The Biggest Winners and Losers of the 2023 Houston Election
A display shows early results for Houston mayor during an election watch party for mayor candidate Sheila Jackson Lee at Bayou Place on November 7.
On November 7, thousands of Houstonians went to the polls to cast the final ballots in the 2023 election after two weeks of early voting. We were tasked with choosing our next mayor for when term-limited Sylvester Turner leaves the office next year, and selecting “for” or “against” on a CVS-receipt-long list of local and state propositions—hopefully you also explored a little bit of Houston with the help of our handy guide to cool polling locations.
As we wake up to most of the votes being tallied this morning, who were the biggest winners and losers of this election? Read on for our hot takes.
Mayoral candidate and U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee chats with voters outside the West Gray Metropolitan Multi-Service Center polling location.
The Biggest Losers in Houston’s 2023 Election
Democracy: In a city of 2.3 million people, only a little more than 250,000 of y’all cast your ballots in the mayoral race.
Our weekend: Neither Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee nor state Sen. John Whitmire were able to get enough votes to win decisively, so they’re heading to a runoff on Saturday, December 9. Houston controller candidates Chris Hollins and Orlando Sanchez will also have a rematch. Remember to add voting (again) to your list of chores that weekend.
The eventual mayor: Whoever she or he will be, they will not enjoy the same almighty powers as their predecessors. Via City of Houston Proposition A, voters have abolished the so-called “strong mayor” system, now allowing city council members to add items to the council’s agenda.
Mayoral candidate state Sen. John Whitmire takes photos with his supporters during an election watch party.
Galveston County treasurers: About 53 percent of voters chose to abolish this position in Texas Proposition 12. Godspeed.
Old judges: Sorry, about 63 percent of voters are against raising the retirement age of judges from 75 to 79, per the results of Texas Proposition 13.
The Biggest Winners in Houston’s 2023 Election
Gilbert Garcia: Despite only getting 7 percent of the vote, the former Metro chairman still managed to come in third in the mayor’s race, raising his profile with voters in the middle of two longtime politicians with solid name recognition.
Big Ag: Texas Proposition 1, the so-called “right to farm” ballot measure, passed with 79 percent of the vote in favor of it. The Farm & Ranch Freedom Alliance, which represents the interests of small farmers, had opposed the proposition saying it was more likely to let Big Ag harm communities than actually help small farmers.
The wealthy: Texans overwhelmingly voted to prohibit the state legislature from implementing a tax based on someone’s wealth or net worth via Texas Proposition 3.
Homeowners: More than 83 percent of voters agreed that the homestead exemption should increase from $40,000 to $100,000, among other tax cut provisions in Texas Proposition 4 that will impact Texas property owners.
Tony Buzbee: From getting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton acquitted from 16 articles of impeachment related to misuse of power of his office, to forcing incumbent Mary Nan Huffman to a runoff in Houston City Council District G, the Houston attorney has had quite the year.
