Early voting for the December 9 runoff election kicked off, and the stakes are high, with key positions such as the Houston mayor, controller, and several city council seats up for grabs, as detailed in a report from Houston Public Media.
Despite a modest beginning on the rug of politics, Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth remains hopeful, as digesting turkey and Thanksgiving leftovers may be slowing down voters, she speculated in a Houston Public Media interview. With just over 2,100 early birds casting ballots Monday morning, the November elections witnessed a 50% uptick in voter turnout compared to Houston's 2015 mayoral races, suggesting a potential wave of last-minute voters this time around.
According to the Houston Press, Hudspeth reported a smooth run for the 41 early voting locations that opened their doors. Almost 18,000 mail-in ballots have been dispatched to eligible voters. Those who wish to vote at the polls can do so through December 5, with the caveat of a half-day on December 3, when polling stations will open at the laissez-faire hour of noon.
The face-off between mayoral contenders Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and State Senator John Whitmire heats up as the former aims to tackle the formidable lead of the latter. Whitmire, per a Houston Press analysis, is banking on the support of the crossover Republicans, who see in him a more palatable modicum of moderation.
Houston Public Media also highlights the race where Republican Orlando Sanchez faces an uphill battle against Chris Hollins. The latter led November's race with 45 percent of the overall vote to Sanchez's 27 percent.
City Council District G's Mary Nan Huffman looks poised to rule over Tony Buzbee, as incumbents often do, with a Houston Press mention noting her narrow miss in November at a full-on coronation.
For those hitting the polling stations, do not forget your ID; Texas driver's licenses and U.S. passports are among the seven valid forms to flaunt, says Hudspeth according to Houston Public Media.
