2023 Houston mayoral election

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
John Whitmire, state senator and brother-in-law of former mayor Kathy Whitmire

Eliminated in the first round

Derrick Broze, investigative journalist and candidate for mayor in 2019
Jack Christie, former at-large city council member and former chair of the Texas State Board of Education
Robert Gallegos, city council member
Gilbert Garcia, bond investor and former chair of the Houston Metro Board of Directors
Ralph Garcia
Naoufal Houjami, entertainment consultant and candidate for mayor in 2019
Lee Kaplan, attorney
M.J. Khan, former city council member and former president of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston
Julian Antonio Martinez, business owner
Chanel Mbala, IT professional and Uber driver
Rickey Tezino, community activist
Robin Williams, police officer and U.S. Marine Corps veteran

Withdrew

Amanda Edwards, former at-large city council member and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020
Chris Hollins, member of the Houston Metro Board of Directors, former acting Harris County Clerk, and former vice chair of the Texas Democratic Party ''''

Declined

Tony Buzbee, attorney and runner-up for mayor in 2019 ''''

First round

Fundraising

Some candidates have not filed financial disclosures. Those who have are listed below:

Runoff

Endorsements

Endorsements in bold were made after the first round.

Polling

Hypothetical polls

Pollster	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Amanda Edwards	John Whitmire	Undecided
Ragnar Research Partners	February 21–23, 2023	500	± 4.0%	17%	41%	43%

Pollster	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Chris Hollins	John Whitmire	Undecided
Ragnar Research Partners	February 21–23, 2023	500	± 4.0%	14%	39%	47%

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 would pay tribute to Jackson Lee, recalling how they worked together during the 2024 derecho. Whitmire would also deliver opening remarks when Jackson Lee would lie in state at Houston City Hall on July 29, 2024. Turner replaced Jackson Lee as the Democratic nominee and would go on to win in the same seat at the District 18 House election in November 2024 to succeed her but died only 61 days into his term on March 5, 2025.