The votes are in and the next mayor of Houston, TX won’t be Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) who was soundly thumped in Saturday’s runoff election, a major blow to the longtime Democrat congresswoman.
In a complete rejection of her racial identity-based politics, the foul-mouthed lawmaker was on the receiving end of a Liz Cheney-like beating with her opponent, Democrat state Sen. John Whitmire clobbering her by around 30 points despite endorsements from failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi.
“It’s sweeter to be saying what a sweet victory it is. It’s equally as sweet to acknowledge we put up a good fight,” Jackson Lee told supporters at her election night party that ended on a sour note when she failed to become the troubled city’s first black female mayor.
Voters have spoken, and I am humbly grateful to the people of Houston for electing me as their next mayor. While this marks the beginning of the true challenge ahead, as you all know, my only reason for running was to make a difference. I’m fired up to get started. Thank you to… pic.twitter.com/XlGvD1O4P3
— John Whitmire (@whitmire_john) December 10, 2023
“I don’t mind telling folks what a great city we have. But we’ve got great challenges. If we will come together and realize it won’t be easy. In fact, we will face challenges. But I see that as an opportunity. And I need you to join hands with me. We’ll meet our challenges. It’ll be an opportunity to show the nation what the city of Houston can do,” Whitmire said before a cheering crowd at Houston’s convention center.
Jackson Lee’s defeat is also a blow to the divisive fearmongering that has marked the current era of Democrat political dominance with the loser’s election day message urging Houstonians to get to the polls to vote against “Trumpism” and to protect the right of women to kill their unborn babies failing to produce the desired effect.
You have 7hrs left to vote Houston! Go vote Sheila Jackson Lee for Mayor! pic.twitter.com/Z9bVoupisK
— Sheila Jackson Lee (@SJacksonLee) December 9, 2023
By contrast, Whitmire ran on the actual issues with his campaign focusing on reducing crime, fixing the city’s infrastructure, and rising above the political dysfunction that has been the hallmark of the vandals that comprise the modern Democratic party.
Jackson Lee’s beatdown is a sign that Mrs. Clinton’s endorsement doesn’t carry the same clout that it used to and it could effectively be the kiss of death, a warning to other Democrats who may be seeking to leverage the name of a woman who is one of the most toxic forces in the history of American politics.
I endorse and proudly support my friend, @SJacksonLee, to be the next mayor of Houston.
Her relentless efforts in Congress prove she has the experience and vision to lead Houston into the future.
She’s always been a fierce champion for her constituents, and I have no doubt… pic.twitter.com/49qRNtDEpm
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 18, 2023
The congresswoman was also done in by two embarrassing unforced errors, the most recent of which was the inexplicable screw-up of running an ad with the wrong day, telling voters to turn out on December 7, two days before the election.
The spot shows the wrong date to vote in the runoff (actual date is December 9) https://t.co/TCPiZ16gg1 pic.twitter.com/rF7U2wUrIB
— Medium Buying (@MediumBuying) December 2, 2023
“I don’t think it’ll have an impact,” said Jackson Lee’s campaign spokesperson Angelica Luna-Kaufman after whining to Houston Public Media that the blunder was quickly corrected but that local media outlets were still airing the ad with the wrong date.
“Unfortunately, the news stations continued to run it,” Luna-Kaufman told Houston Public Media. “The stations did not switch it out (until Monday). They had the changed copy.”
There was also the leaked audio of the candidate berating staffers in an f-bomb-saturated tirade, not the sort of behavior one would expect from a member of Congress let alone the mayor of one of America’s largest cities.
Leaked audio obtained by @CurrentRevolt shows Democrat Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee berating a staffer: “F**king idiots serve no goddamn purpose … Nobody gives a shit about what you’re doing and you ain’t doing shit!”
(WARNING: Explicit language) pic.twitter.com/Lzl4AmKhkS
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 21, 2023
“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. I know that I am not perfect,” Jackson Lee said in a statement about the recording. “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. I am passionate about serving my constituents. I want the best for all of them.”
The 73-year-old Jackson Lee’s political future is uncertain as she has not yet announced if she will be running for reelection to Congress where she has been for five decades.
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