The 2023 Houston mayoral election was held on November 7, 2023, with a runoff on December 9 because no candidate won a majority of the vote in the first round. It was held to elect the mayor of Houston, Texas. Incumbent Democratic mayor Sylvester Turner was term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third term in office. Municipal elections in Texas are officially nonpartisan.
Two longtime fixtures of Houston politics, state senator John Whitmire and U.S. representative Sheila Jackson Lee, advanced to the runoff. Both were Democrats, though Whitmire had drawn support from some Republicans while Turner endorsed Jackson Lee as his successor. Polls of the runoff consistently showed wide leads for Whitmire. Candidates eliminated in the first round include bond investor Gilbert Garcia and former at-large city councilor Jack Christie, the leading Republican candidate.
Whitmire prevailed in the runoff, defeating Jackson Lee in a landslide victory.
Candidates Advanced to runoff Sheila Jackson Lee, U.S. representative for (party affiliation: Democratic) John Whitmire, state senator and brother-in-law of former mayor Kathy Whitmire (party affiliation: Democratic)
Eliminated in the first round Derrick Broze, investigative journalist and candidate for mayor in 2019 (party affiliation: Libertarian) Jack Christie, former at-large city council member and former chair of the Texas State Board of Education (party affiliation: Republican) Robert Gallegos, city council member (party affiliation: Democratic) Gilbert Garcia, bond investor and former chair of the Houston Metro Board of Directors (party affiliation: Democratic) Ralph Garcia Naoufal Houjami, entertainment consultant and candidate for mayor in 2019 Lee Kaplan, attorney (party affiliation: Democratic) M.J. Khan, former city council member and former president of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston (party affiliation: Republican) Julian Antonio Martinez, business owner Chanel Mbala, IT professional and Uber driver (party affiliation: Independent) Rickey Tezino, community activist Robin Williams, police officer and U.S. Marine Corps veteran (party affiliation: Democratic)
Withdrew Amanda Edwards, former at-large city council member and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020 (party affiliation: Democratic) (ran unsuccessfully for U.S. House, endorsed Jackson Lee) Chris Hollins, member of the Houston Metro Board of Directors, former acting Harris County Clerk, and former vice chair of the Texas Democratic Party (party affiliation: Democratic) (ran successfully for City Controller)
Declined Tony Buzbee, attorney and runner-up for mayor in 2019 (party affiliation: Independent) (ran unsuccessfully for city council)
First round Endorsements
Fundraising Some candidates have not filed financial disclosures. Those who have are listed below: Campaign finance reports as of January 3, 2023CandidateRaised Amanda Edwards$1,100,000 Chris Hollins$1,400,000 Lee Kaplan$1,300,000 John Whitmire$1,100,000 Robin Williams$189,000
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin Jack Christie AmandaEdwards Gilbert Garcia RobertGallegos ChrisHollins Lee Kaplan MJ Khan JohnWhitmire Other UndecidedUniversity of HoustonUniversity of HoustonSeptember 30–October 6, 2023800 (LV)± 3.54%–4%1%–31%2%1%34%1%22%University of HoustonUniversity of HoustonJuly 12–20, 2023800 (LV)± 3.5––3%2%–32%2%2%34%3%22%Ragnar Research PartnersRagnar Research PartnersFebruary 21–23, 2023500 (LV)± 4.0%–4%–4%5%19%––20%2%46%
Results
Runoff Endorsements Endorsements in bold were made after the first round.
Polling Pollster Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error SheilaJackson Lee JohnWhitmire Undecided Would not voteSurvey USASurvey USANovember 13–18, 2023805 (LV)± 4.4%35%42%22%–University of HoustonSeptember 30 – October 6, 2023800 (LV)± 3.5%36%50%9%5%University of HoustonJuly 12–20, 2023800 (LV)± 3.5%33%51%13%3%Ragnar Research PartnersFebruary 21–23, 2023500 (LV)± 4.0% 33%45% 22% –
Hypothetical polls
Pollster Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error AmandaEdwards JohnWhitmire UndecidedRagnar Research PartnersFebruary 21–23, 2023500 (LV)± 4.0% 17%41%43%
Pollster Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error ChrisHollins JohnWhitmire UndecidedRagnar Research PartnersFebruary 21–23, 2023500 (LV)± 4.0% 14%39%47%
Results
Aftermath Shortly after her loss, Jackson Lee filed to run for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives on December 11, 2023. She would win the Democratic primary on March 5, 2024, but died on July 19, 2024. Despite their previous rivalry, Whitmire paid tribute to Jackson Lee, recalling how they worked together during the 2024 derecho. Whitmire also delivered opening remarks when Jackson Lee lay in state at Houston City Hall on July 29, 2024. Sylvester Turner replaced Jackson Lee as the Democratic nominee and went on to win the seat in the 2024 election, but died 61 days into his term on March 5, 2025.
Notes
Partisan clients
References
External links Official campaign websites Naoufal Houjami for Mayor Sheila Jackson Lee (D) for Mayor Lee Kaplan (D) for Mayor Chanel Mbala (I) for Mayor Rickey Tezino for Mayor John Whitmire (D) for Mayor Robin Williams (D) for Mayor