Rob Salinas/Houston Public Media
Houston Mayor John Whitmire at the 2024 Houston Pride Parade.
One of Houston’s prominent LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations is backing a resolution that would block Mayor John Whitmire from receiving the endorsement of the Harris County Democratic Party for his reelection campaign in 2027.
Leaders for the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus said in a Tuesday morning news release they “affirm and support the efforts of Harris County Democratic precinct chairs to uphold the values of equality, justice, and community safety through the resolution before them,” which would deny Whitmire the party’s endorsement. He is a longtime Democrat who served more than 50 years in the Texas Legislature.
“Houston must remain a city that protects every resident, honors LGBTQ+ history, and defends the dignity of all people,” the caucus’ statement said.
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A spokesperson for Whitmire’s office did not immediately return a request for comment. Neither did Whitmire’s political campaign.
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The proposed resolution by the local Democratic party has been in the works for the better part of 2025 after Whitmire attended a fundraiser for Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw. Pointing to that fundraiser, the resolution “condemns the political behavior of John Whitmire and finds that his conduct undermines the values and mission of the Democratic Party, warranting denial of endorsement in all future elections effective immediately.”
The resolution, which bears the signatures of 99 precinct chairs, passed the party’s steering committee in late November and will be considered by up to 600 precinct chairs at a meeting this Sunday.
In supporting that resolution, the LGBTQ+ caucus cited Whitmire’s association with Crenshaw as well as a reported incident involving a gay Houston man, whom the organization identified only as “Jorge,” who was arrested by federal immigration authorities during a “routine asylum interview,” the caucus said.
“He has no criminal history and followed every legal requirement,” the group added. “He sought safety after fleeing Honduras due to violence he faced for being gay.”
Whitmire and the Houston Police Department have been criticized for the department’s coordination with federal immigration agents during the second term of President Donald Trump.
Representatives for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) did not immediately return a request for comment.
“This case reflects a broader pattern of actions by Mayor John Whitmire that undermine the safety and civil rights of LGBTQ+ Houstonians and other vulnerable communities, and are inconsistent with the core principles of The Caucus,” the LGBTQ+ Political Caucus wrote in its statement.
The LGBTQ+ Political Caucus also cited the removal of rainbow crosswalks in Montrose in October as justification, arguing that Whitmire and city-appointed officials at METRO quickly acquiesced to political pressure from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republicans.
Houston Public Media’s Dominic Anthony Walsh contributed to this report.