House in 1972 as a Democrat.[1] During his tenure in the state House, Whitmire attended law school at the University of Houston but did not graduate.[1] He was admitted into the Texas State Bar because, at the time, any legislator could be admitted if they passed the bar exam.[1]
In 1982, Whitmire was elected to represent District 15 in the Texas State Senate as a Democrat.[2]The Texas Tribune said Whitmire was “a lightweight in the 1970s and even the 1980s.”[1] Whitmire said that period was “pretty uneventful.”[1]
In 1992, Whitmire and his family were robbed at gunpoint.[2] Whitmire said that experience led him to focus his legislative efforts on public safety: “I thought he was definitely going to kill me, my wife, and my 9-year-old daughter. It just changes your life forever.”[2] In 1993, Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock (D) appointed Whitmire chair of the state Senate Criminal Justice Committee.[1] Whitmire served as chair for the remainder of his legislative career.[4] As chair, he oversaw reforms of the state’s criminal laws and increased the construction of prisons.[1]
On Whitmire’s career in the legislature, Texas Monthly said, “Whitmire…whose only previous contribution to the Senate was a series of one-liners, was the class clown who made straight A’s when he finally decided to do his homework.”[1]
In 2023, Whitmire ran for Mayor of Houston in a nonpartisan election. Whitmire and U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D) advanced from the November 7, 2023, general election, receiving 42.5% and 35.6% of the vote, respectively. Whitmire defeated Jackson Lee 64.4% to 35.6% in the December 9, 2023, runoff election. Whitmire said that, as mayor, he would focus on public safety and infrastructure.[5]
In office, Whitmire agreed to a new contract with the city's firefighter unions, ending an eight-year stalemate.[6] Whitmire also supported using $100 million in federal disaster relief to build and repair houses.[7]
Biography
John Whitmire was born in Hillsboro, Texas, in 1949. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Houston and also attended Bates College of Law at the University of Houston.[1][8] Whitmire's professional experience includes working as an attorney. Whitmire was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1973 to 1983 and the Texas Senate from 1983 to 2023.[9][10]
Elections
2023
See also: Mayoral election in Houston, Texas (2023)
General runoff election
General runoff election for Mayor of Houston
John Whitmire defeated Sheila Jackson Lee in the general runoff election for Mayor of Houston on December 9, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | John Whitmire (Nonpartisan) | 64.4 | 129,809 |
 | Sheila Jackson Lee (Nonpartisan) | 35.6 | 71,719 | |
| Total votes: 201,528 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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General election
General election for Mayor of Houston
The following candidates ran in the general election for Mayor of Houston on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Whitmire (Nonpartisan) | 42.5 | 107,411 |
| ✔ | | Sheila Jackson Lee (Nonpartisan) | 35.6 | 90,098 |
| Gilbert Garcia (Nonpartisan) | 7.2 | 18,220 | ||
 | Jack Christie (Nonpartisan) | 6.9 | 17,364 | |
 | Lee Kaplan (Nonpartisan) | 2.6 | 6,645 | |
 | Robert Gallegos (Nonpartisan) | 1.1 | 2,680 | |
| M.J. Khan (Nonpartisan) | 1.0 | 2,478 | ||
 | Annie Garcia (Nonpartisan) | 0.8 | 1,972 | |
 | Julian Martinez (Nonpartisan) | 0.7 | 1,813 | |
 | Roy Vasquez (Nonpartisan) | 0.4 | 1,083 | |
 | M. Griffin (Nonpartisan) | 0.3 | 674 | |
 | Kathy Lee Tatum (Nonpartisan) | 0.2 | 532 | |
| David Lowy (Nonpartisan) | 0.1 | 368 | ||
| Chanel Mbala (Nonpartisan) | 0.1 | 356 | ||
 | Naoufal Houjami (Nonpartisan) | 0.1 | 352 | |
 | Gaylon Caldwell (Nonpartisan) | 0.1 | 331 | |
| B. Ivy (Nonpartisan) | 0.1 | 287 | ||
 | Robin Williams (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 101 | |
| Total votes: 252,765 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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John Whitmire defeated Sheila Jackson Lee 64.4% to 35.6% in the runoff election for mayor of Houston, Texas, on December 9, 2023.
Both candidates advanced from the November 7, 2023, general election, with Whitmire and Jackson Lee receiving 42.5% and 35.6% of the vote, respectively. Incumbent Sylvester Turner was term-limited.[11]
Heading into the election, Whitmire was a Democratic member of the Texas Senate, representing District 15 since 1983. He also served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1973 to 1983, representing District 82.[12] Jackson Lee was a Democratic member of the U.S. House, representing Texas' 18th Congressional District since 1995. She was a municipal judge in Houston from 1987 to 1990 and a Houston city council member from 1990 to 1994.[13]
According to Politico, both candidates campaigned on crime and affordable housing, with Whitmire as the more moderate candidate and Jackson Lee to his left.[14] The Texas Tribune's Patrick Svitek and Maia Pandey said, "Whitmire ran on a platform of increasing public safety, fixing streets and reducing cronyism at City Hall. He also promised to improve the relationship between Houston and the Republican-led Legislature in Austin. ... Though Jackson Lee also focused on bread-and-butter issues throughout the campaign, she sought to position herself as a more reliable Democrat who would stand up to 'MAGA extremists.'"[15]
Whitmire led in polling and campaign donations. Jackson Lee had endorsements from Incumbent Sylvester Turner, Hillary Clinton (D), and Nancy Pelosi (D).[11][15]
According to the Houston Chronicle, approximately 68,000 Harris County voters participated in the runoff election, 38% less than the approximate 110,000 who voted in the November 7 general election.[16]
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Whitmire in this election.
2022
See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Texas State Senate District 15
Incumbent John Whitmire defeated George Vachris in the general election for Texas State Senate District 15 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Whitmire (D) | 65.3 | 159,125 |
 | George Vachris (R) | 34.7 | 84,437 | |
| Total votes: 243,562 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 15
Incumbent John Whitmire defeated Molly Cook in the Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 15 on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Whitmire | 58.4 | 26,286 |
 | Molly Cook | 41.6 | 18,695 | |
| Total votes: 44,981 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 15
George Vachris advanced from the Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 15 on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | George Vachris | 100.0 | 23,261 |
| Total votes: 23,261 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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John Whitmire (D) defeated Molly Cook (D) in the Democratic primary 58 to 42%.
Whitmire announced his mayoral campaign in 2021.[17] Cook ran as a more progressive alternative and criticized Whitmire running for re-election while announcing a mayoral bid, saying, "The Democratic Party and the people of SD 15 cannot afford to have a senator focused on his next political office. We need someone fully focused on fighting for progressive policy at the Texas capitol."[18] Whitmire campaigned on his experience, and defended his decision to run for re-election by saying "The mayor’s race is not on the ballot this time. I’m doing nothing different than wanting to go back to Austin and fight with my seniority."[19] Whitmire received endorsements from U.S. Reps. Al Green (D) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D), Houston Black American Democrats and the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation. Cook received endorsements from the Working Families Party, the Greater Heights Democratic Club, LEAP Forward, and the Houston DSA.[19]
Campaign finance
2018
- See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Texas State Senate District 15
Incumbent John Whitmire defeated Randy Orr and Gilberto Velasquez Jr. in the general election for Texas State Senate District 15 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Whitmire (D) | 65.2 | 153,016 |
 | Randy Orr (R) | 32.2 | 75,518 | |
| Gilberto Velasquez Jr. (L) | 2.7 | 6,229 | ||
| Total votes: 234,763 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 15
Incumbent John Whitmire defeated Damian Lacroix and Hank Segelke in the Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 15 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Whitmire | 74.9 | 27,220 |
| Damian Lacroix | 17.9 | 6,506 | ||
 | Hank Segelke | 7.2 | 2,609 | |
| Total votes: 36,335 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 15
Randy Orr advanced from the Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 15 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Randy Orr | 100.0 | 17,057 |
| Total votes: 17,057 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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2014
- See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for 15 of the 31 seats in the Texas State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on March 4, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was December 9, 2013. Ron Hale was unopposed in the Republican primary, while incumbent John Whitmire defeated Damian LaCroix in the Democratic primary. Whitmire defeated Hale in the general election. Gilberto Velasquez, Jr. was running as a Libertarian candidate.[20][21][22][23]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  John Whitmire Incumbent |
59.2% | 74,192 | |
| Republican | Ron Hale | 38.5% | 48,249 | |
| Libertarian | Gilberto Velasquez, Jr. | 2.4% | 2,947 | |
| Total Votes | 125,388 | |||
2012
- See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2012
Whitmire won re-election in the 2012 election for Texas State Senate, District 15. 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.[24]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Whitmire Incumbent |
62.3% | 135,822 | |
| Republican | Bill Walker | 37.7% | 82,038 | |
| Total Votes | 217,860 | |||
2010
- See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2010
Whitmire won re-election to the 15th District Seat in the general election on November 2, 2010, defeating Republican Bill Walker.[24] He ran unopposed in the primary.
| Texas State Senate, District 15 2010 General election results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| John Whitmire (D)
|
77,096 | 59.28% | ||
| Bill Walker (R) | 52,959 | 40.72% | ||
2006
On Nov. 7, 2006, Whitmire won re-election to the 15th District Seat in the Texas State Senate, defeating opponent Angel DeLaRosa (R).[24]
Whitmire raised $1,072,000, while DeLaRosa raised $12,808.[25]
| Texas State Senate, District 15 (2006) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| John Whitmire (D)
|
56,884 | 63.00% | ||
| Angel DeLaRosa (R) | 33,396 | 36.99% | ||
Campaign themes
2023
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
John Whitmire did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
John Whitmire did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope. Know of one we missed? Click here to let us know.
State legislative tenure
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Texas scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
In 2024, the Texas State Legislature was not in session.
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Texas State Legislature was in session from January 10 to May 29.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Texas State Legislature was not in session. |
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Texas State Legislature was in session from January 12 to May 31.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Texas State Legislature was not in session. |
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Texas State Legislature was in its 86th legislative session from January 8 through May 27.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Texas State Legislature was in its 85th legislative session from January 10 through May 29. A special session was held from July 18 to August 15.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Texas State Legislature was in its 84th legislative session from January 13 through June 1.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Texas State Legislature was in its 83rd legislative session from January 8 through May 27. Thirty minutes after the regular session ended, Governor Rick Perry called legislators back for a special session starting that evening.[26] Two additional called sessions were held from July 1 through July 30 and July 30 through August 5.[27]
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the Texas State Legislature was in its 82nd legislative session from January 11 through May 30. A special session was called for May 31 through June 29.[27]
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Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Whitmire was assigned to the following committees:
2021-2022
Whitmire was assigned to the following committees:
2019-2020
Whitmire was assigned to the following committees:
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Business & Commerce |
| • Criminal Justice, Chair |
| • Finance |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Whitmire served on the following committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Business & Commerce |
| • Criminal Justice, Chair |
| • Finance |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Whitmire served on the following committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Administration |
| • Business & Commerce |
| • Finance |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Whitmire served on the following Texas Senate committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Criminal Justice, Chair |
| • Administration |
| • Business & Commerce |
| • Finance |
| • Government Organization |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Whitmire served on the following Texas Senate committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Criminal Justice |
| • Administration |
| • Finance |
| • Government Organization |
See also
2023 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Mayor of Houston |
Officeholder Mayor of Houston |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 The Texas Tribune, "For Dean of Senate, Public and Private Blur," January 18, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Houston Landing, "In the Houston mayor’s race, John Whitmire is running on his record. So are his opponents.," January 18, 2013
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 ‘’Houston, Texas’’, “Mayor’s Biography,” accessed June 9, 2024
- ↑ ‘Legislative Reference Library of Texas’’, “John Whitmire,” accessed June 9, 2024
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "State Sen. John Whitmire elected Houston mayor, AP reports," December 9, 2023
- ↑ Houston Landing, "City Council OK’s $1.5B firefighter settlement and contract. Now they have to pay for it," June 18, 2024
- ↑ Houston Public Media, "Whitmire signals support for $100 million for housing from $315 million in disaster recovery funds," July 30, 2025
- ↑ Legistorm, "Former State Sen. John Whitmire," accessed September 3, 2025
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed May 24, 2014
- ↑ Legislative Reference Library of Texas, "John Whitmire," accessed December 14, 2023
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Governing, "Houston's New Mayor Will Take a More Conservative Approach," December 12, 2023
- ↑ Legislative Reference Library of Texas, "John Whitmire," accessed December 14, 2023
- ↑ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "JACKSON LEE, Sheila, (1950 - )," accessed February 5, 2015
- ↑ Politico, "Houston’s septuagenarian showdown," December 8, 2023
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 The Texas Tribune, "State Sen. John Whitmire elected Houston mayor, AP reports," December 9, 2023
- ↑ Houston Chronicle, "Key statistics from Houston's 2023 elections," December 10, 2023
- ↑ Houston Public Media, "State Senator John Whitmire announces run for Houston mayor in 2023," November 18, 2021
- ↑ Outsmart Magazine, "Out for Change: ‘Time for Something Different’," September 3, 2025
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Houston Public Media, "John Whitmire faces a Texas Senate challenge after announcing his bid for Houston mayor," February 7, 2022
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current ELECTION HISTORY," accessed December 2, 2014
- ↑ Green Party of Texas, "Greens Release Candidate List," accessed July 26, 2014
- ↑ The Libertarian Party of Texas, "2014 Texas Senate Candidates List," accessed July 26, 2014
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Election Brackets," accessed May 5, 2014
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current Election History," accessed February 17, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2006 Candidate funds," accessed May 24, 2014
- ↑ kten.com, "Texas Lawmakers To Tackle Redistricting In Special Session," May 29, 2013
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Legislative reference Library of Texas, "Texas Legislative Sessions and Years," accessed June 13, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Mayor of Houston 2024-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Texas State Senate District 15 1983-2024 |
Succeeded by Molly Cook (D) |
| Preceded by - |
Texas House of Representatives District 82 1973-1983 |
Succeeded by - |
