1987 Houston mayoral election

1987 Houston mayoral election

← 1985 November 3, 1987 1989 →
 
Nominee Kathy Whitmire Bill Anderson Dick Dimond
Popular vote 168,656 27,254 13,628
Percentage 74% 12% 6%

Mayor before election

Kathy Whitmire

Elected Mayor

Kathy Whitmire

Elections in Texas
Presidential elections
Presidential primaries
Democratic
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Republican
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
U.S. Senate
U.S. House of Representatives
General elections
Gubernatorial elections
Lieutenant gubernatorial elections
Attorney General elections
Comptroller elections
Senate elections
House of Representatives elections
Constitutional amendments
Mayoral elections
Government
  • v
  • t
  • e

The Houston Mayoral Election of 1987 took place on November 3, 1987. Incumbent Mayor Kathy Whitmire was re-elected to a fourth term.

History

Whitmire, first elected in 1981, partly from a political alliance with the Houston LGTBQ community, partly retreated from this political alliance after a political loss in 1985 on some civil rights and equal-employment charter amendment referenda. A local opposition group organized as a Straight Slate of Candidates in 1985. Although none of these candidates won in 1985, the 1987 election revisited LGTBQ as political battle line. Thus, an important political objective for the 1987 Mayoral Elections was mending this rift with local interest groups, such as the Gay Political Caucus.[1]

In other races, George Greanias resigned his Houston city council seat to run for Houston City Controller. He gained election with 62% of the vote, despite being a frequent critic of popular Mayor Kathy Whitmire. Receiving the second most votes was Jamie G. House, previously the assistant to outgoing City Controller, Lance Lalor.[2]

Candidates

Results

Houston mayoral election, 1987
Candidate Votes %
Kathy Whitmire (incumbent) 168,656 74%
Bill Anderson 27,254 12%
Dick Dimond 13,628 6%
Glen Arnett 6,977 3%
Mary Pritchard 5,926 2%
Shelby Oringderff 4,853 2%
Don Geil 2,807 1%

References

  1. ^ Phelps, Wesley G. (2018). "The Politics of Queer Disindentification and the Limits of Neoliberalism in the Struggle for Gay and Lesbian Equality in Houston". Journal of Southern History. 84 (2): 311–348. doi:10.1353/soh.2018.0087. S2CID 158740652.
  2. ^ Carreau, Mark (November 4, 1987). "Greanias Whips Field in Race for Controller". Houston Chronicle.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Foxhall, Nene (November 4, 1987). "Whitmire Cruises to 4th Term". Houston Chronicle.
  • v
  • t
  • e
General
President of the
Republic of Texas
U.S. President
U.S. Senate
Class 1
Class 2
U.S. House
Governor
Legislature
Lieutenant Governor
Attorney General
Amendments
Municipal
Dallas
El Paso
Houston
Plano
Mayoral
Arlington
Austin
Corpus Christi
Dallas
El Paso
Fort Worth
Houston
Laredo
Lubbock
San Antonio
  • v
  • t
  • e
(1986 ←)   1987 United States elections   (→ 1988)
U.S. House
Governors
State
legislatures
Mayors
State-wide
  • California
  • Connecticut
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Mississippi
  • Pennsylvania
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Vermont
  • Virginia