Shares

State Sen. John Whitmire announced that he is set on replacing Mayor Sylvester Turner after his final term as the mayor of Houston.

“I’m no longer considering it, we’re not asking people, we’re running for mayor and we intend to win,” said the Democrat in a video of a campaign rally at the Post Oak Hotel in Houston. “We’re planning on winning with your help.”

Whitmire, the longest running Texas senator, is the first to declare plans to run after Mayor Turner’s final term. Whitmire has represented Houston in the state legislature since 1973, and was elected to the Texas senate in 1982. He represent North Houston and some parts of Harris County. He shared that he plans to run for re-election to the Senate in 2022, and serve in the 2023 legislative session before running for Mayor.

“I shared with supporters my plans for the future,” Whitmire said. “There will be official public announcement at future date… But it’s no secret I plan to run for mayor.” Turner currently serves his final term, which ends in January 2024. 

Kathy Whitmire, Whitmire’s former sister-in-law, served as Houston’s mayor from 1982 to 1992, and was the first woman to hold the title.