HOUSTON — As Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner reaches his term limit in 2023, several candidates have tossed their hats in the ring to try and become the city's next top official.
Here's who has announced a bid for Houston mayor.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee
Jackson Lee is currently serving her 13th term as the U.S. representative for Texas' 18th Congressional District.
Her campaign website lists several key accomplishments from her time in the U.S. Congress, including playing a role in the passage of the Affordable Care Act, co-sponsoring voting rights legislation and co-sponsoring immigration reform legislation.
If elected, some of her priorities as mayor would include revamping public infrastructure, lowering crime rates and addressing homelessness in the city.
Jackson Lee is the Democratic Chief Deputy Whip for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Sen. John Whitmire
Whitmire represents the 15th Senatorial District, which covers north Houston. He's served in the state Senate since 1982 and served in the state House of Representatives for a decade before that.
Whitmire said he'll rely on his years of experience in the Texas Legislature to lead the city.
According to his campaign website, Whitmire's priorities as mayor would be fighting crime, stopping corruption and making the city a better place to live.
Whitmire currently serves as the chair of the Texas Senate Criminal Justice Committee.
Houston City Council Member Robert Gallegos
Houston native Gallegos serves as the District 1 City Council member. His district includes downtown, EaDo, Clinton Park, parts of northeast Houston, the greater East End and the Houston Ship Channel.
He was elected to the council in 2013 and has served in the role since.
According to his campaign website, Gallegos has worked to enhance the quality of life in the city by advocating for green spaces, working to reduce animal overpopulation, resolving neighborhood issues and advocating for non-discrimination protections for immigrant communities.
Gilbert Garcia
According to Houston financial advisor Garcia's campaign website, he came to the city in 1990 to help then-Mayor Henry Cisneros build the Cisneros Asset Management Company.
Garcia is no stranger to public service. He served as chairman of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County from 2010 until 2016, his website says.
Some of his top priorities include investing more in community policing, fighting corruption, cleaning up the streets and bolstering the city's economy.
Lee Kaplan
Kaplan, a Houston lawyer, is basing his campaign on "the basics." According to his campaign website, his priorities are on lowering crime rates, addressing traffic and road issues and garbage problems.
Kaplan is a University of Texas Law School graduate and clerked for federal Judge Joe MacDonald Ingraham. Now, he manages his own law firm he formed with two friends.
He said his experience managing the law firm will help him lead the city.
M. "Griff" Griffin
"Griff" of Griff's Irish Pub told KHOU 11 he is running on three main issues: Addressing crime, flooding problems and infrastructure in the city.
He said he would drive down crime by being tough on fentanyl, police shootings and human trafficking and push for harsher penalties for these types of crimes.
Griff described himself as the "common sense candidate" and said he wanted to look further into issues with Houston's roads and infrastructure. He said helped advocate against the rail on Richmond project.
Chanel Mbala
Mbala was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1983 and immigrated to the United States in 2010 as a part of the Diversity Visa Lottery Program, according to his campaign website.
After living in St. Louis, Missouri and New York City, Mbala and his wife made the decision to move to Houston in November 2015. He said he's worked as an IT professional for 15 years and hopes to create a brighter future for the city.
Mbala is running on three major platforms, according to his website: Safer streets, better roads and shelter for all.
Naoufal Houjami
According to his campaign website, Houjami's priorities as mayor would be to address the affordable housing crisis, improve flood resources, improve transparency in local government and lower crime, among other things.
Click here for more information on Houjami's campaign.
Julian Antonio Martinez
Martinez, a Houston businessman, aims to create more transparency, make the city more financially responsible and improve communication from the city as mayor, according to his campaign website.
Other priorities include safety, economic development and addressing affordable housing.
According to Martinez, he and his parents immigrated to New York City in 1965 from the Dominican Republic before he and his wife moved to Houston in 1978. Marinez said he worked his way up at a local BMW dealership before starting his own car dealership and service center.
Gaylon S. Caldwell
Gaylon Caldwell, a 10-year Houston resident, has filed to run for mayor.
He told KHOU 11 that his top priorities are marijuana-friendly policing, gun control through firearm safety and education, making the city's parks safe, and expanding staffing at the city's Office of Emergency Management, among other issues. He also said he aims to address littering/garbage dumping issues, vacant buildings and to annex parts of northeast Harris County.
"I want to run for Mayor because I am confident, I have solid solutions that will solve the issues that we face in the City of Houston today and create a better city worth living in tomorrow," Caldwell said.
M.J. Khan
Former Houston City Councilman M.J. Khan's priorities include addressing crime in the city, fixing public infrastructure, supporting first responders and improving the city's relationship with the state.
According to his campaign website, Khan served as the council member for District F from 2004 to 2009.
Kathy Lee Tatum
Dr. Kathy Lee Tatum told KHOU 11 she's running for mayor to stop corruption and get fresh eyes on the government system.
She said not enough is being done to fix the root problem of crime, which she claims putting more resources into the communities will help address.
For more information, you can follow her Instagram page: @DRKATHYLEETATUM4HOUSTON.
Jack Christie
Former Houston City Councilman Dr. Jack Christie has filed to run for Houston mayor in the 2023 election. He said he has served 22 years in elected public service and has previously won 15 elections. He has also served on the Spring Branch ISD Board of Trustees and the State Board of Education.
Now, he runs a chiropractic practice in the Houston area that he says cares for more than 35,000 patients.
Christie also highlighted his community and charitable work, including organizing and sponsoring the annual 5th Ward Ice Skating Party an serving on the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston Board of Directors.
Annie "Mama" Garcia
After running for U.S. Senate in 2020, Annie "Mama" Garcia has filed to run for Houston mayor in the 2023 election.
Garcia said she is running to "fight for our kids and our city." She said as mayor, she would work to hold the government accountable regarding the state takeover of Houston ISD.
Click here for more information on her campaign.
David C. Lowy
David C. Lowy described himself as the "fun" candidate for Houston mayor. According to this website, he first ran for mayor in 1981 as the "sense of humor" candidate and got 142 votes. He said this time, he's shooting for 143.
Some of his priorities would include working with Public Works to identify problems on Houston streets, addressing issues impacting homelessness, developing extreme weather education programs and more.
Click here for more information on his campaign
Roy Vasquez
According to Vasquez's website, he's a lifelong Houstonian who wants to serve his city.
Click here for more information on his campaign.
B. Ivy
We have reached out to Ivy for more information on their campaign.
Robin Williams (write-in candidate)
According to her website, Williams is running because she said it's time for a “change of direction."
Click here for more information on her campaign.