Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee is signingupwith a congested field to be the leader of Texas’s biggest city after serving years in Congress.
“Sheila Jackson Lee wants to come house to be your mayor, for the city of Houston,” Lee stated in a video announcement published Monday on Twitter.
“I will not be able to do it without each and every one of you.”
The 73-year-old legislator, a intense progressive who hasactually been in the House giventhat 1995, will be amongst approximately a lots competitors contending for the seat.
Houston’s elections are nonpartisan, however 7 out of 11 prospects are Democrats and Lee is nearly guaranteed to be at the leading of the pack provided her name acknowledgment.
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“Let the fire start now,” Lee stated Sunday at City Cathedral Church.
Here are some things to understand:
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee would make history
For beginners, if Lee were to win that would make her the veryfirst Black female to be mayor of Houston, which is the 4th biggest city in the nation.
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This quote comes as a time when the leading 4 U.S. cities in the nation — New York, L.A., Chicago and Houston — all have Black mayors.
There hasactually been speculation for months that Lee, who drifted to success in Texas’s 18th congressional district, would run for mayor. And since the election is this year, she won’t have to provide up her House seat.
From Congress to City Hall?
Lee’s candidateship, which hasactually been reported for months, is another example of a progressive firebrand in the House looking to leave Washington this year, and run for their leading regional workplace rather.
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The most prominent example was last November when California Rep. Karen Bass broke barriers to be elected mayor of Los Angeles. She is L.A.’s veryfirst Black female mayor after serving years in Congress.
Earlier this year, Illinois Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García made a quote for Chicago mayor, however he stoppedworking to advance in the February overflow.
Lee’s choice is likewise a bit of a homecoming. She served for 4 years n the Houston city council in an at-large position, and formerly as a local judge.
Lee supports federal police reform
Lee’s choice to run is happening at a time when cities are at the leadingedge of the nationwide political discussion over violent criminalactivity, authorities abuse and house guideline.
The Texas congresswoman has been outspoken about the requirement for modifications to law enforcement in the wake of high-profiled cops killings, such as the Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and Tyre Nichols cases.
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In 2021, she hosted some of Floyd’s familymembers when supporting a reform bundle named in his honor (which stoppedworking to see daytime in Congress).
Lee renewed a call to pass those modifications earlier in March when reacting to findings from a federal examination linked to Taylor’s death of the Louisville Metro Police Department.
“All of these actions haveactually been declined by great authorities officers throughout the nation,” Lee stated.
“That is why I restore my call for acrossthecountry policing and public security reform and working on the dedication to present federal legislation with my congressional associates.”
Who else is running for Houston mayor?
The Houston mayoral contest to prosper incumbent Sylvester Turner, who is term-limited, hasactually been underway months priorto Lee’s entry.
It consistsof heavy-hitters in Texas politics, specifically state Sen. John Whitmire, who is seen as the early frontrunner and raked in early assistance from huge name leaders, consistingof an recommendation by Rep. Sylvia Garcia, a associate of Lee.
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Great to be with goodfriends at the 30th Anniversary Heroes Gala. Thank you to the Assist the Officer Foundation for everything they do for our officers who are injured or critically ill. pic.twitter.com/iTMV1TvlZu
— John Whitmire (@whitmire_john) March 26, 2023
Other prospects in the race are Amanda Edwards, a previous City Counc