2001 Houston mayoral election

none January 2025 September 2023 2001 Houston mayoral election Flag of Houston, Texas.svg presidential 1999 Houston mayoral election 1999 2003 Houston mayoral election 2003 November 6, 2001 (first round)December 1, 2001 (runoff) 28.65% (first round)31.28% (runoff) First round Runoff Lee Brown.png Lee P. Brown Non-partisan democracy 125,28243.46% 165,86651.67% Orlando Sanchez Orlando Sanchez, Harris County Treasurer, 2014 headshot (1).png Non-partisan democracy 115,96740.23% 155,16448.33% Chris Bell ChrisBellTX.jpg Non-partisan democracy 45,73915.87% Eliminated 250px Mayor of Houston Lee P. Brown Lee P. Brown The 2001 Houston mayoral election took place on November 6, 2001. Incumbent Mayor Lee Brown was re-elected to a third term. Officially the race was non-partisan. None of the candidates received a majority of the votes, so a run-off election was held on December 1, 2001. Background Lee P. Brown was elected mayor of Houston, the first black person to do so, in 1997, and was reelected in 1999. Brown announced that he would seek reelection to a third term, the maximum allowed due to term limits, on August 26, 2001.August 27, 2001 Houston's mayor will run again 2A The Victoria Advocate https://www.newspapers.com/article/victoria-advocate/141902320/ live February 23, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240223103242/https://www.newspapers.com/article/victoria-advocate/141902320/ Newspapers.com Campaign Chris Bell, member of the Houston City CouncilAugust 21, 2001 Houston Looking To Make Internet Accessible To All 3 Tyler Morning Telegraph https://www.newspapers.com/article/tyler-morning-telegraph/141902279/ live February 23, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240223103338/https://www.newspapers.com/article/tyler-morning-telegraph/141902279/ Newspapers.com (Democratic) Lee P. Brown, Mayor of Houston (Democratic) Larry DeVoy, electricianOctober 28, 2001 Mayoral candidates Houston Chronicle https://www.chron.com/news/article/Mayoral-candidates-2024044.php Anthony Dutrow, Socialist Workers Party candidate in Utah's 3rd congressional district in 1990 election Orlando Sanchez, member of the Houston City Council (Republican) Luis Ullrich, plumber City controller Sylvia Garcia and city councilor Carroll Robinson considered running.February 11, 2001 Bell launches mayoral bid Houston Chronicle https://www.chron.com/news/article/Bell-launches-mayoral-bid-2008592.php June 6, 2001 Robinson reconsiders mayoral race Houston Chronicle https://www.chron.com/politics/article/robinson-reconsiders-mayoral-race-2040649.php The mayoral election is formally nonpartisan, but Brown and Chris Bell were aligned with the Democratic Party while Orlando Sanchez was aligned with the Republican Party.October 27, 2001 Houston mayoral race 9A The Victoria Advocate https://www.newspapers.com/article/victoria-advocate/141902382/ live February 23, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240223103641/https://www.newspapers.com/article/victoria-advocate/141902382/ Newspapers.com A forum was held at Kingwood College on October 2,October 9, 2001 Political forum at Kingwood College Houston Chronicle https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/article/Political-forum-at-Kingwood-College-9933308.php and televised debate was hosted on October 10.October 14, 2001 Anthrax made news, but economy kept our attention A20 Austin American-Statesman https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman/141902348/ live February 23, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240223103951/https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman/141902348/ Newspapers.com Brown was accused of causing the death of a fire captain due to the city's policy of three people per fire truck rather than the standard four. Brown proposed a $16 million expansion to the fire department's budget after the incident, but Sanchez attacked it as a "self-serving, despicable and cynical act". Bell's wife received a fake anthrax letter. Brown and Sanchez also reported receiving suspicious mail.November 2, 2001 Houston candidate's wife receives hoax 2A El Paso Times https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-times/141902491/ live February 23, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240223104136/https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-times/141902491/ Newspapers.comNovember 2, 2001 Houston candidates receive threatening mail 7A The Orange Leader https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orange-leader/141902500/ live February 23, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240223104238/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orange-leader/141902500/ Newspapers.com The Democratic National Committee spent $75,000 to aid Brown and DNC chair Terry McAuliffe campaigned for him. The Republican National Committee donated $15,000 to Sanchez's campaign. Elaine Chao and Mel Martínez, members of President George W. Bush's cabinet, campaigned for Sanchez. 60% of Hispanic voters supported Sanchez in the initial election.December 1, 2001 Duggan Paul Houston's Democratic Mayor Pulls Ahead Of GOP Challenger in Incomplete Vote Count The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/12/02/houstons-democratic-mayor-pulls-ahead-of-gop-challenger-in-incomplete-vote-count/a67c0229-3b9f-41dc-a775-7f45edd41265/ live February 23, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240223095813/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/12/02/houstons-democratic-mayor-pulls-ahead-of-gop-challenger-in-incomplete-vote-count/a67c0229-3b9f-41dc-a775-7f45edd41265/December 2, 2001 Duggan Paul Houston Reelects Mayor in Close Race The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/12/03/houston-reelects-mayor-in-close-race/e3a8c633-d88a-4222-9194-d3293d989446/ live February 23, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240223095546/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/12/03/houston-reelects-mayor-in-close-race/e3a8c633-d88a-4222-9194-d3293d989446/ Endorsements Lee Brown endorsements State officials Mario Gallegos Jr., member of the Texas Senate from the 6th districtApril 22, 2001 Sanchez to toss hat in the ring for mayor Houston Chronicle https://www.chron.com/news/article/Sanchez-to-toss-hat-in-the-ring-for-mayor-2010224.php Local officials Chris Bell, member of the Houston City Council and mayoral candidate (runoff)November 16, 2001 Former candidate backs incumbent mayor 5B Fort Worth Star-Telegram https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram/141902554/ live February 23, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240223091854/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram/141902554/ Newspapers.com Individuals Kenneth Lay, CEO of EnronNovember 6, 2001 Runoff would mark new era in Houston politics Houston Chronicle https://www.chron.com/politics/article/runoff-would-mark-new-era-in-houston-politics-2015418.php Orlando Sanchez endorsements Federal officials George H. W. Bush, 41st President of the United StatesNovember 21, 2001 Mayor hopeful gets elder Bush support 6D Waco Tribune-Herald https://www.newspapers.com/article/waco-tribune-herald/141902971/ live February 23, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240223093829/https://www.newspapers.com/article/waco-tribune-herald/141902971/ Newspapers.com Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error LeeBrown OrlandoSanchez ChrisBell Other /UndecidedHouston ChronicleKHOUOctober 27, 2001 Houston mayor bids for 3rd term 5B Fort Worth Star-Telegram https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram/141902447/ live February 23, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240223092018/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram/141902447/ Newspapers.comSeptember 30, 2001 Brown leading in mayor's race Houston Chronicle https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Brown-leading-in-mayor-s-race-2067660.php September 5–10; 20–26Polling was suspended due to the September 11 attacks792 RV±36%19%15%30% Results Lee P. Brown Nonpartisan 125282 165866 Orlando Sanchez Nonpartisan 115967 155164 Chris Bell Nonpartisan 45739 Luis Ullrich Nonpartisan 572 Larry DeVoy Nonpartisan 488 Anthony Dutrow Nonpartisan 235 0 0 0 0 1006301 1026404 Results 2001 1Results 2001 4Runoff 2001 1Results 2001 2 References Notes Works cited City of Houston General Election Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery Counties Combined November 6, 2001 Houston 2001 https://houstontx.gov/citysec/elections/110601.pdf Results 2001 City of Houston General Election Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery Counties Combined December 1, 2001 Houston 2001 https://houstontx.gov/citysec/elections/120101.pdf Runoff 2001 Mayoral election, 2001 Houston mayoral Houston 2001 Category:November 2001 in the United States Category:December 2001 in the United States