Sheila Jackson Lee files for reelection after losing Houston mayor race

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) has filed to run for reelection to her House seat following her defeat in the Saturday runoff election for mayor of Houston.

Jackson Lee announced her decision to run in a statement released Monday, saying she is “compelled by the numerous opportunities still ahead to enhance the lives of my constituents.”

“I thought about the many more gifts I have to give to my constituents of the 18th Congressional District,” she said in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “Those gifts involve more hard work and my ability to get the job done! Together, let’s build on the progress we’ve achieved and work towards an even brighter future for all.”

A spokesperson for the Democratic Party in Harris County, which is included in Texas’s 18th Congressional District, which Jackson Lee represents, told The Hill that the party accepted her application to run for reelection Monday. 

Jackson Lee has served in her House seat since the mid-1990s, representing much of the city of Houston. 

Her reelection campaign comes after she lost the Houston mayoral runoff to Texas state Sen. John Whitmire, also a Democrat. Whitmire and Jackson Lee advanced from a more crowded field of candidates in an election that took place in November along with other elections throughout the country. 

Whitmire comfortably defeated Jackson Lee to be elected mayor with nearly two-thirds of the vote Saturday. He will succeed term-limited Mayor Sylvester Turner (D). 

Jackson Lee will face a Democratic challenger for her seat, with former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards running. Edwards previously ran in the mayoral race before dropping out to seek Jackson Lee’s seat. 

She has raised just more than $1 million over the course of her campaign so far, according to a filing from the Federal Election Commission.

Following Jackson Lee’s announcement, another candidate for the seat and a former intern for the congresswoman, Isaiah Martin, announced that he would drop out of the race and endorse her.

“Our focus must be on flipping the House and electing more good democrats — not primarying great members,” Martin said on X. “I couldn’t be more thankful for all of your support; this isn’t the end of our story; trust me.”

The Houston Chronicle reported that Jackson Lee and Edwards are the only candidates who have filed for the Democratic primary.