Democrat U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee filed for re-election to serve Texas’ 18th Congressional District after losing Saturday’s Houston mayoral runoff election.
According to the Houston Chronicle, Jackson Lee filed paperwork Sunday evening in hopes of keeping the congressional seat that she has held since 1995.
Amanda Edwards, a former Houston City Council member who once interned in Jackson Lee’s office, is also running in the Democrat primary for the congressional seat.
Edwards was initially part of the Houston mayoral race, but she dropped out earlier this year to run for Jackson Lee’s open seat after the current congresswoman announced she would be running for mayor.
A Democrat Party spokesperson says that Edwards and Jackson Lee are the only candidates who filed for the Democrat primary by the December 11 deadline.
Jackson Lee lost her bid for Houston’s mayor last weekend by 65 to 35 percent to Democrat State Sen. John Whitmire of Houston. She faced scrutiny after a controversial recording was released to the public that shows Jackson Lee berating her staff using profanity.
She was also ridiculed for a gaffe earlier this month, where she encouraged voters to go out to the polls on the wrong day. She told voters to vote “on or before December 7.” However, early voting ended on December 5, at which point the polls were closed until Election Day, December 9.
Whitmire appeared to take a shot at Jackson Lee during his victory speech, criticizing her for berating her staff.
“People want to go to work for me because we respect people. We don’t bully people,” said Whitmire during his victory speech Saturday. “My family taught me to treat people the way you want to be treated, and that works wherever you are, regardless of what community you’re visiting with. Treat these individuals like you want to be treated.”
Two Republicans are also running for Jackson Lee’s seat. Aaron Hermes and Lena Centonze will compete in the Republican Primary election in March before the winner faces the winner of the Democrat Primary election in November.
Texas Scorecard reached out to Jackson Lee but received no response by publication.
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