As the Houston mayoral race draws closer to its pinnacle, support for the election’s top competitors has seen a steady increase as multiple campaigns ramp up their fundraising and endorsement efforts. From individual donations to endowments gifted from PACs, the receipt for this year’s election now runs more than $10 million.

To keep voters up to date on where support for the candidates has been coming from, we take a peek at key endorsers and donors of the two front-runners, U.S. representative Sheila Jackson Lee and state senator John Whitmire.

For more information on everyone running for Houston mayor, visit our complete candidate guide.

Sheila Jackson Lee

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who’s currently serving her 14th term in U.S. Congress, has support from teachers unions and other labor groups, as well as some high-profile local politicians. Let’s dive in.

Support from educators

Unlike her opponent, Jackson Lee has garnered support from multiple teachers unions including the Houston Federation of Teachers, Alief American Federation of Teachers, Aldine American Federation of Teachers, Cy-Fair American Federation of Teachers, and Northeast Houston American Federation of Teachers. Writ large, the American Federation of Teachers aims to create fairness, democracy, economic opportunity, and quality public services for those in the education system, including students, teachers, families, and more. These endorsements come as no surprise, as Jackson Lee has made education a focus of her campaign. In March, she cosigned a letter urging President Joe Biden and federal authorities to intervene in the Texas Education Agency (TEA) takeover of Houston ISD.

Other labor unions jump in

Jackson Lee has secured the support of several other prominent labor groups in Houston. The Transport Workers Union (TWU), representing more than 155,000 workers and the largest airline workers union in the U.S., made a $7,500 contribution to the congresswoman’s campaign in June, and TWU’s Local 260 has endorsed her. Jackson Lee also received a $10,000 donation from the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the nation's largest telecommunications and media labor union, as well as the endorsement of CWA’s Local 6222. The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, a nonprofit of Black members of 77 unions that has a history of mobilizing Black voters to influence public policy, along with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades DC 10 have also endorsed Jackson Lee's candidacy.

Support from women and people of color

Multiple identity-based groups have come out in support of Jackson Lee. EMILY's List, a political action committee supporting Democratic female candidates who favor abortion rights, endorsed the congresswoman. “[Jackson Lee] has been delivering for Texans for over 30 years, and working to create an America where everyone has the resources and support they need to thrive,” said EMILY’s List president Laphonza Butler in a statement. “She has stood up to extremist Republicans in Congress who want to take away our rights, and is a steadfast champion for women, children, and families.”

Additionally, Higher Heights for America PAC, aiming to elevate progressive Black women in leadership roles, as well as the Asian American Democratic Club and Asian American Leadership Council, focused on civic engagement within Asian American and Pacific Islanders communities, have all expressed their support for Congresswoman Jackson Lee's candidacy, highlighting her strong support in diverse communities.

Elected officials weigh in

The most high-profile politician to endorse Rep. Jackson Lee is Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who became the first woman and Latina elected to her role in 2018. “If there’s someone that can take the heat on behalf of the communities in Houston and Harris County, it is Sheila Jackson Lee,” Judge Hidalgo said at a rally in June.

Hidalgo’s notable policies include the $30 million Small Business Relief Fund during the COVID-19 pandemic, regular approval of law enforcement budget increases, and a $5 million investment in the development of Holistic Assistance Response Teams, a Harris County program that dispatches unarmed first responders trained in behavioral health and medical assistance for 911 calls.

Other elected officials in county government have thrown their support behind Rep. Jackson Lee, including Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Fort Bend County Commissioner Grady Prestage. A born and raised Houstonian, Ellis was elected Harris County Commissioner for Precinct One in 2016 after serving in the Texas Senate for 26 years. Since taking over the seat, he has championed issues in criminal justice reform, including inmate voter rights, access to legal defense representation, and local bail reform. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he voted for $40 million in funding for emergency rental assistance and secured an extra $750,000 for legal aid to prevent evictions among low-income residents. Prestage, the first African American to serve on Fort Bend County's Commissioners Court since the 1880s, has held the position of Precinct Two County Commissioner since 1990. During his tenure, Prestage has implemented initiatives aimed at enhancing community development within county agencies like the Fort Bend County Community Development Department, Housing Finance Corporation, Toll Road Authority, and Parks and Recreation Department. Rep. Jackson Lee has also been endorsed by Fort Bend County District Clerk Beverly Walker.

Jackson Lee has the support of at least one potential future colleague in city government: Houston City Council Member for District F Tiffany Thomas has endorsed the congresswoman. Thomas, the first Black woman and person under 40 to serve in this role, represents Alief, Westchase, Tanglewilde, Briar Meadow, Westmont, and the Piney Point communities. She has been dedicated to revitalizing neighborhoods and quality-of-life initiatives, and as Chair of the Housing and Community Affairs committee, Thomas focuses on housing, veteran affairs, homelessness, and solid waste.

On the state side, state representative Ron Reynolds has endorsed Jackson Lee. He is serving his seventh term in the Texas House, but the Democrat lawmaker’s political history is one filled with controversy. A personal injury lawyer, he faced conviction on five misdemeanor counts linked to ambulance chasing in 2015. Despite initial felony charges, his sentence was reduced to a misdemeanor after extensive deliberation, and he served four months of a one-year jail sentence before his release in 2016.

John Whitmire

Representing District 15, state senator John Whitmire is the longest-serving member of the Texas Senate. His support base is in law enforcement, construction, and real estate. Here’s what to know.

Support from law enforcement

Much of Whitmire’s support has come from police-related organizations. These endorsements include the Houston Police Officers Union, whose PAC has contributed $15,000 to his campaign. “This is an important race for Houston Police Officers because it will determine the trajectory the Houston Police Department takes for the next four years,” the organization stated in a press release. “The Houston Police Officers Union has endorsed longtime state senator John Whitmire to be the next mayor who promises to coordinate a law enforcement surge in the community.”

The Afro-American Police Officers League and the Organization of Spanish-Speaking Officers have also expressed their support for Whitmire, with a focus on fostering collaborative partnerships between the community and law enforcement. The Houston Police Retired Officers Association, a nonprofit organization of retired officers dedicated to safeguarding their pension, health insurance, and well-being, has also lent its support to Whitmire's candidacy.

Big in construction and real estate

The Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA), which represents the city’s residential construction industry, endorsed Whitmire after his visit to the organization’s political action committee, HOME-PAC. GHBA has donated $8,500 to Whitmire’s campaign since November 2022. The state senator also has the support of the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR) and the Houston Building Owners and Managers Association, a commercial real estate association that contributed $2,500 to his campaign in November 2022. Whitmire also received $10,000 from the Texas Association of Realtors through its TREPAC, $10,000 from the Houston Contractors Association through HOUCONPAC, and $10,000 from the Houston Apartment Association PAC.

Support from labor groups

The Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, representing 60,000 union members across 13 counties, has also favored the state senator, who announced, “I’m ready to get to work for Houston and there is no better ally than the women and men of labor” after receiving this key endorsement. The International Longshoremen's Association, the Latino Labor Leadership Council of Southeast Texas, and the Houston Organization of Public Employees have also thrown their weight behind Whitmire's candidacy.

Key politicians are onboard

The most important endorser of Sen. Whitmire’s is U.S. Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, a Democrat who has represented Texas's 29th congressional district in the House since 2019. Garcia has championed reproductive rights and fiscal responsibility. She serves on the House Financial Services Committees and was selected as one of seven impeachment managers in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial.

Some of Whitmire’s colleagues on the state level have also thrown their support behind him. Third-term state senator Carol Alvarado, who represents Texas Senate District Six in Harris County, has placed a large focus on policies affecting economic development, public health, and public education. In 2021, she also embarked on a 15-hour filibuster in an attempt to block a bill limiting voting rights. Another endorser, state representative Ana Hernandez, was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2005. She serves as vice-chair for multiple House committees including State Affairs, Licensing and Administrative Procedures, and the Calendars Committee. She was strongly against the implementation of Texas’s Sanctuary City Bill, which gives law enforcement officers the power to inquire about immigration status.

As well as his support from police unions, Whitmire has the endorsement of Harris County Constable for Precinct Six Silvia Trevino. With a career in law enforcement spanning almost four decades, Trevino got elected in 2016. During her time as constable, she has equipped deputies in her precinct with body cameras, formed solo traffic enforcement units, created a new district to improve response times, and implemented community engagement programs. Former mayor Lee Brown has also endorsed Whitmore. Elected in 1997, Brown served a total of three terms as the first Black mayor of Houston. Prior to this, he worked as a police commissioner in New York. As mayor, Brown made many lasting changes to the city including the creation of the light rail system and the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Brown also endorsed sitting mayor Sylvester Tuner during his bid for the mayoral seat.