Texas Dem Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee announces run for Houston mayor

Jackson Lee has served in Congress from Texas for more than 28 years

After nearly two decades in congress Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, is retiring from her position in Congress next cycle and will run for Houston mayor.

"Sheila Jackson Lee wants to come home to be your mayor for the city of Houston," Jackson Lee reportedly said during a church event live-streamed Sunday. "I will not be able to do it without each and every one of you."

Jackson Lee currently represents Texas' 18th Congressional District, where she has served for more than 28 years.

TUCKER CARLSON: SHEILA JACKSON LEE HAS DEVOTED HER LIFE TO SHREIKING ABOUT WHITE RACISM

Rep Sheila Jackson Lee  (Erin Scott)

The longtime congresswoman, who said that racism is a national security threat, was first elected in 1994.

Jackson Lee recently introduced the controversial Leading Against White Supremacy Act, legislation that would criminalize forms of hate speech, opening the door to criminal penalties for hateful social media content.

REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE INTRODCUES BILL CRIMINALIZING SOME FORMS OF ‘HATE SPEECH’

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee will not seek re-election in 2024. (Getty Images)

She has also been an outspoken critic in recent years of largely Republican-backed state level bills aimed at election integrity, and was arrested at a protest in Washington, D.C. in 2021 calling for the passage of a federal voting rights legislation.

There are already more than 10 declared candidates in the race, most of them Democrats, but Jackson Lee's name recognition could play a major role in her candidacy. The filing deadline for candidates to enter the race is Aug. 21.

Democratic Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee has announced she will run to be the next mayor of Houston. (John Coletti via Getty Images)

Current Houston mayor Sylvester Turner is term limited and not able to run for re-election.

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