Topline
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D) announced she will run for Houston’s open mayoral seat this year, instantly making the outspoken progressive congresswoman the most recognizable candidate for the top government job in the nation’s fourth-largest city.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) speaks during a House Judiciary Committee markup of Articles of … [+]
Key Facts
Jackson Lee made the announcement at a church event live streamed Sunday, which started receiving widespread attention Monday after Houston online publication Urban Reform and other media outlets shared the video.
The congresswoman told the church: “Sheila Jackson Lee wants to come home to be your mayor for the city of Houston,” after serving as a member of Congress since 1995.
Jackson Lee, 73, has become known for speaking out during congressional proceedings in favor of a variety of progressive and social justice causes, such as gun control and Medicare for All—while her tenacious demeanor has made her a favorite among progressives but anathema to some right-wingers, with Fox News host Tucker Carlson labeling her “the single most obnoxious member of Congress.”
Jackson Lee’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about her mayoral bid.
What To Watch For
Election Day is November 7. Jackson Lee will only have to give up her seat in Congress if she wins since she is not up for reelection this year.
Key Background
Jackson Lee’s candidacy comes at a perilous time for progressives, especially those seeking local office, as conservatives and centrists blame the left-wing cohort for issues like a purported rise in violent crime in large cities—though Houston police statistics suggest violent crime actually decreased there last year after spiking during the Covid-19 pandemic. San Francisco voters recalled progressive District Attorney Chesa Boudin and three Board of Education members last year, while progressive Karen Bass won a Los Angeles mayoral runoff over former Republican Rick Caruso by a single-digit margin in November. Polling shows a neck-and-neck race in next week’s Chicago mayoral runoff between progressive Brandon Jackson and Paul Vallas, who has support from conservatives and the city’s business community. Early polling suggests crime is a top issue in the Houston mayoral race, even though the murder count dropped last year, which could still encourage attacks against Jackson Lee given her status as a high-profile progressive. Among the other announced candidates are former Houston councilwoman Amanda Edwards and Chris Hollins, the vice chairman of the Texas Democratic Party. Mayor Sylvester Turner is ineligible to run for a third term as mayor due to term limits.
Further Reading
U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee is running for Houston mayor (Texas Tribune)
San Francisco Recalls Progressive DA Chesa Boudin, Billionaire Caruso Advances In Los Angeles Mayoral Race (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/03/27/progressive-firebrand-rep-sheila-jackson-lee-running-for-houston-mayor/