Jump to content

Sheila Jackson Lee

Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sheila Jackson Lee
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 18th district
In office
January 3, 1995 – July 19, 2024
Preceded byCraig Washington
Succeeded byErica Lee Carter
Member of the Houston City Council
from the at-large district
In office
January 2, 1990 – January 3, 1995
Preceded byAnthony Hall
Succeeded byJohn Peavy
Personal details
Born
Sheila Jackson

(1950-01-12)January 12, 1950
New York City, U.S.
DiedJuly 19, 2024(2024-07-19) (aged 74)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Elwyn Lee
(m. 1973)
Children2, including Erica
EducationNew York University
Yale University (BA)
University of Virginia (JD)
WebsiteHouse website

Sheila Jackson Lee (née Jackson; January 12, 1950 – July 19, 2024) was an American lawyer and politician who was the U.S. representative for Texas's 18th congressional district, from 1995 until her death in 2024. The district includes most of central Houston. She was a member of the Democratic Party and served as an at-large member of the Houston City Council before being elected to the House. She was also co-dean of Texas's congressional delegation.

Born in Queens, New York, Jackson Lee earned a scholarship for Black students at New York University before transferring to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Yale University in 1972 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1975.[1][2] In 1987, after she had moved to Houston, she was appointed as a municipal judge for the city by Kathy Whitmire. In 1989, Jackson Lee was elected to the Houston City Council. She served in the office until 1994 when she began a campaign for a seat in the U.S. Congress. In the Democratic primary, she defeated incumbent Craig Washington and went on to easily win the general election.

During her congressional tenure, Jackson Lee supported progressive policies such as gun control and Medicare for All.[3] She introduced the Essential Transportation Worker Identification Credential Assessment Act in 2013 and the Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act in 2021. In 2019, Jackson Lee stepped down as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and a subcommittee in the House Judiciary after a lawsuit filed by a former staffer claimed she was fired due to planned legal action against an alleged rape by a supervisor.

Jackson Lee announced her candidacy for the 2023 Houston mayoral election in March of that year. In the first round, she placed second behind state senator John Whitmire. However, as no candidate crossed the 50% threshold to win outright, a runoff election occurred on December 9, 2023. Despite several key endorsements, Jackson Lee lost the election to Whitmire. On December 11, she filed to run for re-election to her congressional seat and won the Democratic primary on March 5, 2024. In July 2024, she died in office after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.[4]

Early life and career in Texas

External videos
video icon Congresswoman Jackson Lee "Kneeling in Defense of 1st Amendment", speech in the House of Representatives, September 25, 2017

Sheila Jackson was born in the New York City borough of Queens on January 12, 1950.[5] Her father, Ezra Clyde Jackson, who was born in Brooklyn, was a comic book artist and the son of Jamaican immigrants.[6] Her mother, Ivalita Bennett Jackson, was a nurse, and came to New York at an early age from her birthplace of St. Petersburg, Florida.[7]

Jackson graduated from Jamaica High School in Queens. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Yale University in 1972 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1975.[8] She moved to Houston in 1987[9] when her husband, Elwyn Lee, accepted a position at the University of Houston. She got a job at Leon Jaworski's law firm.[10] She made three previous unsuccessful attempts at local judgeships before becoming a Houston municipal judge, a position she held from 1987 to 1990.[11] Kathy Whitmire, the mayor of Houston, appointed Jackson Lee to the position, along with Sylvia Garcia.

In 1989, Jackson Lee won the at-large position for a seat on the Houston City Council, serving until 1994.[11] On the city council, she helped pass a safety ordinance that required parents to keep their guns away from children.[12] She also worked for expanded summer hours at city parks and recreation centers as a way to combat gang violence.[13]

U.S. House of Representatives

1994 run for office

In 1994, Jackson Lee challenged four-term incumbent U.S. Representative Craig Washington in the Democratic primary.[11] Washington had come under fire for opposing several projects that would have benefited the Houston area.[14] Jackson Lee defeated Washington, 63% to 37%.[15] The victory was tantamount to election in this heavily Democratic, black-majority district. In the general election, she defeated Republican nominee Jerry Burley, 73%–24%.[16]

Tenure

Jackson Lee watches as Paul Ryan signs the First Step Act of 2018.

Before the 110th Congress, Jackson Lee served on the House Science Committee and on the Subcommittee that oversees space policy and NASA.[17] She was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus[18][19] and a CBC whip.[14]

On September 27, 2013, Jackson Lee introduced the Essential Transportation Worker Identification Credential Assessment Act (H.R. 3202; 113th Congress), a bill that would direct the United States Department of Homeland Security to assess the effectiveness of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program.[20] The bill would require an independent assessment of how well the TWIC program improves security and reduces risks at the facilities and vessels it is responsible for.[21]

In January 2019, The New York Times reported that Jackson Lee planned to resign as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. The move came in the wake of a lawsuit filed by a former staffer earlier in January that claimed the staffer was fired in retaliation for her planned legal action related to an alleged rape by a supervisor in 2015. The resignation came the day after the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence announced it would not support making Jackson Lee the lead sponsor of a law to reauthorize the federal Violence Against Women Act.[22] She also stepped down from her chairmanship of the House Judiciary subcommittee.[23]

Jackson Lee and others using the "hands up don't shoot" gesture in recognition of the Ferguson, Missouri police shooting

On January 4, 2021, Jackson Lee introduced the Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act (H.R. 127; 117th Congress), a bill that expanded requirements for firearm licensing to every firearm and banned any ammunition of .50 caliber BMG or larger.[24]

In the 117th Congress (2021–2023), Jackson Lee voted with United States President Joe Biden's stated position 100 percent of the time, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.[25] Jackson Lee and Representative Lloyd Doggett became co-deans of Texas's congressional delegation in January 2023 after the retirement of Eddie Bernice Johnson.[26]

Staffing issues

In 1998, The Houston Press reported that five of Jackson Lee's staffers had quit that spring. The paper quoted her former Capitol office executive assistant and events scheduler, Rhiannon Burruss, as saying that "the congresswoman's abrasive ways not only drove off staff members but irritated Continental Airlines staffers to the point where one suggested she fly on a competitor instead."[27][28][29] In 2011, Jackson Lee was reported to have one of the highest staff turnover rates in Congress. The Huffington Post and the Houston Chronicle reported that she had gone through 11 chiefs of staff in the course of 11 years.[30][31] A 2013 report concluded that "the veteran Texas Democrat had the highest turnover rate for all of Congress over the [previous] decade."[32] Washingtonian magazine named Jackson Lee as the "meanest Democratic Congress member" in both 2014 and 2017.[33] In 2018, LegiStorm reported that Jackson Lee's annual turnover rate, at 62%, was the highest in Congress.[34]

In 2023, during her Houston mayoral run, an unverified[35] audio leaked of Jackson Lee berating her staffers with profanity. The recording was about a minute and half in length, where Jackson Lee allegedly tells a staffer she wants him to have a "fuckin' brain" and that "nobody knows a Goddamn thing in my office — nothing." She then describes a different staffer as a "fat-ass stupid idiot" and that both of them are "fuck-ups" and that they are "two Goddamn big-ass children, fuckin' idiots who serve no Goddamn purpose."[36][37] Her mayoral campaign refused to verify the authenticity of the recording and alleged that "these attacks have originated from extremely conservative blogs and political operatives backing John Whitmire."[a] Whitmire's campaign stated they had no involvement with the recording.[36] Jackson Lee responded to the release of the recording by saying, "I am regretful and hope you will judge me not by something trotted out by a political opponent ... but from what I've delivered to Houstonians over my years of public service" and said that "everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and that includes my own staff."[37][35]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Jackson Lee was a member of a number of caucuses, including:

2023 Houston mayoral run

On March 27, 2023, Jackson Lee announced her candidacy for the mayor of Houston in the 2023 election.[51] Jackson Lee garnered endorsements from notable political figures such as outgoing Houston mayor Sylvester Turner, former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.[52] On November 7, 2023, Jackson Lee came in second place in the election, behind Democratic state senator John Whitmire. However, none of the 18 candidates who ran managed to surpass the required 50 percent threshold.[53]

Jackson Lee and Whitmire advanced to a runoff election on December 9, 2023. Jackson Lee was ultimately defeated by Whitmire, who won with nearly 65 percent of the vote.[54][53] Following her loss, Jackson Lee filed for re-election to her U.S. House seat on December 11, 2023.[55][56]

Political views and statements

Foreign policy

In 2000, Jackson Lee favored permanently normalizing trade status for the People's Republic of China and argued that it would aid both human rights and Houston's economy.[57]

Jackson Lee traveled to the 2001 World Conference against Racism in South Africa, and backed sanctions against Sudan.[58] Jackson Lee voted against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that authorized the Iraq War.[59][60] On April 28, 2006, along with four other members of Congress and six other activists, she was arrested for disorderly conduct in front of Sudan's embassy in Washington DC. They were protesting the role of Sudan's government in ethnic cleansing in Darfur.[61]

Jackson Lee urged better relations between the U.S. and Venezuela, which she described as a friendly nation. She said the U.S. should reconsider its ban on selling F-16 fighter jets and spare parts to Venezuela. The United States Department of State bans such sales due to the alleged "lack of support" for counter-terrorist operations and Venezuela's relations with Iran and Cuba.[62][63]

In May 2015, Jackson Lee took a trip to Azerbaijan, paid by the Azerbaijani government.[64][65]

Jackson Lee condemned the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's wide-ranging purges following a failed July 2016 coup in Turkey.[66]

After the Iranian retaliatory strikes in April for the Israeli bombing of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Jackson Lee posted on Twitter that "Iran is a terrorist nation." and that the nation had "launched a disproportionate terrorist attack against our ally Israel."[67][68]

Domestic policy

Jackson Lee was active on immigration issues.[69] She had proposed increasing border security and increasing opportunities for legalization among those living in the U.S. She opposed a guest worker program, saying that the idea "connotate[s] 'invite, come,' and, at the same time, it misleads because you ask people to come for a temporary job of three to six years and they have to leave if they don't have another job and I would think that they would not."[70]

Jackson Lee opposed repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.[71]

At a March 2011 Homeland Security Committee hearing on radical Muslims in the U.S., Jackson Lee said that Peter King's hearings were helping al-Qaeda and "going the same route as Arizona." She complained that the hearings were scaring Muslim Americans and called them "an outrage".[72]

Following Debbie Wasserman Schultz's resignation as chair after the 2016 Democratic National Committee email leak, Jackson Lee campaigned with her and traveled the districts African American churches with Wasserman Schultz for her primary campaign against Tim Canova.[60]

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee questions U.S. Customs and Border Protection Deputy Commissioner Kevin K. McAleenan during testimony in a 2016 House Committee on Homeland Security hearing.

In August 2022, Jackson Lee voted for the Inflation Reduction Act.[73] Jackson Lee was one of three Democrats that abstained from voting in the successful formal censure of congresswoman Rashida Tlaib proposed by Rich McCormick.[74][75]

LGBT rights

Jackson Lee voted "present" on the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996.[76][77] In 2009, she voted for the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, a bill that expanded the federal hate crime law to cover crimes biased by the victim's sexual orientation or gender identity.[78] In 2010, she voted in favor of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act that allowed gay, lesbian, and bisexual people to serve openly in the U.S. military.[79]

In 2019, Jackson Lee voted for the Equality Act, which expanded the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.[80] Jackson Lee criticized Republican representatives who opposed the legislation on religious grounds.[81]

Racial issues

In 2003, Jackson Lee suggested changing the naming practices for tropical cyclones and hurricanes, saying that "all racial groups should be represented" and that meteorological organizations should "try to be inclusive of African American names."[82][83]

Speaking at the July 2010 NAACP national convention, Jackson Lee compared the Tea Party movement to the Ku Klux Klan, saying that "all those who wore sheets a long time ago have now lifted them off". Jackson Lee's remarks were criticized by conservatives, including Tea Party Caucus founder Michele Bachmann (R-MN).[84][85]

In December 2017, Jackson Lee was accused of having been given preferential treatment by United Airlines by a passenger who claimed a first class seat ticket she had purchased had been given to the congresswoman. United Airlines had claimed that the woman who purchased the first class seat had cancelled her ticket and later apologized for the incident. Jackson Lee claimed she was accused because she was "an African American woman".[86][87]

Jackson Lee was one of the leading lawmakers behind the effort to have Juneteenth recognized as an American federal holiday. Recognition was achieved in 2021.[88]

Presidential election objections

In 2001, Jackson Lee and other House members objected to counting Florida's electoral votes, which George W. Bush narrowly won after a contentious recount in the 2000 presidential election. Because no senator joined the objection, it was dismissed by Senate President Al Gore.[89]

In 2005, Jackson Lee was one of the 31 House Democrats who voted not to count Ohio's electoral votes in the 2004 presidential election.[90][91] Without Ohio's electoral votes, the election would have been decided by the U.S. House of Representatives, with each state having one vote in accordance with the Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

During the 2017 United States Electoral College vote count, Jackson Lee objected to counting North Carolina, South Carolina, and Wyoming's electoral votes in the 2016 presidential election.[92] Because no senator joined her objections, they were dismissed.[93]

COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Texas, Jackson Lee appealed to city officials in Houston for free and reduced-price parking at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport. This reduced the number of bus riders by about 1000 employees per day and increased social distancing. Jackson Lee also supported airline workers at United Airlines that were targeted for furloughs after the airline had accepted billions of dollars in taxpayer funds through the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program.[94]

Gaffes

According to The Daily Beast, Jackson Lee had a "history of wild statements" and political gaffes.[95] These include incorrectly stating that the U.S. Constitution was 400 years old;[96] mistakenly criticizing Wikipedia instead of WikiLeaks;[97] incorrectly calling the Moon a "planet" that is made "mostly of gases";[98][99] and saying that North Vietnam and South Vietnam were, in 2010, still separate countries.[100][101]

The Hill reported that during a 1997 visit to the Mars Pathfinder operations center, Jackson Lee asked whether the Pathfinder rover had taken a picture of the U.S. flag planted by Neil Armstrong; the flag had been planted on the Moon, not Mars. Jackson Lee was at the time a member of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics of the House Science Committee.[102][103] In response, Jackson Lee's deputy chief of staff accused the newspaper of racial bias without disputing the story's accuracy. The Hill denied the allegations and stood by its reporting.[103][104]

In July 2014, Jackson Lee said that "we did not seek an impeachment" of President George W. Bush. Jackson Lee was one of 11 co-sponsors of the 2008 U.S. House bill H. Res. 1258, which sought to impeach Bush for "deceiving Congress with fabricated threats of Iraq WMDs". Jackson Lee's spokesperson later said that she "misspoke".[105][106]

A campaign advertisement for Jackson Lee in the 2023 Houston mayoral election instructed viewers to vote on the wrong date. Jackson Lee's spokesperson attributed the error to an external advertising agency.[107]

Personal life

Elwyn Lee in 2011

In 1973, Jackson Lee married Elwyn Lee, who has served as a law professor and vice president of student affairs at the University of Houston.[108] The couple had two children, including her daughter Erica Lee Carter who replaced her in Congress.[8][17] Jackson Lee was a Seventh-day Adventist.[109][110] She was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority[111] as well as The Links organization.[112]

Illness and death

Jackson Lee previously had breast cancer, but was declared cancer-free in 2012.[113]

On June 2, 2024, Jackson Lee announced that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer,[114] and was receiving treatments.[115] She died at a hospital in Houston on July 19, 2024, at the age of 74.[5][1]

President Joe Biden paying his respects to Jackson Lee on July 29, 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris delivering the eulogy at the memorial service for Jackson Lee, August 1, 2024

President Joe Biden arrived in Houston on Monday, July 29, 2024 to pay respects to Jackson Lee.[116][117] During Jackson Lee's funeral service at Houston's Fallbrook Church on August 1, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris gave the eulogy. Speakers included Bill Clinton, his wife and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and U.S. House members Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Steven Horsford and Congressional Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal. Also delivering remarks were Ambassador Audrey Marks, former Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority President Glenda Glover, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Reverend Al Sharpton and Civil Rights attorney Benjamin Crump, with activist Jesse Jackson joining them on stage. Performances were delivered by Grammy Award-winners Stevie Wonder, Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin and Pastor Shirley Caesar.[118][119][120][121]

Awards and recognition

Electoral history

Texas's 18th congressional district, 1994[123]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee 84,790 73.5
Republican Jerry Burley 28,153 24.4
Independent J. Larry Snellings 1,278 1.1
Libertarian George Hollenbeck 1,169 1.0
Total votes 115,390 100.0
Democratic hold
Texas's 18th congressional district, 1996[124]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 106,111 77.1
Republican Larry White 13,956 10.1
Republican Jerry Burley 7,877 5.7
Republican George Young 5,332 3.9
Democratic Mike Lamson 4,412 3.2
Total votes 137,688 100.0
Democratic hold
Texas's 18th congressional district, 1998[124]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 82,091 89.9
Libertarian James Galvan 9,176 10.1
Total votes 91,267 100.0
Democratic hold
Texas's 18th congressional district, 2000[125]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 131,857 76.5
Republican James Galvan 38,191 22.2
Libertarian Colin Nankervis 2,330 1.4
Total votes 172,378 100.0
Democratic hold
Texas's 18th congressional district, 2002[126]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 99,161 76.9
Republican Phillip Abbott 27,980 21.7
Libertarian Brent Sullivan 1,785 1.4
Total votes 128,926 100.0
Democratic hold
Texas's 18th congressional district, 2004[127]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 136,018 88.9
Independent Tom Bazan 9,787 6.4
Libertarian Brent Sullivan 7,183 4.7
Total votes 152,988 100.0
Democratic hold
Texas's 18th congressional district, 2006[128]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 65,936 76.6
Republican Ahmad Hassan 16,448 19.1
Libertarian Patrick Warren 3,667 4.3
Total votes 86,051 100.0
Democratic hold
Texas's 18th congressional district, 2008[129]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 148,617 77.3
Republican John Faulk 39,095 20.3
Libertarian Mike Taylor 4,486 2.3
Total votes 192,198 100.0
Democratic hold
Texas's 18th congressional district, 2010[130]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 85,108 70.2
Republican John Faulk 33,067 27.3
Libertarian Mike Taylor 3,118 2.6
Write-in Charles Meyer 28 0.0
Total votes 121,321 100.0
Democratic hold
Texas's 18th congressional district, 2012[123]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 146,223 75.0
Republican Sean Seilbert 44,015 22.6
Libertarian Christopher Barber 4,694 2.4
Total votes 194,932 100.0
Democratic hold
Texas's 18th congressional district, 2014[131]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 76,097 71.8
Republican Sean Seibert 26,249 24.8
Independent Vince Duncan 2,362 2.2
Green Remington Alessi 1,302 1.2
Total votes 106,010 100.0
Democratic hold
Texas's 18th congressional district, 2016[131]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 150,157 73.5
Republican Sean Seibert 48,306 23.6
Green Remington Alessi 5,845 2.9
Total votes 204,308 100.0
Democratic hold
Democratic Primary for Texas's 18th congressional district, 2018[131]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 34,514 86.0
Democratic Vince Duncan 5,604 14.0
Total votes 40,118 100.0
Texas's 18th congressional district, 2018[131]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 138,704 75.2
Republican Ava Pate 38,368 20.8
Libertarian Luke Spencer 4,067 2.2
Independent Vince Duncan 3,193 1.7
Total votes 184,332 100.0
Democratic hold
Democratic Primary for Texas's 18th congressional district, 2020[131]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 49,729 77.1
Democratic Marc Flores 5,353 8.3
Democratic Bimal Patel 2,456 3.8
Democratic Jerry Ford Sr. 2,417 3.7
Democratic Stevens Orozco 2,180 3.4
Democratic Michael Allen 1,672 2.6
Democratic Donovan Boson 709 1.1
Total votes 64,516 100.0
Texas's 18th congressional district, 2020[131]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 180,952 73.3
Republican Wendell Champion 58,033 23.5
Libertarian Luke Spencer 4,514 1.8
Independent Vince Duncan 3,396 1.2
Total votes 246,895 100.0
Democratic hold
Texas's 18th congressional district, 2022[131]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 110,511 70.7
Republican Carmen Maria Montiel 40,941 26.2
Independent Vince Duncan 2,766 1.8
Libertarian Phil Kurtz 20,050 1.3
Total votes 156,268 100.0
Democratic hold
Houston mayoral general election, 2023[132]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan John Whitmire 107,410 42.5
Nonpartisan Sheila Jackson Lee 90,093 35.6
Nonpartisan Gilbert Garcia 18,220 7.2
Nonpartisan Jack Christie 17,364 6.9
Nonpartisan Lee Kaplan 6,645 2.6
Nonpartisan Robert Gallegos 2,679 1.1
Nonpartisan M.J. Khan 2,478 1.0
Nonpartisan Annie Garcia 1,979 0.8
Nonpartisan Julian Martinez 1,813 0.7
Nonpartisan Roy Vasquez 1,083 0.4
Nonpartisan M. Griffin 674 0.3
Nonpartisan Kathy Lee Tatum 532 0.2
Nonpartisan David Lowy 368 0.1
Nonpartisan Chanel Mbala 356 0.1
Nonpartisan Naoufal Houjami 352 0.1
Nonpartisan Gaylon Caldwell 331 0.1
Nonpartisan B. Ivy 287 0.1
Nonpartisan Robin Williams 95 0.0
Total votes 252,759 100.0
Houston mayoral runoff election, 2023[133]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan John Whitmire 129,495 64.4
Nonpartisan Sheila Jackson Lee 71,523 35.6
Total votes 201,018 100.0

See also

Notes

  1. ^ John Whitmire is a Democratic state senator who was Jackson Lee's primary opponent in the mayoral election.

References

  1. ^ a b Langer, Emily (July 19, 2024). "Sheila Jackson Lee, outspoken Texas congresswoman, dies at 74". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 21, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  2. ^ "Democratic congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee dies aged 74, family says," July 19, 2024, The Guardian. Accessed July 20, 2024.
  3. ^ Reimann, Nicholas (March 27, 2023). "Progressive Firebrand Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee Running For Houston Mayor". Forbes. Archived from the original on December 16, 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  4. ^ Irwin, Lauren (August 2, 2024). "Abbott announces Nov. 5 special election to replace late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee". The Hill. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Shen, Michelle (July 20, 2024). "Sheila Jackson Lee, long-serving Democratic congresswoman and advocate for Black Americans, dies at 74". CNN. Archived from the original on July 20, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  6. ^ Quattro, Ken (2020). Invisible Men: The Trailblazing Black Artists of Comic Books. IDW Publishing. pp. 174–179. ISBN 9781684055869. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  7. ^ Turner, Allan (May 14, 2010). "Jackson Lee mother remembered as 'Renaissance woman'". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Sheila Jackson Lee: Biography". House.gov. Archived from the original on September 25, 2010. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  9. ^ "Congressional Texas Representative Sheila Jackson Lee Passes Away at 74". Hampton Roads Messenger. July 29, 2024. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d Ramsey, Ross (May 16, 2012). "Book Excerpt: Draper on Sheila Jackson Lee". Texas Tribune.
  11. ^ a b c Feldman, Claudia (February 19, 1995). "Sheila Jackson Lee Goes to Washington". Houston Chronicle. p. 6.
  12. ^ Robinson, James (April 23, 1992). "Council moves to keep guns away from kids". Houston Chronicle. p. 1.
  13. ^ "For Congress, Dist. 18/Recommending nomination of Sheila Jackson Lee". Houston Chronicle. February 13, 1994. p. 2.
  14. ^ a b Tim Fleck (February 20, 1997). "What's Driving Miss Shelia?". Houston Press. Archived from the original on August 9, 2011.
  15. ^ "TX District 18 – D Primary Race – Mar 08, 1994". Our Campaigns. n.d. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  16. ^ "TX District 18 Race – Nov 08, 1994". Our Campaigns. n.d. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  17. ^ a b "Sheila Jackson Lee: 1950–" (PDF). Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  18. ^ "Membership". Congressional Black Caucus. n.d. Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  19. ^ Wright, James (September 23, 1995). "Who's Who in the Congressional Black Caucus". Afro – American Red Star. Vol. 104, no. 6. Washington, D.C. p. B1.
  20. ^ "CBO – H.R. 3202". Congressional Budget Office. July 10, 2014. Archived from the original on July 29, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  21. ^ "Bill introduced to assess TWIC card". WorkBoat.com. October 8, 2013. Archived from the original on August 5, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  22. ^ Chamberlain, Samuel (January 23, 2019). "Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee to step down as Congressional Black Caucus Foundation chairwoman in wake of ex-staffer's lawsuit: report". Fox News Channel. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  23. ^ Fandos, Nicholas (January 23, 2019). "Sheila Jackson Lee Leaves 2 Posts After Aide Says She Was Fired for Reporting Sexual Assault". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on January 24, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  24. ^ Jackson Lee, Sheila (January 4, 2021). "Text – H.R.127 – 117th Congress (2021–2022): Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act". www.congress.gov. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  25. ^ Bycoffe, Aaron; Wiederkehr, Anna (April 22, 2021). "Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?". FiveThirtyEight. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  26. ^ Moritz, John (July 19, 2024). "Texas Democratic U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee remembered as a 'fierce champion' for people". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  27. ^ Fleck, Tim (May 14, 1998). "Flying Miss Sheila". Houston Press. Archived from the original on January 6, 2000. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  28. ^ Dealey, Sam (February 11, 2002). "Sheila Jackson Lee, Limousine Liberal". The Weekly Standard. Archived from the original on December 27, 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  29. ^ Dealey, Sam (February 11, 2002). "Sheila Jackson Lee, Limousine Liberal". Washington Examiner.
  30. ^ "Sheila Jackson Lee, Worst Boss in Congress? Goes Through 11 Chiefs Of Staff in 11 Years". The Huffington Post. June 20, 2011. Archived from the original on October 6, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  31. ^ Molly Harbarger (June 20, 2011). "Cuellar sees heavy turnover in Washington staff". San Antonio Express-News.
  32. ^ Luke Rosiak (January 22, 2013). "Who are the best and worst bosses on Capitol Hill?". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on February 13, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  33. ^ Perera, John-Henry (December 26, 2017). "Jackson Lee again named 'meanest' Congress member". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  34. ^ Nolan D. McCaskill (March 21, 2018). "The 'Worst Bosses' in Congress?". Politico. Archived from the original on February 18, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  35. ^ a b Lozano, Juan (October 24, 2023). "Houston mayoral candidate Jackson Lee regretful after recording of her allegedly berating staffers". AP News. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  36. ^ a b Grunau, Sarah (October 24, 2023). "Sheila Jackson Lee says she is regretful, confirms leaked audio clip berating staffers". Houston Public Media. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  37. ^ a b Svitek, Patrick (October 24, 2023). "Sheila Jackson Lee expresses regret after audio leaks of her berating, demeaning staffers". The Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  38. ^ a b c d "Committees and Caucuses". Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. December 13, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  39. ^ "Alumna Jackson Lee recalls days when 'We had to change the world'". Yale Bulletin and Calendar. May 3, 1999. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  40. ^ Iqbal, Anwar (July 21, 2024). "Pakistan loses dedicated friend in US Congress". DAWN. As the founder and co-chair of the Pakistan Caucus, she championed Pakistan's role as a crucial ally in the global war on terror.
  41. ^ "109th Congress Congressional Member Organizations (CMOs)" (PDF). Committee on House Administration. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  42. ^ "Members of the Veterinary Medicine Caucus". Veterinary Medicine Caucus. n.d. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  43. ^ "Caucus Members". Congressional Progressive Caucus. n.d. Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  44. ^ "Members". House Baltic Caucus. n.d. Archived from the original on February 21, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  45. ^ "Membership". Congressional Arts Caucus. n.d. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  46. ^ "Members". Afterschool Alliance. n.d. Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  47. ^ "Members". Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus. n.d. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  48. ^ "Our Members". U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. n.d. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  49. ^ "Members". U.S. – Japan Caucus. n.d. Archived from the original on December 21, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  50. ^ Brigham, Bob (October 14, 2021). "Texas' new map endangers two long-term Black members of Congress: report". Raw Story. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  51. ^ Svitek, Patrick (March 27, 2023). "U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee is running for Houston mayor". The Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  52. ^ "Democrat John Whitmire wins Houston mayoral race". NBC News. December 10, 2023. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  53. ^ a b Juan Lozano (December 10, 2023). "Democrat John Whittier elected Houston Mayor, defeating Congresswoman Jackson-Lee". Houston Chronicle.
  54. ^ Zhang, Andrew (December 9, 2023). "Sheila Jackson Lee loses Houston mayor's race to tough-on-crime state senator". POLITICO. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  55. ^ Svitek, Patrick (December 11, 2023). "Sheila Jackson Lee files for reelection for U.S. House seat after losing in mayoral race". Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  56. ^ Gans, Jared (December 11, 2023). "Sheila Jackson Lee files for reelection after losing Houston mayor race". The Hill. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  57. ^ "Small firms to get help in exporting". Houston Chronicle. October 7, 2000. p. 2.
  58. ^ Levine, Samantha (April 30, 2006). "Delegation Watch / Jackson Lee backs her vow on Darfur / Calls her arrest a statement on the war and genocide". Houston Chronicle. p. 10.
  59. ^ "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 455". 107th Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. October 10, 2002.
  60. ^ a b "Around D.C., Sheila Jackson Lee's image belies her persistence". Texas Tribune. February 28, 2017.
  61. ^ Jim Doyle, Five members of Congress arrested over Sudan protest Archived January 5, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, San Francisco Chronicle, April 28, 2006. Retrieved September 25, 2006.
  62. ^ "Jackson Lee wants ban on fighter jets reconsidered". Archived from the original on February 25, 2007. Retrieved February 22, 2007.. Houston Chronicle. February 21, 2007
  63. ^ "Jackson Lee tries to smooth Chavez ties / Her Venezuela trip, she says, was an attempt to protect jobs here Archived 2009-07-12 at the Wayback Machine." Houston Chronicle.
  64. ^ Higham, Scott; Rich, Steven; Crites, Alice (May 13, 2015). "10 members of Congress took trip secretly funded by foreign government". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. Archived from the original on January 3, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  65. ^ Bresnahan, John (May 13, 2015). "Azerbaijani oil company secretly funded 2013 lawmaker trip". Politico. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  66. ^ "Helsinki Commission Urges Turkish President to Lift State of Emergency". csce.gov. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. October 17, 2017. Archived from the original on March 1, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  67. ^ Rahming, Deevon (April 13, 2024). "Houston Israeli Consul General, Texas lawmakers react to Iran's drone attack on Israel". KHOU.
  68. ^ Wagenheim, Mark (April 14, 2024). "US representatives weigh in on Iran attack". Jewish News Syndicate.
  69. ^ Bill Swindell, "Texas Democrat gets praise for immigration efforts Archived April 20, 2014, at the Wayback Machine", Government Executive, November 27, 2006.
  70. ^ Sheila Jackson Lee, "Illegal Immigration's Impact on the U.S. Economy Archived September 13, 2018, at the Wayback Machine", NPR, August 26, 2005.
  71. ^ George, Cindy (January 8, 2017). "Jackson Lee urges supporters of Obamacare to speak out".
  72. ^ Oliphant, James (March 11, 2011). "Muslim 'radicalization' hearing a success, say Rep. Peter King, Republicans". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 12, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  73. ^ "Roll Call 420 Bill Number: H. R. 5376". 117th Congress, 2nd Session. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. August 12, 2022.
  74. ^ "Roll Call 622 Bill Number: H. Res. 845". 118th Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. November 7, 2023.
  75. ^ "H.Res.845 - Censuring Representative Rashida Tlaib for promoting false narratives regarding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and for calling for the destruction of the state of Israel". 118th Congress. U.S. Congress.
  76. ^ "Roll Call 316 Bill Number: H. R. 3396". 104th Congress, 2nd Session. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. July 12, 1996.
  77. ^ "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 316". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  78. ^ "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 223". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  79. ^ "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 317". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Archived from the original on December 3, 2010. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  80. ^ "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 217". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Archived from the original on May 17, 2019. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  81. ^ "House Debate on the Equality Act". C-SPAN. May 17, 2019. Archived from the original on August 4, 2019. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  82. ^ Keim, Brandon (August 26, 2009). "What's in a Hurricane Name?". Wired. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  83. ^ Berger, Eric (April 6, 2006). "Has Sheila Jackson Lee gotten her way?". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  84. ^ Good, Chris (July 16, 2010). "Sheila Jackson Lee on the Tea Party and the Klan". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  85. ^ Geman, Ben (July 17, 2010). "Rep. Bachmann slams Rep. Jackson Lee over claims of racism in the Tea Party". The Hill. Archived from the original on April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  86. ^ Silva, Daniella; Blackman, Jay (December 26, 2017). "Rep. Jackson Lee suspects she was accused in United incident because she's 'an African American woman'". NBC News.
  87. ^ "United Apologizes To Passenger Who Says Sheila Jackson Lee Got Her Seat". Houston Public Media. Associated Press. December 26, 2017.
  88. ^ "Democratic congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee dies aged 74, family says". The Guardian. July 20, 2024. Archived from the original on July 20, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  89. ^ "Objections Aside, a Smiling Gore Certifies Bush". Los Angeles Times. January 7, 2001. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  90. ^ "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 7: On Agreeing to the Objection". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. January 6, 2005. Archived from the original on May 3, 2008. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
  91. ^ Salvato, Albert (December 29, 2004). "Ohio Recount Gives a Smaller Margin to Bush". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 25, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  92. ^ "2016 Presidential Election Results – The New York Times". The New York Times. August 9, 2017. Archived from the original on February 24, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  93. ^ "11 times VP Biden was interrupted during Trump's electoral vote certification | CNN Politics". CNN. January 6, 2017. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  94. ^ "United Executives Want to Take Taxpayer-Funded Employee Paycheck Support for Themselves. This Texas Congresswoman Says No". International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 141. May 2, 2020.
  95. ^ Jacobs, Ben (March 13, 2014). "The Constitution Is 400 Years Old and More Pearls From Sheila Jackson Lee". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on December 3, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  96. ^ Perera, John-Henry (March 12, 2014). "Sheila Jackson Lee says Constitution is 400 years old". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  97. ^ Giaritelli, Anna (October 22, 2016). "Rep. Sheila Jackson confuses Wikipedia with Wikileaks". Washington Examiner. Archived from the original on April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  98. ^ Briggs, Shakari (April 9, 2024). "U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee responds to backlash after saying moon is mostly made up of gases". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on April 9, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  99. ^ Ibrahim, Nur (April 10, 2024). "US Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee Said Moon Is Planet and Made Up of 'Gases'?". Snopes. Archived from the original on April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  100. ^ Condon, Stephanie (July 16, 2010). "Sheila Jackson Lee Catches Flack for Citing 'Two Vietnams'". CBS News. Archived from the original on July 18, 2010.
  101. ^ O'Rourke, Ciara (July 21, 2010). "Sheila Jackson Lee says there are two Vietnams: North and South". PolitiFact. Archived from the original on November 3, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  102. ^ Javers, Eamon (September 10, 1997). "Jackson-Lee's Planetary Gaffe". The Hill.
  103. ^ a b Smith, Evan (November 1997). "Mooned". Texas Monthly. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  104. ^ "Jackson Lee Article Smacks of Racial Overtones, Says Aide". The Hill. September 24, 1997.
  105. ^ Miller, Katherine (July 30, 2014). "We Never Tried To Impeach Bush, Says Democratic Lawmaker Who Co-Sponsored Bush Impeachment Bill". BuzzFeed News. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  106. ^ Jacobson, Louis (July 31, 2014). "Jackson Lee says 'we did not seek an impeachment of President Bush' but she co-sponsored '08 bill". PolitiFact. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  107. ^ Murney, Michael (December 4, 2023). "Sheila Jackson Lee tells Houston voters to go to polls – on the wrong day". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  108. ^ "Congressional Directory for the 116th Congress (2019–2020), July 2020. [Page 263]". GovInfo. July 22, 2020. Archived from the original on December 16, 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  109. ^ Dietrich, Pam (January 31, 2019). "Adventist congresswoman steps down from key posts — and more news shorts". Spectrum. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  110. ^ Killelea, Eric (July 30, 2024). "Houston pastors celebrate Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee". Houston Chronicle.
  111. ^ Magagnini, Stephen (January 1, 2008). "Pride and comfort; National black sorority 'gathers for the specific purpose of being selfless'". Beaumont Enterprise. Beaumont, Tex. p. B.1.
  112. ^ Graham, Lawrence Otis (2014). Our kind of people. [Place of publication not identified]: HarperCollins e-Books. ISBN 978-0-06-187081-1. OCLC 877899803. Archived from the original on September 24, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  113. ^ Salhotra, Pooja (June 3, 2024). "U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee says she's being treated for pancreatic cancer". The Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on June 6, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  114. ^ Blackman, Jeremy; Hao, Claire. "Sheila Jackson Lee announces she has pancreatic cancer". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  115. ^ Jones II, Arthur. "Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee diagnosed with pancreatic cancer". ABC News. Archived from the original on June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  116. ^ Lozano, Juan A. (July 30, 2024). "'She was unrelenting in her leadership,' President Biden remembers US Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in Houston". NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  117. ^ "President Joe Biden visits Houston to pay respects to late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee". khou.com. July 29, 2024. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  118. ^ Jordan, Jay R. (August 1, 2024). "Kamala Harris eulogizes Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee". Axios. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  119. ^ Worthy, Ariel (August 1, 2024). "Kamala Harris delivers eulogy at Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee's funeral". Houston Public Media. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  120. ^ Cobler, Paul (July 29, 2024). "Mourners describe Jackson Lee as uniquely dedicated public official at first day of services". Houston Landing. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  121. ^ Turner, Re'Chelle; Martinez, Cesar; Araiza, Karen (August 1, 2024). "Dignitaries at Sheila Jackson Lee's funeral include Glenda Glover, the Clintons, Ben Crump, Al Sharpton, Kamala Harris". KPRC. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  122. ^ Ibne Safi, Fehmida Riaz among 116 recipients of civil awards (list includes Sheila Jackson Lee's award) Archived December 5, 2021, at the Wayback Machine Dawn (newspaper), Published August 14, 2019, Retrieved November 24, 2020
  123. ^ a b "Sheila Jackson Lee". Ballotpedia.
  124. ^ a b "Sheila Jackson Lee". Ballotpedia.
  125. ^ "Sheila Jackson Lee". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  126. ^ "Sheila Jackson Lee". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  127. ^ "Sheila Jackson Lee". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  128. ^ "Sheila Jackson Lee". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  129. ^ "Sheila Jackson Lee". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  130. ^ "Sheila Jackson Lee". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  131. ^ a b c d e f g "Sheila Jackson Lee". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  132. ^ "Houston Mayor Election Results and Maps 2023 | CNN Politics". CNN. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  133. ^ "Houston Mayor Runoff Live Election Results 2023". www.nbcnews.com. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 18th congressional district

1995–2024
Erica Lee Carter