Houston, a city known for its youthful population, is on the brink of electing the oldest big-city mayor in the U.S. The runoff election, set to decide the city's next mayor, has been marked by a notable age gap between the candidates and the city's median age. This has led to a sense of disconnect among younger voters, who feel that issues important to them, such as reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ rights, have been largely absent from the mayoral race.
The two candidates in the runoff are U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and state Sen. John Whitmire. The winner will replace term-limited Mayor Sylvester Turner. Both candidates have discussed their plans to address major challenges facing the city, including crime, infrastructure, affordable housing, and the budget. Whitmire has far outraised and outspent Jackson Lee in the campaign. If elected, Jackson Lee would become the first Black woman to serve as Houston mayor.
The election takes place against the backdrop of new state laws that curb local Democratic control over elections in Harris County. The candidates and their backgrounds have been outlined in various guides, and polling stations have been listed in different areas of Harris County to facilitate the voting process. As the election results are being reported, county-level results are also being shared, with the source of the information being NBC News Decision Desk.
Despite the age gap and the perceived disconnect, both candidates have emphasized the importance of younger voters and promised to include them in their administration. However, the effectiveness of these outreach efforts and the impact on the voting patterns of younger voters remain to be seen.
