He joined the Hearst Austin bureau in 2021 after nearly three years as a City Hall reporter for the Chronicle and a prior stint covering Bexar County for the Express-News. Dan Patrick often alluded to Whitmire's possible run during this year's special legislative sessions. In his early years, he was not seen as a particularly influential legislator, and he was criticized by Texas Monthly magazine for his low impact. color: #888; that forced the city to implement a boil water notice, keeping businesses and schools closed for two days. Holly Hansen is a regional reporter for The Texan living in Harris County. p.survey-question {font-weight:bold;} "We want to see somebody that can have a true impact on the city. As we head into the weekend, folks are wondering what a TEA takeover of HISD looks like. } [9], Whitmire was angered by convicted murderer's Lawrence Russell Brewer refusal to eat the extensive last meal he ordered prior to his September 21, 2011, execution. } font-size: .9em; } .widget-row.value-only { display: inline-block; At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. We're in the process of transitioning services for our Today in Houston newsletter. padding-left: 10px; border-top: 1px solid #aaa; The prisons are hot. This is what the Whitmire Campaign for Mayor put out yesterday: John Whitmire Receives Endorsement. Houston has term limits, and Turner's second and final term will end in January 2024. Elections for 15 of the 31 seats in the Texas State Senate took place in 2014. Campaign. padding: 2px 0; .mw-content-ltr td.votebox-results-cell--text, } } .leg-hnt-title { .widget-row.Republican { In 2018, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. [14] In 1995, Whitmer came under investigation by the Harris County district attorney's office for taking a job with a state agency whose funding he oversaw via the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. The report's staggering number, though, is the amount of cash he reports having on hand: about $10.1 million. .inner_percentage.Republican { text-align: center; He is a longtime ally of Houston and Harris Countys police union groups, which also are on the host committee for his kickoff fundraiser. We are not New York or Chicago. [3], In his early teenage years, he moved to North Houston and attended Waltrip High School. | Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. The longtime chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee is calling for a bi-partisan sense of urgency to restore crumbling public safety across the Lone Star State.

} State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, told supporters on Wednesday he plans to run for mayor of Houston in 2023. } I thought they would fix the school, says Rep. (Harold) Dutton. Overview; . It is no different than running a huge company, said Fertitta. } margin-bottom:16px; borderColor: "#9C9C9C", Whitmire, who has previously criticized local leadership over public safety issues, highlighted city and county struggles to manage the criminal justice system. .votebox-results-metadata-p { [4], Under pressure from the Federal Courts, the 1971 legislature drew up Texas's first single-member district plan for the House of Representatives. During that election cycle, Whitmire raised a total of $1,932,588. } @media (max-width:600px) { [1] [2] 1175 - Munich gains official status as city. padding-top: 8px; position: relative; [12], In 2003, Whitmire was one of the "Texas Eleven", a group of Democrats who fled the state for New Mexico in 2003 in a quorum-busting effort aimed at preventing the passage of redistricting legislation that would have benefited Texas Republicans. } John Whitmire, state senator and brother-in-law of former mayor Kathy Whitmire (Party affiliation: Democratic) . font-size: 12px; Prior to his election to the state senate, Whitmire was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1973 to 1982.[1]. margin-right: 10px; Democratic State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, announced Wednesday that he would be running for the mayor of Houston in 2023. He noted some courtrooms were still closed despite nearly 2,000 murder suspects awaiting trial and more than 900 suspects out on bond for murder or capital murder. [13], During the 1990s, Whitmer was the subject of several controversies related to potential conflicts of interest with clients and employers stemming from his position on the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. Adv. letter-spacing: 0.03em; John Whitmire's Biography .

. padding-left: 10px; .widget-row.Independent, .widget-row.Nonpartisan, .widget-row.Constitution { Whitmire said he is expecting resistance from people who do not want to see the changes that he is advocating for, including a more transparent government than how the city is currently operating. column-rule: 1px solid #aaa; John W. Whitmire August 22, 1944-September 15, 2021 COLONA-John W. Whitmire, 77, of Colona passed away September 15, 2021 at Hartland Healthcare Center in Moline and is now in the loving arms of h Campaign Webmail. State Sen. John Whitmire has set his sights on replacing Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner once Turner's term ends. General District Capitol. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. John looks at things the right way and isnt partisan when it comes to doing the right thing.. overflow-y: hidden; .votebox-results-cell--check { Since 1983, he has represented District 15, which includes much of northern Houston, Texas. Addressing a bipartisan crowd of more than 600 at Houstons Post Oak Hotel, Whitmire said he had personally witnessed the fallout from homelessness, decaying streets. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. margin-top: 1em; } Should the firefighters prevail, the city may owe back wages topping $1 billion according to some estimates. color: black; Groogan: No one knows more about criminal justice, in my opinion, than you. rowCount: "25", } Contact Information. font-size: 12px; .cftable { box-sizing: border-box; Campaign Webmail. float: left; Ballotpedia features 395,557 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. On June 10, 2003, the Tulia defendants were freed on bond as provided for in Senator Whitmire's legislation. I want you to tell Houstonians that help is on the way.. CONTACT [email protected] PO BOX 7271 Houston, TX 77248 . Turner also delayed implementation of a financial transparency project that would have put the citys checkbook online until next year, and last year, former city housing director Tom McCasland accused the mayor of a lack of transparency in awarding a $15 million contract to a former law partner. Whitmire, the longest-serving member of the Texas Senate, already has $9.5 million in his state campaign account, according to his most recent filing. Elections in 2023 | [6], Whitmire raised $1,072,000 while DeLaRosa raised $12,808.[7]. Campaign Website. He also voted to amend the Texas Constitution to expand the charges under which judges could deny bail outright, extending the list to include certain violent and sexual crimes. .leg-hnt-district-container { .widget-row.Libertarian { After she married, her husband's brother, John Whitmire, already a rising star in the Texas Democratic Party, was a willing political mentor. padding: 2px 0; It isn't Whitmire's first time preventing Democrats from breaking quorum, as he's previously undermined his colleagues' legislative strategies. top: -5px; Whitmire's notable work on the Senate includes efforts to improve public safety and criminal justice. [3], In 1993, weeks after passing a bill benefitting the Houston Firefighters' Relief and Retirement Fund, Whitmer was hired by the Fund as a Washington, D.C. lobbyist. } letter-spacing: .04em; .results_text { .race_footer { In this, we have an open race with people who have to build their name ID from the beginning and make voters acquainted with them. color: white; Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. } Previously he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1973 through 1982. margin: 3px 0; } Earlier this year, William Paul-Thomas, a senior aide to Turner, pled guilty to federal public corruption charges and resigned.

font-size:1.2em; 		flex-direction: column; [3] He is married to Rebecca Dalby. 		padding-bottom: 3px; Prior to CI, Leah graduated with a bachelor's in communications and digital media from the University of Tampa in May 2020, earned a master's in journalism from New York University in December 2021 and freelanced. 		display: block; Theyre uncomfortable. But after he thought about all the issues that needed repairing in the city, he said he knew he would be the right person for the job. mail Email. 	width: 43%; 		background-color: #6db24f; This is from Fox 26 and the author of the legislation that provided the vehicle for the HISD takeover: I think I know how David felt against Goliath. .cfheader.libertarian { Serving in the Texas Senate since 1983, Whitmire boasts about $11 million in his campaign account. Thirty minutes after the regular session ended, Governor Rick Perry called legislators back for a special session starting that evening. } $626,696 Total Contributions. By Leah Foreman He also referenced his history of working with both sides of the aisle and holding his committee chairmanship under Republican leadership. 	} His current term ends on January 14, 2025. Kathy Whitmire's exposure to and interest in city politics began in her parents' home. 		text-align: center;   } On Jan. 17, Whitmire reported $10.1 million cash. 	    tForeground: "#444444", 
  Show us with your support.  "I'm . 		width: 100%; .cf_bp_logo {width: 35px !important;}. He has also reported on local politics for both papers.  100% remote. } 	font-weight: bold; ul.key-messages {list-style-type: none; margin-left:10px; } Whitmire, who is a moderate Democrat, said he got involved in the mayor's race when he got a call from constituents who told him that he can unite the community. State Sen. John Whitmire speaks during a campaign rally last year in Houston. 1327. Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. 		letter-spacing: 0.03em; Whitmire won re-election to the 15th District Seat in the general election on November 2, 2010, defeating Republican Bill Walker. 
   background-color: black !important; 
   background-color: #003388;  In addition to being a senator, Whitmire is also an attorney of counsel at Locke, Liddell and Sapp. 		width: 90%; }, .leg-hnt-container { 
} For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. 	}   --highlights-background: #d3d4d5; Theres people that like the city is operating because they are profiting real well. With all voting centers reporting, John Whitmire has won the Democratic primary for Texas Senate District 15 with 57.5% of the vote, or 24,724 votes.  Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. 	background-color: #dac113; 	} -John Whitmire. State Sen. John Whitmire on Wednesday was leading in the . document.getElementById('leg-hnt-toggle64038e9c5b59e').addEventListener('click', event => { 		font-size: 110%; 	.results_row.winner { 
 | Get highlights, trending news, and behind-the-scenes insights from Houston Public Media delivered to your inbox each week. Disclosure: Unlike almost every other media outlet, The Texan is not beholden to any special interests, does not apply for any type of state or federal funding, and relies exclusively on its readers for financial support. The more pressing matter  Whitmire's re-election to. 	.votebox_bp_logo { Whitmire's track record as a. 		background: #4c4c4c; 	width: 250px;  We can fix our problems. In 2014, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. -.  }. 		padding-bottom: 0px;   border: 1px solid #a2a9b1 !important; 			width: 350px;  		width: 50px; 	 			} } 		font-weight: 100; Sheriff: 4 arrested, 3 vehicles seized after parking lot takeover near Missouri City, Houston forecast: Get ready for a picture perfect weekend, Damage reported throughout North Texas area during severe weather, longest-serving member of the Texas Senate, Former U.S. Senate candidate Amanda Edwards announces run for Houston mayor, Chris Hollins will run to replace Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. ", "There are people that like the way the city is being operated because they are profiting really well," Whitmire said. 		display: inline; Whitmire, the longest-tenured member of the Texas Senate, has joined a Houston mayoral race that includes Amanda K. Edwards, Chris Hollins and Lee Kaplan. })(); See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection. if (typeof $  !=  'undefined') { FOX 26's Gabby Hart spoke with local criminal defense attorney Price Brown about if the . border:1px solid #FFB81F; Your subscription will be migrated over. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was December 9, 2013.  Texas Senator John Whitmire announced he will be running for mayor in 2023, kicking. Her former column, All In Perspective ran in The Georgetown Advocate, Jarrell Star Ledger, and The Hill Country News, and she has contributed to a variety of Texas digital media outlets. 		margin-top: 0px; Senator John Whitmire represents the 15th Senatorial District comprised of north Houston and parts of Harris County. FOX 26 Political Reporter Greg Groogan spoke with John Whitmire, Dean of the Texas Senate. Whitmire, a Democrat, was joined by several other Houston lawmakers at the event, including his Senate colleague Borris Miles. Let the Houston Public Media newsroom help you start your day. The 11th-hour amendment made by Rep. Greg Bonnen currently allows 46 state employees in Texas, including the three . 	  }); .votebox { $('.collapse').collapse('hide'); At the Capitol, Whitmire is the dean of the Senate  where he took office in 1983  the title reserved for its longest-serving member. [3], In 1982, Senator Jack Ogg vacated his seat to pursue the Attorney General position. width: 250px; Sims said Whitmires war chest gives him an edge, but one that is surmountable for the other candidates. Her father had been active in precinct-level politics, and the family frequently talked about local political issues. | 	    backImage: "flat", He has spent his adult life working for Houstonians in our states Capitol and now John is running for Houston Mayor. The impending takeover of HISD by the TEA dates back to 2019, when Wheatley High School triggered a state law by failing to meet accountability standards for seven consecutive years.  A special session was held from July 18 to August 15. 		background-color: #db0000; Standing next to a display that referred to the region as the "Murder Capital of Texas," state Sen. John Whitmire (D-Houston) and Harris County Deputies Organization (HCDO) President David Cuevas called for county leaders to address crime and provide more resources for law enforcement. 		width: 100% In 2017, the Texas State Legislature was in its 85th legislative session from January 10 through May 29. 		display: inline-block; 		width: 100%; $('.showResponses').show(); } 		font-weight: 200; The senator contacted the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and asked the agency to end the practice of last meal requests or he would get the State Legislature to pass a bill doing so. p.survey-response {white-space: pre-line;} Source1Source2. 		width: 35px !important; 
 		text-align: left !important; 	.outer_percentage { ". Im not going to get into squabbles with other elected officials about what the numbers are, but the bottom line is we have a crime issue in Houston, Harris County, said Whitmire. Houston Public Media is supported with your gifts to the Houston Public Media Foundation and is licensed to the University of Houston. From improving public safety by being tough but smart on crime to promoting economic development, especially small businesses, to making City Hall more efficient to benefit everyone, John Whitmire wants to use his years of experiencetomake Houston abetterplace to work and live. div.oneoff-scrollbox.short {  height:250px;  overflow:scroll;  margin:20px;  padding:10px;  border:1px solid gray; } Pol.    color:white; 	font-weight: bold; 		background-color: #dac113; In the hotel's reception room, Whitmire's first words to . 		overflow: hidden; Former City Council Member Amanda Edwards has raised $789,000, and local attorney Lee Kaplan has $900,000. (Leah Foreman/Community Impact), Reporter, City Hall and Heights, River Oaks & Montrose. In 2019, the Texas State Legislature was in its 86th legislative session from January 8 through May 27. 		font-style: italic; 	    currentSession: false 		overflow-y: hidden;   --subtitle-background: #334aab; In 2020, the Texas State Legislature was not in session. Updated 10hrs ago. He did not graduate, as state law at the time allowed legislators entrance to the bar without a full J.D. .widget-row.Green { In the Senate, Whitmire is best known for his work on criminal justice issues, having long served as chair of the Criminal Justice Committee, even under Republican leadership.   --view-more-background: #f0a236; Below the Waterlines: Houston After Hurricane Harvey, Ryan Poppe | Lucio Vasquez / Houston Public Media, Texas proposed budget tackles property taxes, border security, Sergio Martnez-Beltrn, The Texas Newsroom, TxDOT hosts I-45 expansion meeting in Conroe as opposition continues to voice concerns, State Sen. John Whitmire displays bipartisan support while launching bid for Houston mayor, As Texas STAAR test goes fully online, teachers feel defeated, Texas Education Agency projects confidence, Santa Fe High School shooter remains mentally incompetent to stand trial, further dragging on 5-year-old case, Houston weather: Thursday night cold front could bring severe weather to region, Bun B announces part of RodeoHouston Southern Takeover lineup, Law enforcement cracking down on street takeovers ahead of Houston-area racing event, Houston's annual 'March on Crime' campaign focused on gun safety, car burglaries as violent crime decreases through the region, Federal judge rejects qualified immunity for Houston officers who shot Charion Lockett, Harris County Constable officers used excessive force in police K-9 attack, federal lawsuit says. To contribute to the list of Texas scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.  Adv. Im not going to get into squabbles with other elected officials about what the numbers are, but the bottom line is we have a crime issue in Houston, Harris County, he said at the fundraiser. He is running for re-election this year and said he plans to run for mayor of Houston in 2023. 	margin-top: 1px; Whitmire's first mayoral campaign finance report, filed Tuesday, shows $1.1 million in new donations in the nearly two months between his formal campaign launch in November and the end of the.   2023 CAMPOS COMMUNICATIONS. 	background-color: red; 		display: flex; Do you value our journalism? The announcement confirmed a move that was rumored for months and made Whitmire the first candidate to publicly announce his intention to succeed Sylvester Turner as the mayor of the state's most populous city. 	}. Later, both Houston and Harris County were temporarily excluded from receiving relief funds. The top contenders have raised $5.5 million, with another full year of fundraising ahead of them. 		display: block;   --link-color: #337ab7; He has built up his war chest over a decades-long career in the Legislature dating back to 1972, when he was elected to the state House while a senior at the University of Houston. In 2022, the Texas State Legislature was not in session. 	} .key-messages li {margin-bottom: 10px;} 	.leg-hnt-leadership > div { Credit- Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune Senator John Whitmire today expressed his gratitude for the endorsement of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Foundation, AFL-CIO in the Houston mayor's race. 
.cfheader { Democratic state Sen. John Whitmire is officially launching his campaign for the 2023 Houston mayor's race with a fundraiser Tuesday. Tilman Fertitta, billionaire investor and owner of the Houston Rockets basketball team, introduced Whitmire, and while not mentioning incumbent term-limited Mayor Sylvester Turner by name, referenced several controversies under Turners leadership. They include State Sen. John Whitmire, former city councilmember Amanda Edwards, former county . }) **Please note** If you are already signed up for the newsletter, you do not need to sign up again. 	.race_header.republican {  Ballotpedia completes yearly updates of committee membership. 	background-color: grey; 		display: block; For example, an advocacy groups scorecard may assess a legislators voting record on one issue while a state newspapers scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety. State Sen. John Whitmire has identified as a Democrat for. Houston made national news this week following a water treatment facility equipment failure that forced the city to implement a boil water notice, keeping businesses and schools closed for two days. Randy Orr  advanced  from the  Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 15 on March 6, 2018. City officials waited nearly eight hours to notify the public, and never activated the emergency alert system until the notice was lifted Tuesday morning.  Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton this year. .cftable {  	.inner_percentage { Contact our sales team. John Harris Whitmire [1] is an American attorney and politician who is the longest-serving current member of the Texas State Senate. [6] Whitmire captured the Senate District 15 seat, taking office in 1983. 		font-size: 16px; 		background-color: #ccc; From 1375 to 1392 John ruled in Bavaria-Landshut with his brothers Stephen III and Frederick. During that election cycle, Whitmire raised a total of $485,758.  He has served in the upper chamber since 1982. Campaign Webmail. [10]  Other honorees included Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and Connecticut Representative Diana Urban. Houston Public Media is supported with your gifts to the Houston Public Media Foundation and is licensed to the University of Houston. [6] He ran unopposed in the primary. 				overflow-y: auto; One could mount a statewide campaign while . He has built up his war chest over a. 		column-width: 175px; PO BOX 7271 	.results_row { 	.inner_percentage.Democratic { I love Houston, as so many of you do. .cftable th { 	.leg-hnt-hide { Senator John Whitmire today expressed his gratitude for the endorsement of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Foundation, AFL-CIO in the Houston mayor's race. He has an $11 million campaign war chest,. He also contributed $2,800 to Joe Bidens campaign in 2020. In the Senate, Whitmire is best known for his work on criminal justice and public safety. Strong leadership and commitment to public service defines John Whitmire. 				max-height: 580px; .top_disclaimer { 
 Known as a can do public servant, John often says, "Houston is not New York or Chicago  we areHouston. In response to the question "Should the federal government institute a mandatory buyback of assault weapons?", John Whitmire's response was. Whitmire said that this was Brewer's attempt to "make a mockery out of the process." State executives | Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states.  	.inner_percentage.Libertarian { If you'd like to sign up now, fill out the form below and we will add you as soon as we finish the transition. Over 3 million Texans impacted as emergency  New loan available to help students complete  19 women-owned businesses to support in the  Texas General Land Office posts Harris County  Speaker Phelan announces new House priority bills  Gov. .widget-row.value-only.black { div.survey-scrollbox {  height:400px;  overflow:scroll;  margin:20px;  padding:10px;  border:1px solid gray; } Whitmire defeated Hale in the general election. If nominated, Sen. John Whitmire will face the sole Republican . He won in the general election on November 8, 2022. 
font-size:1.2em; .infobox p { Will the takeover be a sort of dictatorship? Representative Dutton says he agrees the district has improved, but he says the problems in the failing schools still havent been fixed. His old friends call him something else: "Boogie," a. With 152,728 votes (65.2 percent), he defeated the Republican candidate, Randy Orr, who polled 75,423 (32.2 percent). She received about 42 percent of the vote, giving the longtime Democrat his narrowest win since the early 1990s. Whitmire has served in the Senate since 1983. 	color: black; This membership information was last updated in March 2021. 		background-color: #ccf; Contributions maintained by the Whitmire Campaign at the end of the year total $10,100,086. The legislation allowed the judge to release the prisoners on bond pending the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeals. 	} As a former Houston city councilmember, I know city governments job is to provide core basic services, Rodriguez said.