Houston Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee has filed for reelection to the House just two days after losing the mayoral runoff to Texas State Sen. and Houston Mayor-elect John Whitmire.
Whitmire (D) defeated Jackson Lee 64%-36% in a landslide loss on Saturday.
“I am compelled by the numerous opportunities still ahead to enhance the lives of my constituents,” Jackson Lee said in a statement. “My commitment encompasses hard work geared towards securing better education for children, ensuring affordable housing for young families, fostering an improved quality of life for seniors, protecting reproductive rights, stopping the spread of gun violence, bringing down crime, and protecting the environment for the sake of future generations, she wrote.
Her announcement means she will go head-to-head in the March 5 primary with former Houston city councilmember and previous U.S. Senate candidate Amanda Edwards. Edwards was also once an intern for Jackson Lee.
Another former Jackson Lee intern, Aerospace consultant Isaiah Martin, also sought the Democratic nomination, but on Monday, he announced that he was suspending his campaign and endorsing her instead.
“I’ll be suspending my campaign for Congress and endorsing @SJacksonLee. Our focus must be on flipping the House and electing more good democrats — not primarying great members,” Martin wrote on X, formerly Twitter, alongside a full statement. “I couldn’t be more thankful for all of your support; this isn’t the end of our story; trust me.”
I’ll be suspending my campaign for Congress and endorsing @SJacksonLee. Our focus must be on flipping the House and electing more good democrats — not primarying great members.
— Isaiah Martin (@isaiahrmartin) December 11, 2023
I couldn’t be more thankful for all of your support; this isn’t the end of our story; trust me. pic.twitter.com/TgOMg6RwRW
Jackson Lee’s campaign took a hit in October when a recording—sent from an anonymous email—leaked, appearing to show her berating staff with profanity.
“I want to convey to the people of Houston that I strongly believe that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and that includes my own staff,” Jackson Lee said at the time. “I know that I am not perfect. I recognize that in my zeal to do everything possible to deliver for my constituents I have in the past fallen short of my own standards and there is no excuse for that.”
