**Please note** If you are already signed up for the newsletter, you do not need to sign up again. During that election cycle, Whitmire raised a total of $481,540. .contact_office { font-size: 0.8 em; margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} } A primary election took place on March 4, 2014. } .cftable td { .hideResponses { display: none;} The report's staggering number, though, is the amount of cash he reports having on hand: about $10.1 million. justify-content: center; RELATED: Houston mayoral contenders rake in millions in campaign cash, setting new bar for early fundraising. He's also eyeing a run for Houston mayor in 2023. width: 90%; General District Capitol. .expand-all:hover, .collapse-all:hover {cursor: pointer; text-decoration: underline;} .results_table { Whitmire and his wife, Becki, have two children: Whitney and Sarah. Groogan: No one knows more about criminal justice, in my opinion, than you. Adv. .contact_office { margin-top: 0.3em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} max-width: 75px; word-wrap: break-word; Bills are monitored by BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Meet John. color: white; January 21, 2022. We fix our problems.. This campaign finance report was filed by state Senator John Whitmire back on October 31, 2022, and shows state Senator John Whitmire with $9,503,981.46 in contributions in his campaign coffers . John Whitmire's Biography . top: -1px; $('.pastResponses').hide(); column-gap: 1em; The legislation allowed the judge to release the prisoners on bond pending the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeals. He also referenced his history of working with both sides of the aisle and holding his committee chairmanship under Republican leadership. background-color: #003388; .cftable td { State Sen. John Whitmire speaks during a campaign rally last year in Houston. @media (max-width:600px) { [3], In 1982, Senator Jack Ogg vacated his seat to pursue the Attorney General position. [6] He ran unopposed in the primary. .widget-row { During that election cycle, Whitmire raised a total of $1,137,788. In 2020, a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development audit flagged Houstons slow pace in administering Hurricane Harvey recovery funds, prompting the. font-weight: bold; Gilberto Velasquez, Jr. was running as a Libertarian candidate. Incumbent John Whitmire defeated George Vachris in the general election for Texas State Senate District 15 on November 8, 2022. Houston Public Media is supported with your gifts to the Houston Public Media Foundation and is licensed to the University of Houston. } For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Pol. Campaign Webmail. .leg-hnt-leadership { U.S. President | font-weight: bold; height: 56px; "As a former Houston city councilmember, I know city government's job is to provide core basic services . Example video title will go here for this video. max-width: 600px; margin-left: 20px; mail Email. } position: absolute; John Whitmire ( Democratic Party) is a member of the Texas State Senate, representing District 15. Dan Patrick often alluded to Whitmire's possible run during this year's special legislative sessions. "[11],

He has an $11 million campaign war chest,. John Harris Whitmire (born August 13, 1949)[1] is an American attorney and politician who is the longest-serving current member of the Texas State Senate. border: 1px solid #999; [15], (Third party index of birth records for Hill County), "Birth Certificate for John Harris Whitmire", "For Dean of Senate, Public and Private Blur", "WHITMIRE, REBECCA DALBY vs. WHITMIRE, JOHN HARRIS", "Overview: Texas House Districts 18461982", "The Texas State Senate Senator John Whitmire: District 15", "Texas Death Row Kitchen Cooks Its Last 'Last Meal', "John Oliver welcomes summer by reminding you that prisons are cooking people to death", "John Whitmire was on a roll coming into the 1995 Legislature. background-color: #ccf; [3] Whitmire remains the chair as of the Eighty-seventh Texas Legislature. During his remarks, Whitmire said he faced opposition from those who like the status quo.. Also on the host committee are several former Republican elected officials, including former state representative Dan Huberty, former city councilmember Greg Travis and two of Whitmires former Senate colleagues: Todd Staples, who also served as agriculture commissioner, and Kevin Eltife. Updated 10hrs ago. State and local courts | } Houston Sen. John Whitmire (left) and local organizer Molly Cook (right) faced off in a primary this year to represent District 15. He is the Dean. Earlier this year, Whitmire survived a primary challenge from emergency room nurse Molly Cook, who cast herself as a more progressive alternative to Whitmire. 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, illegal dumping, and dysfunctional city services, and emphasized regional public safety challenges. 2005-2022 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. In 2021, the Texas State Legislature was in session from January 12 to May 31. 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. position: relative; He assumed office in 1983. padding-top: 3px; --highlights-background: #d3d4d5; tBackground: "#CCCCCC", } .source-link { overflow-x: auto; } I can tell you this.

Join others and make your gift to Houston Public Media today. Campaign. The measure died after nearly every Democrat in the House voted against it, denying the two-thirds support needed to pass. From 1375 to 1392 John ruled in Bavaria-Landshut with his brothers Stephen III and Frederick. In addition to being a senator, Whitmire is also an attorney of counsel at Locke, Liddell and Sapp. display: inline-block; Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. color: #888; } Together we can make it better." Cook is the sole Democratic opponent for state Sen. John Whitmire (D-Houston), incumbent for the safe blue Houston seat.

. }); .votebox { margin-bottom: 0; He has built up his war chest over a. letter-spacing: .03em; During that election cycle, Whitmire raised a total of $613,615. } .widget-row.Democratic { He assumed office in 1983. Ballotpedia completes yearly updates of committee membership. background-color: #db0000; } 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. He also served as the Acting Governor of Texas in 1993[2] as part of the Governor for A Day tradition. Audience members Tuesday included District Attorney Kim Ogg, City Council Member Edward Pollard, and former mayoral candidate and Forward Party State Co-Chair Bill King. background-color: #f9d334; border-radius: 50%;

} It is no different than running a huge company, Fertitta said. max-height: 580px; .votebox-scroll-container { Should the firefighters prevail, the city may owe back wages topping $1 billion according to some estimates. background-color: red; border: 1px solid #a2a9b1 !important; .inner_percentage.Democratic { margin-top: 0px; In 1385 John II and his wife inherited a third of County of Gorizia with Lienz, but already in 1392 he sold his part to the Habsburgs. }

} flex-wrap: wrap; Would Rep. Dutton consider doing what the mayor is proposing, writing a new law that says its not mandatory for the state to take over? background-color: #f4f4f4; Staff. Each year since 1994, Governing has selected a handful of state and local officials to honor for standout job performance. .widget-row.value-only { 1239 - Coat of arms of Munich in use. John Whitmire, state senator and brother-in-law of former mayor Kathy Whitmire (Party affiliation: Democratic) . padding:7px 8px 8px; vertical-align: top; [6] Whitmire captured the Senate District 15 seat, taking office in 1983. 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. 2023 CAMPOS COMMUNICATIONS. I believe using my experience and commitment to public service we will make Houston even better. By Leah Foreman In response to the question "Should the federal government institute a mandatory buyback of assault weapons?", John Whitmire's response was. Incumbent John Whitmire defeated Molly Cook in the Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 15 on March 1, 2022. Get highlights, trending news, and behind-the-scenes insights from Houston Public Media delivered to your inbox each week. Heres what you need to know. Whitmire has $11 million in his political war chest, a considerable head start for a candidate running a mayoral election. margin-bottom:0px; break-inside: avoid-column; Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. .inner_percentage { Whitmire won the primary following a runoff election and easily defeated his Republican opponent. John Harris Whitmire (born August 13, 1949) is an American attorney and politician who is the longest-serving current member of the Texas State Senate.Since 1983, he has represented District 15, which includes much of northern Houston, Texas.His tenure earns him the title of Dean of the Senate. FOX 26's Gabby Hart spoke with local criminal defense attorney Price Brown about if the . margin: auto; width: 35px !important; 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. Join others and make your gift to Houston Public Media today. Meet John; Conoce a John; Contact Us; GET IN TOUCH. 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. Whitmire already has huge support from some very important figures, including former Houston PoliceChief Art Acevedo and Houston billionaire and philanthropist Tilman Fertitta. .infobox { [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. padding-left: 16px; a[aria-expanded=true] .fa-chevron-right { display: none; } But Whitmire expressed this is not going to hold him back because he believes he's the only candidate who has the experience and resources to handle major problems when they arise. 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. background-color: grey; A number of Democrats, including former state representative and city councilmember Ellen Cohen and former Harris County Democratic Party chair Lane Lewis, also are on the host committee. } color:white !important; margin-top: 1px; top: 0px; The host committee is filled with prominent lobbyists, business groups, labor unions, former elected officials and a mix of donors to both political parties. 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. Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Do you value our journalism? The host committee for Tuesdays event included many Republicans such as retiring state Rep. Dan Huberty (R-Humble) and real estate developer Dick Weekley. Tags Alan Rosen american red cross donations Harris County Precinct 1 Constables Office houston rockets Hurricane Ian hurricane relief Tilman Fertitta. .leg-hnt-flex-column { She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Central Florida with a degree in History, and in addition to writing about politics and policy, also writes about faith and culture. School districts | p.survey-question {font-weight:bold;} Biography Whitmire said his first response was "no" because he liked the work he was doing in the Senate. .panel-heading:hover { cursor: pointer;} Exclusive: Abbott explains push against diversity hiring programs, Texas wants to ban delta-8, but veterans are pushing back, The Breakfast Klub sues prominent City Hall consultant for fraud, UH, Texas A&M removing DEI statements from hiring practices, Galveston gets fourth Carnival Cruise Line, Lauren Daigle at Houston Rodeo: 'God always has your number', Bun B, Badu, J.J. Watt celebrate RodeoHouston Southern Takeover, Houston is the most stressful city to work in, says new study, Man dead, person arrested after suspected homicide in League City, Houston mayoral contenders rake in millions in campaign cash, setting new bar for early fundraising, expected to start the race with a massive financial advantage over the rest of the field, Ahead of mayoral bid, state Sen. John Whitmire faces unexpected test in Senate primary, cast herself as a more progressive alternative, Texas GOP may censure Tony Gonzales over gay marriage, gun votes, Rep. Joaquin Castro's health plan points to a new Texas trend, Rep. Joaquin Castro diagnosed with cancer, undergoes surgery, Texas House Speaker appoints committee for gun legislation, Santa Fe families still denied video, records from 2018 shooting. $('#candidate-connection-twitter-104978').on('click', () => { ga('send', 'event', 'surveycta', 'surveycta-click-twitter'); }); He has also reported on local politics for both papers. National Federation of Independent Business in Texas, Texas Tribune Guest Column: Mark P. Jones, John Buntin, "The Correctionists," October 2010, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=John_Whitmire&oldid=8769085, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections. I want you to tell Houstonians that help is on the way.. The John Whitmire for Mayor Campaign put this out this morning: John Whitmire announced today that former Houston City Councilmember James Rodriguez has endorsed him in his campaign for mayor of the City of Houston. His tenure earns him the title of Dean of the Senate. Sims said Whitmires war chest gives him an edge, but one that is surmountable for the other candidates. .cfheader { Are we headed into uncharted territory so to speak? The two candidates participated in a virtual discussion on Tuesday night where Whitmire touted his seniority and experience while Cook billed herself as a more progressive grassroots alternative. [3], In his early teenage years, he moved to North Houston and attended Waltrip High School. Fertitta, who chairs the Houston Police Foundation, a nonprofit formed by business leaders that supports the Houston Police Department, is serving as Whitmires campaign finance chair. The billionaire also faulted Mayor Sylvester Turner for not taking a stronger stance to represent the citys interest.

} position: relative; Texas Senator John Whitmire announced he will be running for mayor in 2023, kicking off his campaign Wednesday. font-weight: bold; clearInterval(nTimer); } } Lucio Vasquez produces stories for Houston Public Media's daily radio newscast and writes stories for HoustonPublicMedia.org. .votebox-results-cell--check { 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. column-width: 175px; width: 57%; Let the Houston Public Media newsroom help you start your day. }) p.survey-response {margin-left:10px;} The more pressing matter Whitmire's re-election to. .votebox_legend .non_result_row { 92 talking about this. John Whitmire for Mayor. He did not graduate, as state law at the time allowed legislators entrance to the bar without a full J.D. Leah is a cat mom to a sweet tabby and enjoys retail therapy. font-size: 16px; We're in the process of transitioning services for our Today in Houston newsletter. Cities | During that election cycle, Whitmire raised a total of $1,072,000. Known as a can do public servant, John often says, "Houston is not New York or Chicago we areHouston. Elections for 15 of the 31 seats in the Texas State Senate took place in 2014. "Well I can tell you that public safety to me is near and dear to my heart and I don't think there's a member of the legislature that's worked as hard on common sense reforms and on being practical, affirm but fair, as it relates to keeping people safe," Acevedo said. width: 50%; [3] His father provided him a $5,000 loan for his campaign funds. }) } His old friends call him something else: "Boogie," a. .non_result_row {

} 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. .votebox-results-cell--number {

float:right; With 774 of 782 precincts reporting, Democrat incumbent John Whitmire is projected to win the race for Texas Senate District 15. over Republican challenger George Brian Vachris. 	    legislatorID: 1521, 	} 		border: 1px solid #aaa; 	.race_header.republican { 

} With 152,728 votes (65.2 percent), he defeated the Republican candidate, Randy Orr, who polled 75,423 (32.2 percent). padding-bottom: 8px; Lt. Gov. A longtime Houston politician, Whitmire holds close ties to the city's public employee unions, including the police and fire unions. Campaign Webmail. State Sen. John Whitmire, the longest-tenured senator at the capitol building in Austin, filed for re-election last week and will be back on the ballot in 2022. width: 43%; Updated As a former Houston city councilmember, I know city governments job is to provide core basic services, Rodriguez said. Houston has term limits, and Turner's second and final term will end in January 2024. A special session was called for May 31 through June 29.[9]. .results_row { Houstons mayoral and city council elections will take place on November 7, 2023, and voters will also have the opportunity to weigh in on a, Fort Worth Adds Two New Council Districts, Only Three Seats Unopposed, Austin Street Racing Shenanigans Light Fire Under Police Contract Debate, Austin Police Department to Host LGBT Criminal Justice World Conference in 2025. Whitmire's notable work on the Senate includes efforts to improve public safety and criminal justice. display: flex; mail Email. color: #6db24f; Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. that forced the city to implement a boil water notice, keeping businesses and schools closed for two days. During that election cycle, Whitmire raised a total of $970,826. .election_results_text { It is not yet clear how much of the $9.5 million Whitmire can transfer to his mayoral campaign, though he is expected to start the race with a massive financial advantage over the rest of the field. } Show us with your support. Watch Sen. Whitmire's full campaign announcement in the video player below: KHOU 11 on social media:Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube. font-weight: 200; div.oneoff-scrollbox.short { height:250px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } Well, Id have to think about that. -. On Jan. 17, Whitmire reported $10.1 million cash. U.S. Congress | In 2020, the Texas State Legislature was not in session. Those who donate at least seven items will receive tickets to the Rockets' Oct. 24 home game against Utah. There will be an anti-takeover event this afternoon at Discovery Green. background-color: #dac113; 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. The police chief had made a gentleman's agreement with John Whitmire, dean of the Texas Senate, not to run against him, should the Houston lawmaker seek the mayor's office, as has been speculated.

   background-color: black !important; 		height: 50px; I love Houston, as so many of you do. 	clear: both; 	} Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law. Your subscription will be migrated over. .widget-row.heading { Apply today! General District Capitol. Senator John Whitmire represents the 15th Senatorial District comprised of north Houston and parts of Harris County. 
   .contact_entity {font-size: 1.5em ;margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} Whitmire was not available for comment Thursday afternoon. 	} 	    height:  300, Contact Information. } He told the newspaper a public announcement will come later but "it's no secret" that he plans to run for mayor. $('.hideResponses').hide(); Whitmires criminal justice stances are expected to bolster his position among Republican voters and donors, including those who supported Mealer in a county judge race that focused heavily on violent crime rates in Harris County. 	color: white; This membership information was last updated in March 2021. 5:32 PM Dec 5, 2022 CST, On Nov. 29, Sen. John Whitmire announced his official run to become Houston's next mayor. 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. But during the third special session, Patrick would often call instead on state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, the body's second-longest serving member, and refer to her as the "dean-in-waiting.".   --view-more-background: #f0a236; $('.collapse').collapse('show'); Whitmire won re-election to the Texas State Senate in 2006. We are not New York or Chicago. Since 1983, he has represented District 15, which includes much of northern Houston, Texas. 	.inner_percentage.Republican { .widget-row.Independent, .widget-row.Nonpartisan, .widget-row.Constitution { Theyre uncomfortable. If youd like to become one of the people were financially accountable to, click here to subscribe.  In the hotel's reception room, Whitmire's first words to . Were not gonna air condition them. Answer: Pro-choice. 	@media screen and (max-width: 350px) { The longest-serving member of the Texas Senate, Democrat State Sen. John Whitmire (Houston), announced that he is running for mayor of the City of Houston in 2023 while at a campaign event for his re-election to the Senate on Wednesday. a[aria-expanded=false] .fa-chevron-down { display: none; } 		top: 2px;  There are people who like the status quo.  
   background-color: #003388; 			overflow-x: scroll; 	    apiKey: "96B21126-2E98-49FB-B21F-619C471959AD", State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, told supporters on Wednesday he plans to run for mayor of Houston in 2023. On October 26, 2010, Governing magazine named Whitmire and Texas Representative Jerry Madden as two of eight "Public Officials of the Year" for their work on reforming the Texas correctional system. **Please note** If you are already signed up for the newsletter, you do not need to sign up again. Ballot measures, Who represents me?  		vertical-align: middle; 	} Strong leadership and commitment to public service defines John Whitmire. 	background-color: green; . 		display: block; 	width: 100%; He ultimately returned to the legislature, creating a quorum and undoing the efforts of the rest of the Texas Eleven. [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. 	} Addressing a bipartisan crowd of more than 600 at Houston's Post Oak Hotel, Whitmire said he had personally . 			document.getElementById('leg-hnt-content64038e9c5b59e').classList.add('leg-hnt-hide'); John Whitmire is Candidate for State Senate, 15th District, 2022 Primary Election in Texas (TX). 
   text-align:center; 	} 	} 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. Resources like these are made possible by the generosity of our community of donors, foundations, and corporate partners. .large-date { text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600;} Texas Senator John Whitmire announced he will be running for mayor in 2023, kicking. 		margin-top: 16px; Holly Hansen is a regional reporter for The Texan living in Harris County. 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. After she married, her husband's brother, John Whitmire, already a rising star in the Texas Democratic Party, was a willing political mentor. If nominated, Sen. John Whitmire will face the sole Republican . How to run for office | 		margin-bottom: .75em; $('#candidate-connection-email-104978').on('click', () => { ga('send', 'event', 'surveycta', 'surveycta-click-email'); }); In 2015, the Texas State Legislature was in its 84th legislative session from January 13 through June 1. They were later pardoned by the Governor. mail Email. 	} His bill-passing expertise and warm ties to the GOP. State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, told supporters on Wednesday he plans to run for mayor of Houston in 2023. }. 
"I will be tough but smart on crime, keep our economy growing and ensure city services are working for all Houstonians. On Nov. 7, 2006, Whitmire won re-election to the 15th District Seat in the Texas State Senate, defeating opponent Angel DeLaRosa (R). [10] Other honorees included Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and Connecticut Representative Diana Urban. } color: #fff; } Prior to his election to the state senate, Whitmire was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1973 to 1982.[1]. Nov. 18, 20214 PM Central. .electionsectionheading { Takeover Look. } } Thirty minutes after the regular session ended, Governor Rick Perry called legislators back for a special session starting that evening. } Representative Dutton says he agrees the district has improved, but he says the problems in the failing schools still havent been fixed. During that election cycle, Whitmire raised a total of $1,932,588. .mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { left: 0px; display: table; (The Texan/Holly Hansen). Whitmire ran unopposed in the May 29 primary election and defeated Bill Walker (R) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[6]. .widget-row.Libertarian { background-color: #6db24f; float: right; } margin-bottom: -2px !important; float: left; list-style-type: circle; And I've gotten a call from Houstonians to leave the legislature and come back and be elected mayor of the City of Houston," Whitmire said at the beginning of his campaign announcement. letter-spacing: .04em; Incumbent John Whitmire defeated Damian Lacroix and Hank Segelke in the Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 15 on March 6, 2018.