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The longest-serving member of the Texas State Senate wants to be Houston's next mayor – after he runs for the Senate again, according to various local news reports last week.
Texas Sen. John Whitmire (D-Houston) told supporters on Wednesday, Nov. 17, that he has stopped thinking about whether to run to succeed current Mayor Sylvester Turner.
Whitmire said he spoke with Houston-area leaders and colleagues, including state Sen. Borris Miles (D-Houston), and then decided to run, according to the Texas Tribune's coverage published the following day.
"So for that, I’m no longer considering it," Whitmire said. "We're not asking people. We're running for mayor and we intend to win."
Whitmire clarified to the Houston Chronicle that he will run for re-election to the Senate in next year's general election and that he will serve in the 2023 legislative session while running for mayor in November that year.
Whitmire announced his mayoral intentions during a Houston fundraiser that was "captured" by journalist Jose de Jesus Ortiz, according to the Houston Chronicle news story published Thursday, Nov. 18. Whitmire also said that he's planning to release a more formal public announcement but that "it's no secret" he's going to run for mayor.
Whitmire has represented the 15th Senatorial District, north Houston and parts of Harris County, shortly after he first was elected to that chamber in 1982, following 10 years in the Texas House of Representatives. With more than 38 years in the Senate and House, Whitmire ranks first in seniority and is honorary Dean of the Texas Senate.
If Whitmire carries through with his mayoral aspirations, he would be running to succeed current Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. Whitmire is the first to announce he wants to succeed Turner.
Turner, who also is president of the African American Mayors Association and chairs Climate Mayors and Resilient Cities Network board of directors, cannot run for re-election because of term limits.