U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee faces her toughest reelection yet

By Sejal Govindarao, The Texas Tribune "After bruising loss in Houston mayoral race, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee faces her toughest reelection yet" was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. In 1994, Sheila Jackson Lee, then a 44-year-old Houston city councilwoman, unseated four-term U.S. Rep. Craig Washington in the Democratic primary, securing a seat she’d come to hold for the next 30 years. In her race to beat Jackson Lee, Edwards has garnered some notable endorsements including Washington, who previously held the congressional seat, and former Harris County Democratic Party Chair Lilly Schechter, as well as progressive groups including the county’s Young Democrats, and its chapter of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats – both of which endorsed Jackson Lee in past races. Lenard Polk, Harris County chapter president of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats, said Jackson Lee's leaked audio tape controversy factored into the committee’s decision to not endorse her.