Longtime Democratic Houston congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was defeated in the city’s mayoral race Saturday night by Democratic state senator John Whitmire.
After serving in Congress for almost three decades, Jackson Lee entered the Houston mayoral race in March. Whitmire’s campaign centered on combatting crime and community, and it outspent his opponent, the Associated Press reported. The two were the final contenders in Saturday’s runoff election. There were nearly 20 declared candidates in the November 7 general election.
Jackson Lee’s bid was also overshadowed by a workplace scandal in October.
Then, it was revealed that Jackson Lee had been recorded verbally abusing her staff, calling them “f***-ups” in a heated exchange with a male staffer who was not able to answer questions she had about an upcoming event. In the tape, Jackson Lee could be heard asking for the details of an upcoming event organized by Ovide Duncantell, founder of the Black Heritage Society, Inc.
“You took a piece of paper from that woman regarding something that was owned by Duncantell. Where is it? What date was it?” Jackson Lee asked a male staffer, according to audio obtained by the Texas news outlet Current Revolt. The man responded by saying he gave the document to someone named Jerome, presumably another staff member. Jackson Lee then interjected as the staff member said he would call Jerome to find out what she wanted to know.
“I don’t want you to do a [expletive] thing,” she said. “I want you to have a [expletive] brain. I want you to have read it. I want you to say, ‘Congresswoman, it was such and such a date. That’s what I want. That’s the kind of staff that I want to have.”
Jackson Lee kept hurling insults and snapping at the staffer, saying she expects staffers to learn the details of events. “When I called Jerome, he only sits up there like a fat [expletive], just talking about what the [expletive] he doesn’t know,” she said. “Both of y’all are f***-ups…This is the worst [expletive] that I could’ve ever had put together. Two [expletive] big [expletive] children. [expletive] idiots. Serve no [expletive] purpose.”
Over the years, Jackson Lee had developed a reputation as a demanding and punitive boss. She has been known to belittle her staff and make them work overtime. Two of her former employees sued her for allegations related to poor workplace treatment.
A recent poll from the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs conducted between September 30 and October 6, 2023 found that over half of respondents viewed Jackson Lee unfavorably, and 43 percent said they would never vote for her for Houston mayor.
Whitmire garnered 30 percent support among early voters, AP noted. He said in his victory speech Saturday night that he was committed to meeting the city’s many challenges, including crime. Jackson Lee said she looked forward to collaborating with him on public service matters and that a decision was forthcoming on whether she would run for another term in her House seat.