Houston Mayor John Whitmire will no longer be eligible for endorsements from the Harris County Democratic Party after precinct chairs voted to formally cut him off from future party backing.
At a meeting Sunday that drew hundreds of party activists, precinct chairs approved a resolution by a 186–80 vote denying Whitmire access to Democrat endorsements going forward. The measure followed months of internal complaints from party organizers and was triggered, in part, by Whitmire’s attendance at a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a Republican who represents parts of northeast Harris County.
Before reaching the full body, the resolution had already cleared party leadership by wide margins. It passed the resolutions committee 14–5 and the steering committee 17–7, signaling that opposition to the mayor had become organized well ahead of Sunday’s vote.
Supporters of the resolution accused Whitmire of failing to challenge Republican leaders and of governing in a way they argue does not reflect the party’s priorities. More than 100 precinct chairs had previously signed on to statements criticizing the mayor for working with state officials and for not publicly confronting the Trump administration’s federal immigration policies.
In a statement following the vote, Whitmire pushed back on those claims and emphasized his long-standing ties to the Democrat party. He said the resolution does not change his record or the reality that Houston’s mayoral office is nonpartisan.
Whitmire also addressed claims surrounding the city’s relationship with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, stating that Houston does not participate in immigration enforcement and follows state and local law, including Senate Bill 4.
SB 4 is a Texas law that bars sanctuary policies and requires local governments to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, including honoring ICE detainer requests.
Whitmire said the city’s policies are focused on public safety and rejected accusations that Houston operates as an arm of federal immigration authorities.
The vote has divided Democrat officials and party leaders across Harris County. Several prominent Democrats urged precinct chairs to reject the resolution ahead of Sunday’s meeting, warning that it could deepen internal fractures and weaken the party’s broader efforts.
That letter, authored by leaders within the Meyerland Area Democrats Club, was signed by U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, State Sen. Carol Alvarado, and Harris County Commissioners Lesley Briones and Adrian Garcia. The signatories argued that the mayor has been engaged in negotiations with state and federal officials that are not always visible but are necessary to protect the city’s interests.
Other party leaders took the opposite view. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo publicly encouraged precinct chairs to approve the resolution, urging them to ignore concerns that the vote would be divisive.
Hidalgo and Whitmire, however, have been publicly feuding in a variety of ways for well over a year. Progressive organizations, including the Houston Progressive Caucus and the Houston LGBTQ+ Caucus, also backed the measure.
Whitmire has been a Democrat throughout his political career and spent a decade in the Texas House before spending another four decades in the Texas Senate, where he was known for working across party lines. His administration has defended that approach as necessary for a city the size of Houston, particularly when dealing with funding, infrastructure, and state oversight.
Whitmire made it clear that his priority remains the people of Houston, stating, “I will continue to fight for Houstonians and work with colleagues across the political spectrum to deliver results, move our city forward, and stay focused on the issues that matter most to Houstonians.”
The next Houston mayoral election will take place in 2027.
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