Good afternoon, reader.

If you don't read anything else this week, here are three key takeaways:

• In an interview with Houston Landing's Paul Cobler, state Sen. John Whitmire backed up his progressive label by pointing to his opposition in the Texas Senate to conservative legislation, including bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community, criminalizing abortion and restricting immigration.

• While few Houstonians expect their next mayor to play a role in resolving the Israel-Hamas War, leaders in the city's large Jewish, Arab and Muslim populations said they care about the positions the candidates take on a conflict thousands of miles away.

• As a budget crisis looms for the city's next mayor, Houston Landing breaks down the city's property tax revenue cap, and what it could mean to remove it.

In nonpartisan race for Houston mayor, Whitmire defends his Democratic bonafides

Antranik Tavitian / Houston Landing

💪 Defending his record: Houstonians following the mayoral campaign may not realize it, but John Whitmire describes himself as a progressive. 

Whitmire backed up his progressive label during an interview by pointing to his opposition in the Texas Senate to conservative legislation, including bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community, criminalizing abortion and restricting immigration.

❓ Not a "true Democrat": His opponent, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, calls herself the "true Democrat" running to be Houston’s mayor. She contends Whitmire is supported by the Harris County and Texas Republican parties and would be a mayor beholden to the GOP.

Jackson Lee's campaign says Whitmire is a favorite of both Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, both Republicans.

✅ Fact check: The Harris County Republican Party said it is not supporting either candidate for mayor, but also has derided Jackson Lee's campaign.

Coalition building: Whitmire promised to work with anyone to improve the city regardless of political affiliation, arguing he's the candidate that can bring people together. 

Different styles: The biggest difference between Jackson Lee and Whitmire is not their politics, it is their style, said Richard Murray, a retired University of Houston political science professor and a longtime observer of Houston politics.

The Israel-Hamas war is dividing Democrats. Where do Houston mayoral candidates stand?

Marie D. De Jesús and Antranik Tavitian / Houston Landing

Taking a stand: Leaders of Houston’s large Jewish, Arab and Muslim populations said they care about the positions mayoral candidates are taking on the Israel-Hamas War, even if our next mayor won’t be directly involved in resolving the conflict.

Ensuring safety: They also say it is important to hear how the candidates will ensure the safety of communities troubled by antisemitic, anti-Arab and anti-Muslim incidents at home.

❓ Not a campaign issue: As two legislators among many, Whitmire and Jackson Lee have little influence on the course of the conflict. Nancy Sims, a University of Houston political analyst, said she has not seen the issue flare on the campaign trail.

"I have not really heard it come up, either from the candidates themselves or from people in the audience. I think that people are probably pretty aware that the mayor of Houston can't really engage in a big way," she said.

Safety concerns: Thousands of Houstonians have personal connections to Israel and Gaza, but the war also has sparked concerns about hate crimes and hate speech in the United States.

Muslims across the country were alarmed when a Muslim pediatrician was stabbed to death last month outside her apartment in Conroe. Security has also been ramped up at synagogues around the region in response to antisemitic incidents and threats.

ON THE TRAIL

YOUR VOICE, YOUR VOTE

Our guide to Houston's 2023 mayoral election

PHOTO FINISH

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee greets attendees before a forum hosted by the Transportation Advocacy Group - Houston at The Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. (Antranik Tavitian / Houston Landing)