HOUSTON — Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will be the Democratic nominee to replace the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee on the November general election ballot.
In a runoff vote among precinct chairs Tuesday at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, Turner topped former Houston city councilmember Amanda Edwards, 41-37. That came after the original vote count that didn't determine a winner. In that original vote, Turner had 35 votes. Edwards had 34. Forty were needed for a majority.
Turner will now face Republican nominee Lana Centoze on Nov. 5.
"You can't replace Sheila Jackson Lee. You can't. But you can certainly carry on the mission that she felt very deeply about. When the decision was made tonight, her daughter Erica Lee came up to me and just said 'Mom would be proud.' So, this was not political. This was personal and I intend to serve that way," Turner said Tuesday.
Lee's daughter, Erica Lee Carter, said her mom loved Turner like a brother but worked with him like a fighter.
"There is no one else she wants in the fight than have your back like Sylvester Turner. So, we're so grateful on behalf of my family that you stood up even in these times for our community," Lee Carter said.
Earlier this month, Turner told KHOU 11’s Len Cannon that if he does win the seat, he would serve two terms maximum.
Edwards faced Jackson Lee in the March primary and lost, coming in second to the long-time congresswoman.
Two elections for Congressional District 18 on Nov. 5
Keep in mind, the general election Turner will be in is separate from the special election Gov. Greg Abbot called to fill the remainder of Jackson Lee’s current term. That election is on the same day as the general election. Jackson Lee’s daughter, Erica Lee Carter, announced on Monday that she’s running in the special election. Last week, NAACP Houston President Bishop James Dixon also announced he was running in the special election, but on Monday, dropped out and threw his support behind the late congresswoman's daughter. It was something he said he'd do if she decided to run.
Jackson Lee died on July 19, two months after announcing she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Known by her constituents as simply, "Congresswoman," Jackson Lee served the public for more than 30 years. Jackson Lee had a hand in several legislative victories over the decades, including establishing the Juneteenth Federal Holiday and reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act.