Democrat John Whitmire elected Houston mayor, defeating congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

By JUAN A. LOZANO
Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) — A longtime Democratic Texas lawmaker who has represented Houston in the Legislature for more than 50 years will lead the nation’s fourth-largest city after winning a mayoral runoff election. State Sen. John Whitmire defeated U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee Saturday night. Whitmire and Jackson Lee had made it to Saturday’s runoff after emerging from a crowded field of nearly 20 candidates in the Nov. 7 general election. Both candidates had touted their decades of political experience as a strong qualification to lead Houston, which is facing challenges that include crime, crumbling infrastructure and potential budget shortfalls.