The Top Contenders for Sheila Jackson Lee’s Congressional Seat
Houston recently said goodbye to long-serving political powerhouse Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who died from pancreatic cancer on July 19 and whose dynamic presence left an indelible mark on the city. Her remarkable career included serving Texas’s 18th Congressional District, which encompasses sections of north and east Houston, for nearly three decades. Her advocacy ranged from civil rights reform to foreign policy. Her 2023 mayoral campaign, though unsuccessful, showcased her characteristic tenacity and uncanny knack for stirring up both adoration and controversy.
A special election will be held to fill the late congresswoman’s seat for the two-month remainder of her term on November 5, the same day as the general election that will determine the seat’s occupant for the two-year term beginning in 2025. As Houston prepares to fill the void she left behind, let’s take a look at the colorful cast of contenders throwing their hats into the ring to replace Jackson Lee.
Sylvester Turner
The former mayor of Houston, who left office this year, stands as one of the most recognizable faces in the mix. The Democrat has a long tenure in public service, including his time in the Texas House of Representatives and two terms as mayor. He saw the city through Hurricane Harvey, receiving criticism for not implementing evacuation strategies. He was also known for championing the city’s Vision Zero plan to end traffic deaths and improve biking and pedestrian infrastructure. Turner has stated he doesn’t intend on serving more than two years if he wins. Due to his long-lasting friendship with Jackson Lee and her children’s endorsement, Turner has potential to attract voters looking for continuity.
Amanda Edwards
This former Houston City Council member’s journey in public service began two decades ago as an intern in Jackson Lee’s congressional office, and their paths crossed more than once since then. Edwards ran for mayor of Houston in 2022 and 2023 until the late congresswoman entered the race, prompting her to drop out and run for her congressional seat instead in a then-competitive primary. Jackson Lee returned to the race after her mayoral loss and won 60 percent of the vote. Edwards previously ran for the US Senate in 2020, finishing fifth in the Democratic primary. During her time as a councilwoman, Edwards facilitated the creation of and led the Women- and Minority-Owned Business Task Force, which aimed at increasing capital for those key demographics.
Councilwoman Letitia Plummer
Elected to city council in 2019, former dentist Letitia Plummer brings a background in health care to the position, where she uses a pragmatic, no-nonsense approach to local politics, often focusing on public health. If elected, she would be the first Muslim woman to represent Texas in Congress. Her platform focuses on improving quality of life, particularly in the face of Houston’s recurring environmental challenges, as well as safeguarding reproductive rights, ensuring affordable health care, and tackling high inflation rates. Due to Houston’s resign-to-run laws, Plummer would have to give up her seat on city council if she receives the nomination to run in the general election.
Rep. Jarvis Johnson
Since his election to the Texas House in 2016, Johnson has focused on criminal justice reform and economic development. He previously served on the Houston City Council between 2006 and 2012. He is no stranger to this seat, having run against Jackson Lee in 2010. More recently, he lost a tight state senate race to Molly Cook in a runoff election in May to replace the vacated seat by mayor John Whitmire.
Rep. Christina Morales
A current member of the Texas House of Representatives, Morales has served District 145 since 2019. She founded the Annual Morales Back to School Supplies Giveaway, which helps low-income children get access to school supplies, in 1997. She is also known for her background in the funeral home industry, where she operated her family’s Morales Memorial Foundation, which provides scholarships and community support, particularly to Hispanic youth in Houston.
Erica Lee Carter
The late congresswoman’s eldest child, Erica Lee Carter, is also making a play for the vacant seat. Carter announced her bid with a statement saying the congresswoman liked to see things through and that she would like to finish the rest of the term “for my mom.” The term ends in January 2025; Carter did not indicate whether she will run beyond that.
