Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee running for Mayor Of Houston

U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee announced on Monday that she is running for Mayor of Houston.

The announcement is the latest in a long line of high-profile moves by the Congresswoman from Texas, and it adds another dimension to what promises to be a lively mayoral race in Houston.

ABC 13 reports that Rep. Lee made the announcement of her run for Mayor of Houston during an appearance at City Cathedral Church on Sunday; her remarks were later shared online “Sheila Jackson Lee wants to come home to be your mayor for the city of Houston,” Jackson Lee said during her church appearance, referencing her early political career, in which she served as a municipal judge and then a city councilor for Houston. In a statement to ABC 13, Jackson Lee’s camp stated that “for some time, there has been much positive feedback in Houston about the prospects of Congresswoman Jackson Lee running for Mayor of Houston,” leading her to decide to run for the office while currently holding onto her seat in Congress.

Jackson Lee enters a crowded field to replace Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, who is retiring from the position due to term limits. Turner has been one of the most high-profile Black mayors in the United States.