View source for Sheila Jackson Lee

{{Short description|American lawyer and politician (1950–2024)}}
{{Pp-blp|small=yes}}
{{Family name hatnote|Jackson Lee|Lee}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Sheila Jackson Lee
| image               = Sheila Jackson-Lee.jpg
| state               = [[Texas]]
| district            = {{ushr|TX|18|18th}}
| term_start          = January 3, 1995
| term_end            = July 19, 2024
| predecessor         = [[Craig Washington]]
| successor           = [[Erica Lee Carter]]
| office1             = Member of the [[Houston City Council]]<br />from the [[at-large]] district
| term_start1         = January 2, 1990
| term_end1           = January 3, 1995
| predecessor1        = Anthony Hall
| successor1          = John Peavy
| birth_name          = Sheila Jackson
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1950|01|12}}
| birth_place         = [[New York City]], U.S.
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2024|07|19|1950|01|12}}
| death_place         = [[Houston]], Texas, U.S.
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Elwyn Lee|1973}}
| children            = 2, including [[Erica Lee Carter|Erica]]
| education           = [[New York University]]<br />[[Yale University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br />[[University of Virginia]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| website             = {{URL|jacksonlee.house.gov|House website}}
| module              = {{Listen
|pos         = center
|embed       = yes
|filename    = Sheila Jackson Lee speaks in support of the Equal Rights Amendment.ogg
|title       = Jackson Lee's voice
|type        = speech
|description = Jackson Lee supporting the [[Equal Rights Amendment]]<br />Recorded April 27, 2023}}
| caption             = 
}}
'''Sheila Jackson Lee''' ({{née}} '''Jackson'''; January 12, 1950 – July 19, 2024) was an American lawyer and politician who was the [[U.S. representative]] for {{ushr|TX|18}}, from 1995 until she died in 2024. The district includes most of central [[Houston]]. She was a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] and served as an [[at-large]] member of the [[Houston City Council]] before being elected to the House. She was also co-dean of [[United States congressional delegations from Texas|Texas's congressional delegation]].

Born in [[Queens]], New York, Jackson Lee earned a scholarship for Black students at [[New York University]] before transferring to graduate with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in political science from [[Yale University]] in 1972 and a [[Juris Doctor]] from the [[University of Virginia School of Law]] in 1975.<ref name="WaPo Obit"/><ref name="Guardian">"[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/20/democratic-congresswoman-sheila-jackson-lee-dies-aged-74-family-says Democratic congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee dies aged 74, family says]," July 19, 2024, ''The Guardian''. Accessed July 20, 2024.</ref> In 1987, after she had moved to Houston, she was appointed as a municipal judge for the city by [[Kathy Whitmire]]. In 1989, Jackson Lee was elected to the [[Houston City Council]]. She served in the office until 1994, when she began a campaign for a seat in the U.S. Congress. In the Democratic primary, she defeated incumbent [[Craig Washington]] and went on to easily win the general election.

During her congressional tenure, Jackson Lee supported [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive]] policies such as [[gun politics in the United States|gun control]] and [[Medicare for All]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/03/27/progressive-firebrand-rep-sheila-jackson-lee-running-for-houston-mayor/?sh=685423bd3fc5|title=Progressive Firebrand Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee Running For Houston Mayor|date=March 27, 2023|access-date=December 16, 2023|last=Reimann|first=Nicholas|website=[[Forbes]] |archive-date=December 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216221435/https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/03/27/progressive-firebrand-rep-sheila-jackson-lee-running-for-houston-mayor/?sh=685423bd3fc5|url-status=live}}</ref> She introduced the [[Essential Transportation Worker Identification Credential Assessment Act]] in 2013 and the [[Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act]] in 2021. In 2019, Jackson Lee stepped down as chair of the [[Congressional Black Caucus Foundation]] and a subcommittee in the [[United States House Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary]] after a lawsuit filed by a former staffer claimed she was fired due to planned legal action against an alleged rape by a supervisor.

Jackson Lee announced her candidacy for the [[2023 Houston mayoral election]] in March of that year. In the first round, she placed second behind state senator [[John Whitmire]]. However, as no candidate crossed the 50% threshold to win outright, a runoff election occurred on December 9, 2023. Despite several key endorsements, Jackson Lee lost the election to Whitmire. On December 11, she filed to run for re-election to her congressional seat and won the Democratic primary on March 5, 2024. In July 2024, she died in office after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Irwin |first1=Lauren |title=Abbott announces Nov. 5 special election to replace late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4808736-greg-abbott-sheila-jackson-lee-texas-special-election-november/ |access-date=August 2, 2024 |work=The Hill|date=August 2, 2024}}</ref>

==Early life and career in Texas==
{{external media | width = 210px | float = right | video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKhpYlLCRx4 Congresswoman Jackson Lee "Kneeling in Defense of 1st Amendment"], speech in the House of Representatives, September 25, 2017}}
Sheila Jackson was born in the New York City borough of [[Queens]] on January 12, 1950.<ref name = CNN>{{cite news |last1=Shen |first1=Michelle |title=Sheila Jackson Lee, long-serving Democratic congresswoman and advocate for Black Americans, dies at 74 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/19/politics/sheila-jackson-lee-texas-dies/index.html |access-date=July 20, 2024 |publisher=CNN |date=July 20, 2024 |archive-date=July 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240720030024/https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/19/politics/sheila-jackson-lee-texas-dies/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Her father, Ezra Clyde Jackson, who was born in [[Brooklyn]], was a comic book artist and the son of [[Jamaicans|Jamaican]] immigrants.<ref name="Quattro Invisible">{{cite book |last1=Quattro |first1=Ken |title=Invisible Men: The Trailblazing Black Artists of Comic Books |date=2020 |publisher=IDW Publishing |isbn=9781684055869 |pages=174–179 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zPfuDwAAQBAJ |access-date=March 14, 2023}}</ref> Her mother, Ivalita Bennett Jackson, was a nurse, and came to New York at an early age from her birthplace of [[St. Petersburg, Florida]].<ref name="Chronicle Turner">{{cite news |last1=Turner |first1=Allan |title=Jackson Lee mother remembered as 'Renaissance woman' |url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Jackson-Lee-mother-remembered-as-Renaissance-1709967.php |access-date=March 14, 2023 |work=Houston Chronicle |date=May 14, 2010}}</ref>

Jackson graduated from [[Jamaica High School (New York City)|Jamaica High School]] in Queens. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in [[political science]] from [[Yale University]] in 1972 and a [[Juris Doctor]] from the [[University of Virginia School of Law]] in 1975.<ref name="bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.jacksonlee.house.gov/Biography/|title=Sheila Jackson Lee: Biography|publisher=House.gov|access-date=September 14, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925220614/http://www.jacksonlee.house.gov/Biography/|archive-date=September 25, 2010}}</ref> She moved to Houston in 1987<ref>{{cite news|url=https://hamptonroadsmessenger.com/posts/congressional-texas-representative-sheila-jackson-lee-passes-away-at-74%EF%BB%BF/|title=Congressional Texas Representative Sheila Jackson Lee Passes Away at 74|publisher=Hampton Roads Messenger|date=July 29, 2024|accessdate=July 29, 2024}}</ref> when her husband, Elwyn Lee, accepted a position at the [[University of Houston]]. She got a job at [[Leon Jaworski]]'s law firm.<ref name=excerpt>{{cite news|last=Ramsey|first=Ross|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2012/05/16/book-excerpt-draper-sheila-jackson-lee|title=Book Excerpt: Draper on Sheila Jackson Lee|website=Texas Tribune|date=May 16, 2012}}</ref> She made three previous unsuccessful attempts at local judgeships before becoming a Houston municipal judge, a position she held from 1987 to 1990.<ref name="Feldman">{{cite news|title=Sheila Jackson Lee Goes to Washington|first=Claudia |last=Feldman |work=Houston Chronicle|date=February 19, 1995|page=6}}</ref> [[Kathy Whitmire]], the [[mayor of Houston]],  appointed Jackson Lee to the position, along with [[Sylvia Garcia]].

In 1989, Jackson Lee won the [[at-large]] position for a seat on the [[Houston City Council]], serving until 1994.<ref name=Feldman/> On the city council, she helped pass a safety ordinance that required parents to keep their guns away from children.<ref>{{cite news|title=Council moves to keep guns away from kids|first=James |last=Robinson |work=Houston Chronicle|date=April 23, 1992|page=1}}</ref> She also worked for expanded summer hours at city parks and recreation centers as a way to combat gang violence.<ref>{{cite news|title=For Congress, Dist. 18/Recommending nomination of Sheila Jackson Lee|work=Houston Chronicle|date=February 13, 1994|page=2}}</ref>

==U.S. House of Representatives==
===1994 run for office===
[[File:Sheila Jackson Lee, 105th Congress.png|thumb|Lee in 1997]]
In 1994, Jackson Lee challenged four-term incumbent U.S. Representative [[Craig Washington]] in the Democratic [[Partisan primary|primary]].<ref name="Feldman" /> Washington had come under fire for opposing several projects that would have benefited the Houston area.<ref name="dms" /> Jackson Lee defeated Washington, 63% to 37%.<ref>{{cite web |date=n.d. |title=TX District 18 – D Primary Race – Mar 08, 1994 |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=222684 |access-date=June 13, 2013 |publisher=Our Campaigns |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924143540/http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=222684 |url-status=live }}</ref> The victory was [[tantamount to election]] in this heavily Democratic, black-majority district. In the general election, she defeated Republican nominee Jerry Burley, 73%–24%.<ref>{{cite web |date=n.d. |title=TX District 18 Race – Nov 08, 1994 |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=29125 |access-date=June 13, 2013 |publisher=Our Campaigns |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924152809/http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=29125 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Tenure===
[[File:Speaker Paul Ryan Signs the First Step Act of 2018.jpg|thumb|Jackson Lee watches as [[Paul Ryan]] signs the [[First Step Act]] of 2018.]]

Before the [[110th United States Congress|110th Congress]], Jackson Lee served on the [[United States House Committee on Science and Technology|House Science Committee]] and on the Subcommittee that oversees [[U.S. National Space Policy|space policy]] and [[NASA]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CDOC-108hdoc224/pdf/GPO-CDOC-108hdoc224-3-17.pdf|title=Sheila Jackson Lee: 1950–|access-date=December 16, 2023}}</ref> She was a member of the [[Congressional Black Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Membership|url=https://cbc.house.gov/membership/|publisher=Congressional Black Caucus|date=n.d.|access-date=March 7, 2018|archive-date=April 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427095736/https://cbc.house.gov/membership/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Who's Who in the Congressional Black Caucus|last=Wright|first=James|work=Afro – American Red Star|location=Washington, D.C.|date=September 23, 1995|volume=104|issue=6|page=B1}}</ref> and a CBC whip.<ref name="dms"/>

On September 27, 2013, Jackson Lee introduced the [[Essential Transportation Worker Identification Credential Assessment Act (H.R. 3202; 113th Congress)]], a bill that would direct the [[United States Department of Homeland Security]] to assess the effectiveness of the [[Transportation Worker Identification Credential]] (TWIC) program.<ref name="cbo3202">{{cite web |date=July 10, 2014 |title=CBO – H.R. 3202 |url=http://www.cbo.gov/publication/45526 |access-date=July 27, 2014 |publisher=Congressional Budget Office |archive-date=July 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729201422/http://www.cbo.gov/publication/45526 |url-status=live }}</ref> The bill would require an independent assessment of how well the TWIC program improves security and reduces risks at the facilities and vessels it is responsible for.<ref name="WorkBoat1">{{cite web |date=October 8, 2013 |title=Bill introduced to assess TWIC card |url=http://www.workboat.com/newsdetail.aspx?id=22235 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140805093859/http://www.workboat.com/newsdetail.aspx?id=22235 |archive-date=August 5, 2014 |access-date=July 26, 2014 |website=WorkBoat.com}}</ref>

In January 2019, ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that Jackson Lee planned to resign as chair of the [[Congressional Black Caucus Foundation]]. The move came in the wake of a lawsuit filed by a former staffer earlier in January that claimed the staffer was fired in retaliation for her planned legal action related to an alleged rape by a supervisor in 2015. The resignation came the day after the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence announced it would not support making Jackson Lee the lead sponsor of a law to reauthorize the federal [[Violence Against Women Act]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chamberlain |first=Samuel |date=January 23, 2019 |title=Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee to step down as Congressional Black Caucus Foundation chairwoman in wake of ex-staffer's lawsuit: report |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rep-sheila-jackson-lee-to-step-down-as-congressional-black-caucus-foundation-chairwoman-in-wake-of-ex-staffers-lawsuit-report |access-date=January 23, 2019 |publisher=Fox News Channel |archive-date=January 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123210713/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rep-sheila-jackson-lee-to-step-down-as-congressional-black-caucus-foundation-chairwoman-in-wake-of-ex-staffers-lawsuit-report |url-status=live }}</ref> She also stepped down from her chairmanship of the [[United States House Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary]] subcommittee.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fandos |first=Nicholas |date=January 23, 2019 |title=Sheila Jackson Lee Leaves 2 Posts After Aide Says She Was Fired for Reporting Sexual Assault |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/23/us/politics/sheila-jackson-lee-cbc-chairwoman.html |access-date=January 23, 2019 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=January 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124012956/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/23/us/politics/sheila-jackson-lee-cbc-chairwoman.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Cspan hands up don't shoot.jpg|thumb|Jackson Lee and others using the "hands up don't shoot" gesture in recognition of the Ferguson, Missouri police shooting]]

On January 4, 2021, Jackson Lee introduced the [[Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act]] (H.R. 127; [[117th United States Congress|117th Congress]]), a bill that expanded requirements for firearm licensing to every firearm and banned any ammunition of [[.50 caliber BMG]] or larger.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jackson Lee |first=Sheila |date=January 4, 2021 |title=Text – H.R.127 – 117th Congress (2021–2022): Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/127/text |access-date=February 4, 2021 |website=www.congress.gov |archive-date=February 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203212201/https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/127/text |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the 117th Congress (2021–2023), Jackson Lee voted with United States President [[Joe Biden]]'s stated position 100 percent of the time, according to a ''[[FiveThirtyEight]]'' analysis.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Bycoffe |first1=Aaron |last2=Wiederkehr |first2=Anna |date=April 22, 2021 |title=Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden? |url=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/biden-congress-votes/house/ |access-date=November 15, 2023 |website=FiveThirtyEight |language=en |archive-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115121219/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/biden-congress-votes/house/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Jackson Lee and Representative [[Lloyd Doggett]] became co-deans of [[United States congressional delegations from Texas|Texas's congressional delegation]] in January 2023 after the retirement of [[Eddie Bernice Johnson]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moritz |first1=John |title=Texas Democratic U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee remembered as a 'fierce champion' for people |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/state/2024/07/19/democratic-congresswoman-sheila-jackson-lee-of-houston-has-died/74479818007/ |access-date=July 24, 2024 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=July 19, 2024}}</ref>

=== Staffing issues ===
In 1998, ''[[Houston Press|The Houston Press]]'' reported that five of Jackson Lee's staffers had quit that spring. The paper quoted her former Capitol office executive assistant and events scheduler, Rhiannon Burruss, as saying that "the congresswoman's abrasive ways not only drove off staff members but irritated [[Continental Airlines]] staffers to the point where one suggested she fly on a competitor instead."<ref name="Driving Miss Sheila">{{cite web |author=Fleck, Tim |date=May 14, 1998 |title=Flying Miss Sheila |url=http://www.houstonpress.com/news/the-insider-6570168 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000106123229/http://www.houstonpress.com/1998/051498/insider1-1.html |archive-date=January 6, 2000 |access-date=December 25, 2017 |website=Houston Press}}</ref><ref name="Dealey">{{cite magazine |last1=Dealey |first1=Sam |date=February 11, 2002 |title=Sheila Jackson Lee, Limousine Liberal |url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/sheila-jackson-lee-limousine-liberal/article/2162 |access-date=December 26, 2017 |magazine=The Weekly Standard |archive-date=December 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227210240/http://www.weeklystandard.com/sheila-jackson-lee-limousine-liberal/article/2162 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dealey |first1=Sam |date=February 11, 2002 |title=Sheila Jackson Lee, Limousine Liberal |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/magazine/107823/sheila-jackson-lee-limousine-liberal|website=Washington Examiner}}</ref>
In 2011, Jackson Lee was reported to have one of the highest staff turnover rates in Congress. ''[[HuffPost|The Huffington Post]]'' and the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' reported that she had gone through eleven chiefs of staff in eleven years.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">{{cite news |date=June 20, 2011 |title=Sheila Jackson Lee, Worst Boss in Congress? Goes Through 11 Chiefs Of Staff in 11 Years |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/20/sheila-jackson-lee-chiefs-of-staff-tunrnover_n_880330.html |work=[[HuffPost|The Huffington Post]] |access-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-date=October 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006040628/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/20/sheila-jackson-lee-chiefs-of-staff-tunrnover_n_880330.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Molly Harbarger |date=June 20, 2011 |title=Cuellar sees heavy turnover in Washington staff |url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/politics/article/Jackson-Lee-and-Cuellar-see-heavy-turnover-in-1431222.php |newspaper=[[San Antonio Express-News]]}}</ref> A 2013 report concluded that "the veteran Texas Democrat had the highest turnover rate for all of Congress over the [previous] decade."<ref>{{cite news |author=Luke Rosiak |date=January 22, 2013 |title=Who are the best and worst bosses on Capitol Hill? |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/22/who-are-the-best-and-worst-bosses-on-capitol-hill/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Times]] |access-date=April 20, 2014 |archive-date=February 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140213210518/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/22/who-are-the-best-and-worst-bosses-on-capitol-hill/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Washingtonian (magazine)|Washingtonian magazine]]''  named Jackson Lee as the "meanest Democratic Congress member" in both 2014 and 2017.<ref>{{cite news |first=John-Henry|last=Perera|date=December 26, 2017 |title=Jackson Lee again named 'meanest' Congress member |url=https://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/Washingtonian-gives-Rep-Sheila-Jackson-Lee-5812890.php |newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]] |access-date=January 25, 2019 |archive-date=January 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126060931/https://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/Washingtonian-gives-Rep-Sheila-Jackson-Lee-5812890.php |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, [[LegiStorm]] reported that Jackson Lee's annual turnover rate, at 62%, was the highest in Congress.<ref>{{cite web |author=Nolan D. McCaskill |date=March 21, 2018 |title=The 'Worst Bosses' in Congress? |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/21/worst-bosses-congress-476729 |work=[[Politico]] |access-date=February 10, 2019 |archive-date=February 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218022210/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/21/worst-bosses-congress-476729 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2023, during her Houston mayoral run, an unverified<ref name="AudioAP">{{cite web |last1=Lozano |first1=Juan |title=Houston mayoral candidate Jackson Lee regretful after recording of her allegedly berating staffers |url=https://apnews.com/article/election-houston-mayor-jackson-lee-recording-21a6c108d82cf1cb72999bd0e0295145 |website=AP News |access-date=June 4, 2024 |language=en |date=October 24, 2023 |archive-date=June 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604060336/https://apnews.com/article/election-houston-mayor-jackson-lee-recording-21a6c108d82cf1cb72999bd0e0295145 |url-status=live }}</ref> audio leaked of Jackson Lee berating her staffers with profanity. The recording was about a minute and half in length, where Jackson Lee allegedly tells a staffer she wants him to have a "fuckin' brain" and that "nobody knows a Goddamn thing in my office&nbsp;— nothing." She then describes a different staffer as a "fat-ass stupid idiot" and that both of them are "fuck-ups" and that they are "two Goddamn big-ass children, fuckin' idiots who serve no Goddamn purpose."<ref name="AudioHPM">{{cite web |last1=Grunau |first1=Sarah |title=Sheila Jackson Lee says she is regretful, confirms leaked audio clip berating staffers |url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2023/10/24/467569/sheila-jackson-lee-says-she-is-regretful-confirms-leaked-audio-clip-berating-staffers/ |website=Houston Public Media |access-date=June 4, 2024 |date=October 24, 2023 |archive-date=June 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604060336/https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2023/10/24/467569/sheila-jackson-lee-says-she-is-regretful-confirms-leaked-audio-clip-berating-staffers/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="AudioTribune">{{cite web |last1=Svitek |first1=Patrick |title=Sheila Jackson Lee expresses regret after audio leaks of her berating, demeaning staffers |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/24/sheila-jackson-lee-houston-mayor-audio-leak-staffer/ |website=The Texas Tribune |access-date=June 4, 2024 |language=en |date=October 24, 2023 |archive-date=June 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604060333/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/24/sheila-jackson-lee-houston-mayor-audio-leak-staffer/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Her mayoral campaign refused to verify the authenticity of the recording and alleged that "these attacks have originated from extremely conservative blogs and political operatives backing [[John Whitmire]]."{{efn|John Whitmire is a Democratic state senator who was Jackson Lee's primary opponent in the mayoral election.}} Whitmire's campaign stated they had no involvement with the recording.<ref name=AudioHPM/> Jackson Lee responded to the release of the recording by saying, "I am regretful and hope you will judge me not by something trotted out by a political opponent&nbsp;... but from what I've delivered to Houstonians over my years of public service" and said that "everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and that includes my own staff."<ref name=AudioTribune/><ref name=AudioAP/>

===Committee assignments===
* [[United States House Committee on the Judiciary|Committee on the Judiciary]]<ref name="Committees1"/>
** [[Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security]]
** [[Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security]]
* [[United States House Committee on Homeland Security|Committee on Homeland Security]]<ref name="Committees1"/>
** Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies
** [[Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence]]
* [[United States House Committee on the Budget|Committee on the Budget]]<ref name="Committees1"/>

===Caucus memberships===
Jackson Lee was a member of several caucuses, including:
* [[Black Maternal Health Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Caucus Members
|author=|url=https://blackmaternalhealthcaucus-underwood.house.gov/about-caucus/caucus-members|format=|publisher=Black Maternal Health Caucus|date=|accessdate=15 July 2025}}</ref> 
*[[Congressional Caucus on Global Road Safety]]<ref name="Committees1">{{cite web |title=Committees and Caucuses |url=https://jacksonlee.house.gov/legislation/committees-and-caucuses |website=Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee |date=December 13, 2012 |access-date=July 24, 2024}}</ref>
*[[Congressional Human Rights Caucus]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Alumna Jackson Lee recalls days when 'We had to change the world' |url=http://archives.news.yale.edu/v27.n30/story10.html |access-date=July 24, 2024 |work=Yale Bulletin and Calendar |date=May 3, 1999}}</ref>
*Congressional Pakistan Caucus<ref>{{cite news |last1=Iqbal |first1=Anwar |title=Pakistan loses dedicated friend in US Congress |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1847025/pakistan-loses-dedicated-friend-in-us-congress |work=DAWN |date=July 21, 2024 |language=en |quote=As the founder and co-chair of the Pakistan Caucus, she championed Pakistan's role as a crucial ally in the global war on terror.}}</ref>
*US-Afghan Caucus<ref>{{cite web |title=109th Congress Congressional Member Organizations (CMOs) |url=https://cha.house.gov/_cache/files/2/7/27f65b96-5839-40f7-a7c0-6df687e6160b/600B2D72A75AA67FA277AF9983C4ABA0.cmo-109th-congress.pdf |website=Committee on House Administration |access-date=July 24, 2024}}</ref>
*[[Veterinary Medicine Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web |date=n.d. |title=Members of the Veterinary Medicine Caucus |url=https://schrader.house.gov/committees/veterinary-medicine-caucus.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090924/https://schrader.house.gov/committees/veterinary-medicine-caucus.htm |archive-date=March 27, 2019 |access-date=October 12, 2018 |publisher=Veterinary Medicine Caucus}}</ref>
*[[Congressional Progressive Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web |date=n.d. |title=Caucus Members |url=https://cpc-grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=71&sectiontree=2,71 |access-date=January 30, 2018 |publisher=Congressional Progressive Caucus |archive-date=April 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427164818/https://cpc-grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=71&sectiontree=2,71 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[House Baltic Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web |date=n.d. |title=Members |url=http://housebalticcaucus.webs.com/members |access-date=February 21, 2018 |publisher=House Baltic Caucus |archive-date=February 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221222500/http://housebalticcaucus.webs.com/members |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Congressional Arts Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web |date=n.d. |title=Membership |url=https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140644/https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |access-date=March 13, 2018 |publisher=Congressional Arts Caucus}}</ref>
*Congressional Friends of Norway Caucus<ref name=excerpt/>
*[[Afterschool Caucuses]]<ref>{{cite web |date=n.d. |title=Members |url=http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/policyCongressionalCaucuses.cfm |access-date=March 23, 2018 |publisher=Afterschool Alliance |archive-date=April 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427115234/http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/policyCongressionalCaucuses.cfm |url-status=live }}</ref>
*Interstate 69 Congressional Caucus<ref name=excerpt/>
*[[Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web |date=n.d. |title=Members |url=http://www.ng911institute.org/about-the-congressional-nextgen-9-1-1-caucus |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142643/http://www.ng911institute.org/about-the-congressional-nextgen-9-1-1-caucus |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |access-date=June 11, 2018 |publisher=Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus}}</ref>
*Congressional Songwriters' Caucus<ref name=excerpt/>
* [[Congressional Ukraine Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Members
|author=|url=https://ukrainecaucus-kaptur.house.gov/members|format=|publisher=Congressional Ukraine Caucus|date=|accessdate=31 October 2025}}</ref>
* [[Congressional Taiwan Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Congressional Taiwan Caucus|url=https://sherman.house.gov/taiwancaucus| publisher=Congressman Brad Sherman|access-date=14 August 2025}}</ref>
* [[Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Strengthening Conservation Advocacy: Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus Expansion & Reconstitution|author=|url=https://www.refugeassociation.org/news/2023/12/18/strengthening-conservation-advocacy-congressional-wildlife-refuge-caucus-expansion-amp-reconstitution |format=|publisher=National Wildlife Refuge Association|date=December 15, 2023|accessdate=30 January 2025}}</ref>
*[[United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web |date=n.d. |title=Our Members |url=https://royce.house.gov/internationalconservation/members.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801155201/https://royce.house.gov/internationalconservation/members.html |archive-date=August 1, 2018 |access-date=August 2, 2018 |publisher=U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus}}</ref>
*[[U.S.-Japan Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web |date=n.d. |title=Members |url=https://usjapancaucus-castro.house.gov/members |access-date=December 11, 2018 |publisher=U.S. – Japan Caucus |archive-date=December 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221215846/https://usjapancaucus-castro.house.gov/members |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Medicare for All Caucus]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brigham |first1=Bob |title=Texas' new map endangers two long-term Black members of Congress: report |url=https://www.rawstory.com/redistricting-sheila-jackson-lee-al-green/ |access-date=July 24, 2024 |work=[[Raw Story]] |date=October 14, 2021}}</ref>
* [[United States–China Working Group]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Our Mission|author=|url=https://larsen.house.gov/uscwg/ |format=|publisher=U.S.-China Working Group|date=|accessdate=26 February 2025}}</ref>
* [[Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Members of the Caucus on U.S. - Türkiye Relations & Turkish Americans|author=|url=https://www.tc-america.org/in-congress/caucus.htm|publisher=Turkish Coalition of America|date=|accessdate=27 March 2025}}</ref>

==2023 Houston mayoral run==
On March 27, 2023, Jackson Lee announced her candidacy for the [[List of mayors of Houston|mayor of Houston]] in the [[2023 Houston mayoral election|2023 election]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Svitek |first=Patrick |date=March 27, 2023 |title=U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee is running for Houston mayor |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/27/sheila-jackson-lee-houston-mayor/ |access-date=March 27, 2023 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en |archive-date=March 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327154146/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/27/sheila-jackson-lee-houston-mayor/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Jackson Lee garnered endorsements from notable political figures such as outgoing Houston mayor [[Sylvester Turner]], former House speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]], and former presidential candidate [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 10, 2023 |title=Democrat John Whitmire wins Houston mayoral race |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/democrat-john-whitmire-wins-houston-mayoral-race-rcna127278 |access-date=December 10, 2023 |website=NBC News |language=en |archive-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210014007/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/democrat-john-whitmire-wins-houston-mayoral-race-rcna127278 |url-status=live }}</ref> On November 7, 2023, Jackson Lee came in second place in the election, behind Democratic state senator [[John Whitmire]]. However, none of the 18 candidates who ran managed to surpass the required 50 percent threshold.<ref name="Houston mayor">{{cite web |author=Juan Lozano |date=December 10, 2023 |title=Democrat John Whittier elected Houston Mayor, defeating Congresswoman Jackson-Lee |url=https://apnews.com/article/houston-mayor-election-runoff-2023-jackson-whitmire-ddbc4819f5aba2f5a59c56a18ba7078a |newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref>

Jackson Lee and Whitmire advanced to a runoff election on December 9, 2023. Jackson Lee was ultimately defeated by Whitmire, who won with nearly 65 percent of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zhang |first=Andrew |date=December 9, 2023 |title=Sheila Jackson Lee loses Houston mayor's race to tough-on-crime state senator |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/09/john-whitmire-sheila-jackson-lee-houston-mayor-00130873 |access-date=December 10, 2023 |website=POLITICO |language=en |archive-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210020309/https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/09/john-whitmire-sheila-jackson-lee-houston-mayor-00130873 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Houston mayor"/> Following her loss, Jackson Lee filed for re-election to her U.S. House seat on December 11, 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last=Svitek |first=Patrick |date=December 11, 2023 |title=Sheila Jackson Lee files for reelection for U.S. House seat after losing in mayoral race |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/11/sheila-jackson-lee-reelection-house/ |accessdate=December 11, 2023 |publisher=Texas Tribune |archive-date=December 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211203134/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/11/sheila-jackson-lee-reelection-house/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Gans |first=Jared |date=December 11, 2023 |title=Sheila Jackson Lee files for reelection after losing Houston mayor race |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4354263-sheila-jackson-lee-reelection-houston/ |accessdate=December 11, 2023 |work=The Hill |archive-date=December 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211204206/https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4354263-sheila-jackson-lee-reelection-houston/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Political views and statements ==
=== Foreign policy ===
In 2000, Jackson Lee favored permanently normalizing [[Commercial policy|trade status]] for the People's Republic of China and argued that it would aid both human rights and [[Economy of Houston|Houston's economy]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Small firms to get help in exporting|work=Houston Chronicle|date=October 7, 2000|page=2}}</ref>

Jackson Lee traveled to the [[World Conference against Racism 2001|2001 World Conference against Racism]] in South Africa, and backed [[economic sanctions|sanctions]] against [[Sudan]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Delegation Watch / Jackson Lee backs her vow on Darfur / Calls her arrest a statement on the war and genocide|first=Samantha |last=Levine |work=Houston Chronicle|date=April 30, 2006|page=10|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/3828625.html}}</ref> Jackson Lee voted against the [[Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002]] that authorized the [[Iraq War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2002/roll455.xml|title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 455|work=[[107th United States Congress|107th Congress]]|date=October 10, 2002|publisher=[[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives]]}}</ref><ref name=persistance>{{cite news|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2017/02/28/sheila-jackson-lee-image-persistence|title=Around D.C., Sheila Jackson Lee's image belies her persistence|date=February 28, 2017|publisher=Texas Tribune}}</ref> On April 28, 2006, along with four other members of Congress and six other activists, she was arrested for disorderly conduct in front of [[Sudan]]'s embassy in Washington DC. They were protesting the role of Sudan's government in [[War in Darfur|ethnic cleansing in Darfur]].<ref>Jim Doyle, [http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/04/28/MNG4RIH93T7.DTL Five members of Congress arrested over Sudan protest] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070105060444/http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/04/28/MNG4RIH93T7.DTL |date=January 5, 2007 }}, ''San Francisco Chronicle'', April 28, 2006. Retrieved September 25, 2006.</ref>

Jackson Lee urged for better [[United States–Venezuela relations|relations between the U.S. and Venezuela]], which she described as a friendly nation. She said the U.S. should reconsider its ban on selling [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16]] fighter jets and spare parts to [[Venezuela]]. The [[United States Department of State]] bans such sales due to the alleged "lack of support" for [[counter-terrorist]] operations and Venezuela's relations with [[Iran]] and [[Cuba]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/4571152.html |title=Jackson Lee wants ban on fighter jets reconsidered |access-date=February 22, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070225082446/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/4571152.html |archive-date=February 25, 2007 }}. ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. February 21, 2007</ref><ref>"[http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2007_4291743 Jackson Lee tries to smooth Chavez ties / Her Venezuela trip, she says, was an attempt to protect jobs here] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090712144701/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2007_4291743 |date=2009-07-12 }}." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''.</ref>

In May 2015, Jackson Lee took a trip to [[Azerbaijan]], paid by the Azerbaijani government.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Higham |first1=Scott |last2=Rich |first2=Steven |last3=Crites |first3=Alice |date=May 13, 2015 |title=10 members of Congress took trip secretly funded by foreign government |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/10-members-of-congress-took-trip-secretly-funded-by-foreign-government/2015/05/13/76b55332-f720-11e4-9030-b4732caefe81_story.html |access-date=May 13, 2015 |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington, D.C. |archive-date=January 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103220705/https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/10-members-of-congress-took-trip-secretly-funded-by-foreign-government/2015/05/13/76b55332-f720-11e4-9030-b4732caefe81_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bresnahan |first=John |date=May 13, 2015 |title=Azerbaijani oil company secretly funded 2013 lawmaker trip |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/congress-2013-trip-azerbaijan-house-ethics-committee-117907.html |access-date=May 13, 2015 |newspaper=Politico}}</ref>

Jackson Lee condemned the [[President of Turkey]] [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]]'s wide-ranging [[Purges in Turkey following the 2016 Turkish coup attempt|purges]] following a failed July 2016 coup in [[Turkey]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Helsinki Commission Urges Turkish President to Lift State of Emergency |url=https://www.csce.gov/international-impact/press-and-media/press-releases/helsinki-commission-urges-turkish-president-lift |website=csce.gov |publisher=Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe |date=October 17, 2017 |access-date=February 28, 2019 |archive-date=March 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301074509/https://www.csce.gov/international-impact/press-and-media/press-releases/helsinki-commission-urges-turkish-president-lift |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After the [[April 2024 Iranian strikes against Israel|Iranian retaliatory strikes in April 2024]] following the [[Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus|Israeli bombing of the Iranian embassy in Damascus]], Jackson Lee posted on [[Twitter]] that "Iran is a terrorist nation." and that the nation had "launched a disproportionate terrorist attack against our ally Israel."<ref>{{cite news|last=Rahming|first=Deevon|url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/nation-world/houston-israeli-consul-general-texas-lawmakers-react-irans-drone-attack-israel/285-4e023839-2422-4034-aed4-c99f6a0fd91f|title=Houston Israeli Consul General, Texas lawmakers react to Iran's drone attack on Israel|publisher=[[KHOU]]|date=April 13, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Wagenheim|first=Mark|url=https://www.jns.org/us-representatives-weigh-in-on-iran-attack|title=US representatives weigh in on Iran attack|publisher=[[Jewish News Syndicate]]|date=April 14, 2024}}</ref>

=== Domestic policy ===
Jackson Lee was active on immigration issues.<ref>Bill Swindell, "[http://www.govexec.com/defense/2006/11/texas-democrat-gets-praise-for-immigration-efforts/23204/ Texas Democrat gets praise for immigration efforts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420061857/http://www.govexec.com/defense/2006/11/texas-democrat-gets-praise-for-immigration-efforts/23204/ |date=April 20, 2014 }}", ''Government Executive'', November 27, 2006.</ref> She had proposed increasing border security and increasing opportunities for legalization among those living in the U.S. She opposed a guest worker program, saying that the idea "connotate[s] 'invite, come,' and, at the same time, it misleads because you ask people to come for a temporary job of three to six years and they have to leave if they don't have another job and I would think that they would not."<ref>Sheila Jackson Lee, "[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4817071 Illegal Immigration's Impact on the U.S. Economy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913112929/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4817071 |date=September 13, 2018 }}", NPR, August 26, 2005.</ref>

Jackson Lee opposed repealing the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Jackson-Lee-urges-supporters-of-Obamacare-to-10843820.php|first=Cindy|last=George|title=Jackson Lee urges supporters of Obamacare to speak out|date=Jan 8, 2017}}</ref>

At a March 2011 [[United States House Committee on Homeland Security|Homeland Security Committee]] hearing on radical Muslims in the U.S., Jackson Lee said that [[Peter T. King|Peter King]]'s hearings were helping [[al-Qaeda]] and "going the same route as Arizona." She complained that the hearings were scaring Muslim Americans and called them "an outrage".<ref name="Peter King says success">{{cite news |last=Oliphant |first=James |date=March 11, 2011 |title=Muslim 'radicalization' hearing a success, say Rep. Peter King, Republicans |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-mar-11-la-pn-muslims-hearing-20110311-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-date=February 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212092719/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/mar/11/news/la-pn-muslims-hearing-20110311 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following [[Debbie Wasserman Schultz]]'s resignation as chair after the [[2016 Democratic National Committee email leak]], Jackson Lee campaigned with her and traveled the districts [[Black church|African American churches]] with Wasserman Schultz for her primary campaign against [[Tim Canova]].<ref name=persistance/>

[[File:160914-C2-House-GF-166 (29568172152).jpg|thumb|Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee questions U.S. Customs and Border Protection Deputy Commissioner Kevin K. McAleenan during testimony in a 2016 House Committee on Homeland Security hearing.]]

In August 2022, Jackson Lee voted for the [[Inflation Reduction Act]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2022420|title=Roll Call 420 Bill Number: H. R. 5376|date=August 12, 2022|work=[[117th United States Congress|117th Congress]], 2nd Session|publisher=[[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives]]}}</ref> Jackson Lee was one of three Democrats that abstained from voting in the successful formal censure of congresswoman [[Rashida Tlaib]] proposed by [[Rich McCormick]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023622|title=Roll Call 622 Bill Number: H. Res. 845|date=November 7, 2023|work=[[118th United States Congress|118th Congress]]|publisher=[[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-resolution/845|title=H.Res.845 - Censuring Representative Rashida Tlaib for promoting false narratives regarding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and for calling for the destruction of the state of Israel.|work=118th Congress|date=November 7, 2023 |publisher=[[United States Congress|U.S. Congress]]}}</ref>

=== LGBT rights ===
Jackson Lee voted "[[Abstention#International and national parliamentary procedures|present]]" on the [[Defense of Marriage Act]] of 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/1996316|title=Roll Call 316 Bill Number: H. R. 3396|work=[[104th United States Congress|104th Congress]], 2nd Session|date=July 12, 1996|publisher=[[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 316 |url=https://clerk.house.gov/evs/1996/roll316.xml |access-date=November 2, 2023 |publisher=[[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives]] |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102224519/https://clerk.house.gov/evs/1996/roll316.xml |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2009, she voted for the [[Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act]], a bill that expanded the federal [[hate crime]] law to cover crimes biased by the victim's [[sexual orientation]] or [[gender identity]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 223 |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll223.xml |access-date=May 17, 2019 |archive-date=November 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107131034/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll223.xml |publisher=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives|url-status=live }}</ref> In 2010, she voted in favor of the [[Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010|Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act]] that allowed gay, lesbian, and bisexual people to serve openly in the [[U.S. military]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 317 |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll317.xml |access-date=May 17, 2019 |publisher=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives|archive-date=December 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203054819/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll317.xml |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2019, Jackson Lee voted for the [[Equality Act (United States)|Equality Act]], which expanded the federal [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]] to ban discrimination based on [[sexual orientation]] and [[gender identity]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 217 |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll217.xml |access-date=May 17, 2019 |publisher=[[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives]]|archive-date=May 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517221515/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll217.xml |url-status=live }}</ref> Jackson Lee criticized [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] representatives who opposed the legislation on religious grounds.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 17, 2019 |title=House Debate on the Equality Act |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?460685-3/house-debate-equality-act |work=[[C-SPAN]] |access-date=May 17, 2019 |archive-date=August 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804153435/https://www.c-span.org/video/?460685-3%2Fhouse-debate-equality-act |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Racial issues ===
In 2003, Jackson Lee suggested changing the naming practices for [[tropical cyclone]]s and [[hurricanes]], saying that "all racial groups should be represented" and that meteorological organizations should "try to be inclusive of [[African Americans|African American]] names."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Keim |first=Brandon |date=August 26, 2009 |title=What's in a Hurricane Name? |url=https://www.wired.com/2009/08/hurricanename/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031165422/https://www.wired.com/2009/08/hurricanename/ |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |access-date=April 10, 2024 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=April 6, 2006 |title=Has Sheila Jackson Lee gotten her way? |url=https://blog.chron.com/sciguy/2006/04/has-sheila-jackson-lee-gotten-her-way/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120080231/https://blog.chron.com/sciguy/2006/04/has-sheila-jackson-lee-gotten-her-way/ |archive-date=November 20, 2023 |access-date=April 10, 2024 |work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref>

Speaking at the July 2010 [[NAACP]] national convention, Jackson Lee compared the [[Tea Party movement]] to the [[Ku Klux Klan]], saying that "all those who wore sheets a long time ago have now lifted them off". Jackson Lee's remarks were criticized by conservatives, including [[Tea Party Caucus]] founder [[Michele Bachmann]] (R-MN).<ref name="Tea Party and the Klan">{{cite news |last=Good |first=Chris |date=July 16, 2010 |title=Sheila Jackson Lee on the Tea Party and the Klan |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/07/sheila-jackson-lee-on-the-tea-party-and-the-klan/59888/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102225154/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/07/sheila-jackson-lee-on-the-tea-party-and-the-klan/59888/ |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |access-date=April 10, 2024 |newspaper=[[The Atlantic]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Geman |first=Ben |date=July 17, 2010 |title=Rep. Bachmann slams Rep. Jackson Lee over claims of racism in the Tea Party |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/166563-rep-bachmann-slams-rep-jackson-lee-over-claims-of-racism-in-the-tea-party/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240410030742/https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/166563-rep-bachmann-slams-rep-jackson-lee-over-claims-of-racism-in-the-tea-party/ |archive-date=April 10, 2024 |access-date=April 10, 2024 |work=[[The Hill (magazine)|The Hill]]}}</ref>

In December 2017, Jackson Lee was accused of having been given preferential treatment by [[United Airlines]] by a passenger who claimed a first-class seat ticket she had purchased had been given to the congresswoman. United Airlines had claimed that the woman who purchased the first-class seat had cancelled her ticket and later apologized for the incident. Jackson Lee claimed she was accused because of her race.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Silva|first1=Daniella|last2=Blackman|first2=Jay|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/airplane-mode/rep-jackson-lee-suspects-she-was-accused-united-incident-because-n832726|title=Rep. Jackson Lee suspects she was accused in United incident because she's 'an African American woman'|date=December 26, 2017|website=[[NBC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2017/12/26/258658/united-apologizes-to-passenger-who-says-sheila-jackson-lee-got-her-seat|title=United Apologizes To Passenger Who Says Sheila Jackson Lee Got Her Seat|date=December 26, 2017|agency=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=[[Houston Public Media (disambiguation)|Houston Public Media]]}}</ref>

Jackson Lee was one of the leading lawmakers behind the effort to have [[Juneteenth]] recognized as an American [[Federal holidays in the United States|federal holiday]]. Recognition was achieved in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=July 20, 2024 |title=Democratic congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee dies aged 74, family says |url=https://www.wired.com/2009/08/hurricanename/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240720050612/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/20/democratic-congresswoman-sheila-jackson-lee-dies-aged-74-family-says |archive-date=July 20, 2024 |access-date=July 21, 2024 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

Following the death of Rep. [[John Conyers]] in 2019, Jackson Lee also became the lead sponsor for H. R. 40, the bill that Conyers had introduced since 1989 to establish a [[Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act|Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans]]. In 2019, on June 19, or [[Juneteenth]], Jackson Lee presided over a [[United States House Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary Committee]] hearing about the bill.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Samuels |first=Alex |date=2019-06-19 |title=On Juneteenth, Sheila Jackson Lee spearheads congressional hearing on reparations, calling them "long overdue" |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2019/06/19/sheila-jackson-lee-reparations-juneteenth/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}</ref> Two years later, the committee voted to report the bill to the House.<ref>{{Cite news |title=House Lawmakers Advance Historic Bill To Form Reparations Commission |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/04/14/986853285/house-lawmakers-advance-historic-bill-to-form-reparations-commission |access-date=2025-02-11 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jackson Lee |first=Sheila |date=2021-04-14 |title=Actions - H.R.40 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/40/all-actions |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=www.congress.gov}}</ref>

=== Presidential election objections ===
In 2001, Jackson Lee and other House members objected to counting Florida's electoral votes, which [[George W. Bush]] narrowly won after a contentious [[2000 Florida presidential election recount|recount]] in the [[2000 United States presidential election|2000 presidential election]]. Because no senator joined the objection, it was dismissed by Senate President [[Al Gore]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 7, 2001 |title=Objections Aside, a Smiling Gore Certifies Bush |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jan-07-mn-9426-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129122950/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jan-07-mn-9426-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2005, Jackson Lee was one of the 31 House Democrats who voted not to count Ohio's [[Electoral College (United States)|electoral vote]]s in the [[2004 United States presidential election|2004 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web |date=January 6, 2005 |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 7: On Agreeing to the Objection |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll007.xml |access-date=December 24, 2012 |publisher=[[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives]] |archive-date=May 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503021334/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll007.xml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Salvato |first1=Albert |date=December 29, 2004 |title=Ohio Recount Gives a Smaller Margin to Bush |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/29/politics/ohio-recount-gives-a-smaller-margin-to-bush.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=January 23, 2021 |archive-date=April 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425002714/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/29/politics/ohio-recount-gives-a-smaller-margin-to-bush.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Without Ohio's electoral votes, the election would have been decided by the U.S. House of Representatives, with each state having one vote in accordance with the [[Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution]].

During the [[2017 United States Electoral College vote count]], Jackson Lee objected to counting North Carolina, South Carolina, and Wyoming's [[electoral votes]] in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news |date=August 9, 2017 |title=2016 Presidential Election Results – The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2016/results/president |access-date=August 9, 2017 |work=The New York Times |archive-date=February 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224160613/https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2016/results/president |url-status=live }}</ref> Because no senator joined her objections, they were dismissed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 6, 2017 |title=11 times VP Biden was interrupted during Trump's electoral vote certification &#124; CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/06/politics/electoral-college-vote-count-objections/index.html |website=[[CNN]] |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123111918/https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/06/politics/electoral-college-vote-count-objections/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== COVID-19 ===
During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Texas]], Jackson Lee appealed to city officials in Houston for free and reduced-price parking at the [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport]]. This reduced the number of bus riders by about 1000 employees per day and increased [[social distancing]]. Jackson Lee also supported airline workers at United Airlines that were targeted for furloughs after the airline had accepted billions of dollars in taxpayer funds through the [[CARES Act]] and the [[Paycheck Protection Program]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://iam141.org/united-executives-want-to-take-taxpayer-funded-employee-paycheck-support-for-themselves-this-texas-congresswoman-says-no|title=United Executives Want to Take Taxpayer-Funded Employee Paycheck Support for Themselves. This Texas Congresswoman Says No.|publisher=[[International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers]] District 141|date=May 2, 2020}}</ref>

=== Gaffes ===
According to ''[[The Daily Beast]]'', Jackson Lee had a "history of wild statements" and [[political gaffe]]s.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jacobs |first=Ben |date=March 13, 2014 |title=The Constitution Is 400 Years Old and More Pearls From Sheila Jackson Lee |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-constitution-is-400-years-old-and-more-pearls-from-sheila-jackson-lee |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203001629/https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-constitution-is-400-years-old-and-more-pearls-from-sheila-jackson-lee |archive-date=December 3, 2023 |access-date=April 10, 2024 |newspaper=[[The Daily Beast]]}}</ref> These include incorrectly stating that the [[Constitution of the United States|U.S. Constitution]] was 400 years old;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Perera |first=John-Henry |date=March 12, 2014 |title=Sheila Jackson Lee says Constitution is 400 years old |url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/sheila-jackson-lee-says-constitution-is-400-years-5312121.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328030652/https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/sheila-jackson-lee-says-constitution-is-400-years-5312121.php |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |access-date=April 10, 2024 |work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> mistakenly criticizing Wikipedia instead of [[WikiLeaks]];<ref>{{Cite web |last=Giaritelli |first=Anna |date=October 22, 2016 |title=Rep. Sheila Jackson confuses Wikipedia with Wikileaks |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2213145/watch-rep-sheila-jackson-lee-confuses-wikipedia-with-wikileaks/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240410022846/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2213145/watch-rep-sheila-jackson-lee-confuses-wikipedia-with-wikileaks/ |archive-date=April 10, 2024 |access-date=April 10, 2024 |website=[[Washington Examiner]]}}</ref> incorrectly calling the [[Moon]] a "[[planet]]" that is made "[[gas giant|mostly of gases]]";<ref>{{Cite news |last=Briggs |first=Shakari |date=April 9, 2024 |title=U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee responds to backlash after saying moon is mostly made up of gases |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/article/sheila-jackson-lee-moon-gas-19394031.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240409203840/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/article/sheila-jackson-lee-moon-gas-19394031.php |archive-date=April 9, 2024 |access-date=April 10, 2024 |work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ibrahim |first=Nur |date=April 10, 2024 |title=US Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee Said Moon Is Planet and Made Up of 'Gases'? |url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/sheila-jackson-lee-moon/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240410233938/https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/sheila-jackson-lee-moon/ |archive-date=April 10, 2024 |access-date=April 10, 2024 |website=[[Snopes]]}}</ref> and saying that [[North Vietnam]] and [[South Vietnam]] were, in 2010, still separate countries.<ref name="Two Vietnams">{{cite news |last=Condon |first=Stephanie |date=July 16, 2010 |title=Sheila Jackson Lee Catches Flack for Citing 'Two Vietnams' |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sheila-jackson-lee-catches-flack-for-citing-two-vietnams/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100718102637/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20010824-503544.html |archive-date=July 18, 2010 |work=[[CBS News]]}}</ref><ref name="North and South">{{cite web |last=O'Rourke |first=Ciara |date=July 21, 2010 |title=Sheila Jackson Lee says there are two Vietnams: North and South |url=http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2010/jul/21/sheila-jackson-lee/sheila-jackson-lee-says-there-are-two-vietnams-nor/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103153859/https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2010/jul/21/sheila-jackson-lee/sheila-jackson-lee-says-there-are-two-vietnams-nor/ |archive-date=November 3, 2023 |access-date=April 10, 2024 |website=[[PolitiFact]] |publisher=}}</ref>

[[The Hill (newspaper)|''The Hill'']] reported that during a 1997 visit to the [[Mars Pathfinder]] operations center, Jackson Lee asked whether the Pathfinder [[Rover (space exploration)|rover]] had taken a picture of the [[U.S. flag]] planted by [[Neil Armstrong]]; the flag had been planted on the Moon, not [[Mars]]. Jackson Lee was at the time a member of the [[United States House Science Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics|Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics]] of the [[United States House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology|House Science Committee]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Javers |first=Eamon |date=September 10, 1997 |title=Jackson-Lee's Planetary Gaffe |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Evan |author-link=Evan Smith (journalist)|date=November 1997 |title=Mooned |url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/mooned/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410163152/https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/mooned/ |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |access-date=April 10, 2024 |work=[[Texas Monthly]]}}</ref> In response, Jackson Lee's deputy chief of staff accused the newspaper of racial bias without disputing the story's accuracy. ''The Hill'' denied the allegations and stood by its reporting.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=September 24, 1997 |title=Jackson Lee Article Smacks of Racial Overtones, Says Aide |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref>

In July 2014, Jackson Lee said that "we did not seek an [[Federal impeachment in the United States|impeachment]]" of President [[George W. Bush]]. Jackson Lee was one of 11 co-sponsors of the 2008 U.S. House bill [[Efforts to impeach George W. Bush#Democrats in Congress|H. Res. 1258]], which sought to impeach Bush for "deceiving Congress with fabricated threats of [[Iraq and weapons of mass destruction|Iraq WMDs]]". Jackson Lee's spokesperson later said that she "misspoke".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Katherine |date=July 30, 2014 |title=We Never Tried To Impeach Bush, Says Democratic Lawmaker Who Co-Sponsored Bush Impeachment Bill |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katherinemiller/we-never-tried-to-impeach-bush-says-democratic-lawmaker-who |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619140651/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katherinemiller/we-never-tried-to-impeach-bush-says-democratic-lawmaker-who |archive-date=June 19, 2023 |access-date=April 10, 2024 |work=[[BuzzFeed News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Jacobson |first=Louis |date=July 31, 2014 |title=Jackson Lee says 'we did not seek an impeachment of President Bush' but she co-sponsored '08 bill |url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2014/jul/31/sheila-jackson-lee/rep-sheila-jackson-lee-d-texas-says-we-did-not-see/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209153159/https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2014/jul/31/sheila-jackson-lee/rep-sheila-jackson-lee-d-texas-says-we-did-not-see/ |archive-date=December 9, 2023 |access-date=April 10, 2024 |work=[[PolitiFact]]}}</ref>

A campaign advertisement for Jackson Lee in the 2023 Houston mayoral election instructed viewers to vote on the wrong date. Jackson Lee's spokesperson attributed the error to an external advertising agency.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Murney |first=Michael |date=December 4, 2023 |title=Sheila Jackson Lee tells Houston voters to go to polls – on the wrong day |url=https://www.chron.com/news/article/sheila-jackson-lee-houston-texas-18532403.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119112326/https://www.chron.com/news/article/sheila-jackson-lee-houston-texas-18532403.php |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |access-date=April 10, 2024 |work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
[[File:ElwynLee.jpg|thumb|Elwyn Lee in 2011]]

In 1973, Jackson Lee married Elwyn Lee, who has served as a law professor and vice president of student affairs at the [[University of Houston]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CDIR-2020-07-22/html/CDIR-2020-07-22-TX-H-18.htm |title=Congressional Directory for the 116th Congress (2019–2020), July 2020. [Page 263] |date=July 22, 2020 |access-date=December 16, 2023 |website=[[GovInfo]] |archive-date=December 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216230501/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CDIR-2020-07-22/html/CDIR-2020-07-22-TX-H-18.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The couple had two children, including her daughter [[Erica Lee Carter]] who replaced her in Congress.<ref name="bio" /><ref name=":0" /> Her son Jason would become the senior advisor to [[Chicago]] mayor [[Brandon Johnson]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2024/12/06/jason-lee-brandon-johnson-adviser-texas-presidential-election-vote-sheila-jackson-lee |title=Top Brandon Johnson adviser lives in Chicago, but cast November vote in Houston |first=Fran |last=Spielman |publisher=Chicago Sun-Times |date=December 6, 2024 |accessdate=May 8, 2025}}</ref> and would gain considerable influence over Johnson's policymaking, with the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' even describing Jason as Chicago's "[[Shadow government (conspiracy theory)|shadow mayor]]" in January 2025.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2025/01/02/jason-lee-shadow-mayor-adviser-brandon-johnson-chicago|title=Jason Lee, Chicago's shadow mayor, helps Brandon Johnson weather the political storm |first=Fran |last=Spielman |publisher=Chicago Sun-Times |date=January 2, 2025 |accessdate=May 8, 2025}}</ref> Jackson Lee was a [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dietrich |first=Pam |date=January 31, 2019 |title=Adventist congresswoman steps down from key posts — and more news shorts |url=https://spectrummagazine.org/news/2019/adventist-congresswoman-steps-down-key-posts-and-more-news-shorts |access-date=December 9, 2023 |website=Spectrum |archive-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210051708/https://spectrummagazine.org/news/2019/adventist-congresswoman-steps-down-key-posts-and-more-news-shorts |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Killelea|first=Eric|url=https://www.chron.com/culture/religion/article/texas-pastors-sheila-jackson-lee-19606996.php|title=Houston pastors celebrate Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=July 30, 2024}}</ref> She was a member of the [[Alpha Kappa Alpha]] sorority<ref>{{cite news |last=Magagnini |first=Stephen |date=January 1, 2008 |title=Pride and comfort; National black sorority 'gathers for the specific purpose of being selfless' |work=Beaumont Enterprise |location=Beaumont, Tex. |page=B.1}}</ref> as well as [[The Links]] organization.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Graham |first=Lawrence Otis |title=Our kind of people |date=2014 |publisher=HarperCollins e-Books |isbn=978-0-06-187081-1 |location=[Place of publication not identified] |oclc=877899803 }}</ref>

===Illness and death===
Jackson Lee previously had [[breast cancer]], but was declared cancer-free in 2012.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Salhotra |first=Pooja |date=June 3, 2024 |title=U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee says she's being treated for pancreatic cancer |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/02/sheila-jackson-lee-cancer/ |access-date=July 22, 2024 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en |archive-date=June 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606010811/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/02/sheila-jackson-lee-cancer/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On June 2, 2024, Jackson Lee announced that she had been diagnosed with [[pancreatic cancer]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Blackman |first2=Claire |last2=Hao |first1=Jeremy |title=Sheila Jackson Lee announces she has pancreatic cancer |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/jackson-lee-cancer-diagnosis-19491677.php |website=Houston Chronicle |access-date=June 3, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=June 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603032846/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/jackson-lee-cancer-diagnosis-19491677.php |url-status=live }}</ref> and was receiving treatments.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones II |first1=Arthur |title=Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee diagnosed with pancreatic cancer |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/rep-sheila-jackson-lee-diagnosed-pancreatic-cancer/story?id=110761329 |website=ABC News |access-date=June 3, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=June 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603024525/https://abcnews.go.com/US/rep-sheila-jackson-lee-diagnosed-pancreatic-cancer/story?id=110761329 |url-status=live }}</ref> She died at a hospital in Houston on July 19, 2024, at the age of 74.<ref name = CNN/><ref name="WaPo Obit">{{cite news|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2024/07/19/sheila-jackson-lee-congresswoman-dead/|title = Sheila Jackson Lee, outspoken Texas congresswoman, dies at 74|last = Langer|first = Emily|date = July 19, 2024|accessdate = July 19, 2024|newspaper = [[The Washington Post]]|url-access = limited|archive-date = July 21, 2024|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240721040607/https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2024/07/19/sheila-jackson-lee-congresswoman-dead/|url-status = live}}</ref>

[[File:President Joe Biden pays his respects to Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), who passed away on July 19, at Houston City Hall, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Houston, Texas.jpg|thumb|President Joe Biden paying his respects to Jackson Lee on July 29, 2024]]
[[File:Vice President Harris Delivers the Eulogy at the Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Memorial Service.webm|thumb|Vice President Kamala Harris delivering the eulogy at the memorial service for Jackson Lee, August 1, 2024]]

President Joe Biden arrived in Houston on Monday, July 29, 2024 to pay respects to Jackson Lee.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lozano |first=Juan A. |date=July 30, 2024 |title='She was unrelenting in her leadership,' President Biden remembers US Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in Houston |url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/president-biden-visits-rep-sheila-jackson-lee-houston/3606098/ |access-date=August 10, 2024 |website=NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-29 |title=President Joe Biden visits Houston to pay respects to late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee |url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/president-joe-biden-houston-visit-sjl/285-c53637be-5685-4efc-b05a-3fc98c68fc5b |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=khou.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Jackson Lee would be the second person to ever [[lie in state]] at [[Houston City Hall]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/sheila-jackson-lee-houston-funeral-prayer-service-0755f59092b8468d2e583372be5ea67a|title=US Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas fondly remembered as she lies in state at Houston City Hall|first=Juan A.|last=Lozano|publisher=Associated Press|date=July 29, 2024|accessdate=March 5, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2024/07/29/495044/people-pay-final-respects-to-sheila-jackson-lee-at-city-hall/|title=People pay final respects to Sheila Jackson Lee at City Hall|first=Tom|last=Perumean|publisher=Houston Public Media|date=July 29, 2024|accessdate=March 5, 2025}}</ref> During Jackson Lee's funeral service at Houston's Fallbrook Church on August 1, 2024, Vice President [[Kamala Harris]] gave the eulogy. Speakers included [[Bill Clinton]], his wife and former Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]], and U.S. House Minority Leader [[Hakeem Jeffries]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2024/08/01/kamala-harris-sheila-jackson-lee-funeral|title=Kamala Harris eulogizes Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee|first=Jay R.|last=Jordan|publisher=Axios|date=August 1, 2024|accessdate=August 1, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2024/08/01/495410/kamala-harris-delivers-eulogy-at-rep-sheila-jackson-lees-funeral/|title=Kamala Harris delivers eulogy at Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee's funeral|first=Ariel|last=Worthy|publisher=Houston Public Media|date=August 1, 2024|accessdate=August 1, 2024}}</ref><ref name="funeralandsecondperson">{{cite news|url=https://houstonlanding.org/mourners-describe-jackson-lee-as-uniquely-dedicated-public-official-at-first-day-of-services/|title=Mourners describe Jackson Lee as uniquely dedicated public official at first day of services|first=Paul|last=Cobler|publisher=Houston Landing|date=July 29, 2024|accessdate=July 30, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web  |first1=Re'Chelle |last1=Turner |first2=Cesar |last2=Martinez |first3=Karen |last3=Araiza |date=2024-08-01 |title=Dignitaries at Sheila Jackson Lee's funeral include Glenda Glover, the Clintons, Ben Crump, Al Sharpton, Kamala Harris |url=https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2024/08/01/dignitaries-at-sheila-jackson-lees-funeral-include-glenda-glover-the-clintons-ben-crump-al-sharpton-kamala-harris/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=KPRC |language=en}}</ref>

==Awards and recognition==
*[[Hilal-i-Pakistan]] (Crescent of Pakistan) Award (the highest civil award of Pakistan) from the [[President of Pakistan]] in 2020, recognizing her services to Pakistan.<ref>[https://www.dawn.com/news/1499419 Ibne Safi, Fehmida Riaz among 116 recipients of civil awards (list includes Sheila Jackson Lee's award)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205224002/https://www.dawn.com/news/1499419 |date=December 5, 2021 }} Dawn (newspaper), Published August 14, 2019, Retrieved November 24, 2020</ref>

==Electoral history==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = [[Texas]]'s [[Texas's 18th congressional district|18th congressional district]], 1994<ref name="Sheila Jackson Lee">{{cite web |title=Sheila Jackson Lee |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Sheila_Jackson_Lee#cite_note-153 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Sheila Jackson Lee
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 84,790
| percentage = 73.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Jerry Burley
| party      = Republican Party (United States)
| votes      = 28,153
| percentage = 24.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = J. Larry Snellings
| party      = Independent Party (United States)
| votes      = 1,278
| percentage = 1.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = George Hollenbeck
| party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes      = 1,169
| percentage = 1.0
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes      = 115,390
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = Texas's 18th congressional district, 1996<ref name="ballotpedia.org">{{cite web |title=Sheila Jackson Lee |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Sheila_Jackson_Lee#cite_note-151 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent)
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 106,111
| percentage = 77.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Larry White
| party      = Republican Party (United States)
| votes      = 13,956
| percentage = 10.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Jerry Burley
| party      = Republican Party (United States)
| votes      = 7,877
| percentage = 5.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = George Young
| party      = Republican Party (United States)
| votes      = 5,332
| percentage = 3.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Mike Lamson
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 4,412
| percentage = 3.2
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes      = 137,688
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = Texas's 18th congressional district, 1998<ref name="ballotpedia.org"/>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent)
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 82,091
| percentage = 89.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = James Galvan
| party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes      = 9,176
| percentage = 10.1
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes      = 91,267
| percentage = 100.0
}}

{{Election box hold with party link without swing
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = Texas's 18th congressional district, 2000<ref>{{cite web |title=Sheila Jackson Lee |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Sheila_Jackson_Lee#cite_note-150 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en |access-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210105217/https://ballotpedia.org/Sheila_Jackson_Lee#cite_note-150 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent)
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 131,857
| percentage = 76.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = James Galvan
| party      = Republican Party (United States)
| votes      = 38,191
| percentage = 22.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Colin Nankervis
| party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes      = 2,330
| percentage = 1.4
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes      = 172,378
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = Texas's 18th congressional district, 2002<ref>{{cite web |title=Sheila Jackson Lee |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Sheila_Jackson_Lee#cite_note-149 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en |access-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210105217/https://ballotpedia.org/Sheila_Jackson_Lee#cite_note-149 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent)
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 99,161
| percentage = 76.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Phillip Abbott
| party      = Republican Party (United States)
| votes      = 27,980
| percentage = 21.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Brent Sullivan
| party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes      = 1,785
| percentage = 1.4
}}{{Election box total no change
| votes      = 128,926
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = Texas's 18th congressional district, 2004<ref>{{cite web |title=Sheila Jackson Lee |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Sheila_Jackson_Lee#cite_note-148 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en |access-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210105217/https://ballotpedia.org/Sheila_Jackson_Lee#cite_note-148 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent)
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 136,018
| percentage = 88.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Tom Bazan
| party      = Independent Party (United States)
| votes      = 9,787
| percentage = 6.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Brent Sullivan
| party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes      = 7,183
| percentage = 4.7
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes      = 152,988
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = Texas's 18th congressional district, 2006<ref>{{cite web |title=Sheila Jackson Lee |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Sheila_Jackson_Lee#cite_note-147 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en |access-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210105217/https://ballotpedia.org/Sheila_Jackson_Lee#cite_note-147 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent)
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 65,936
| percentage = 76.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Ahmad Hassan
| party      = Republican Party (United States)
| votes      = 16,448
| percentage = 19.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Patrick Warren
| party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes      = 3,667
| percentage = 4.3
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes      = 86,051
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = Texas's 18th congressional district, 2008<ref>{{cite web |title=Sheila Jackson Lee |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Sheila_Jackson_Lee#cite_note-146 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en |access-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210105217/https://ballotpedia.org/Sheila_Jackson_Lee#cite_note-146 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent)
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 148,617
| percentage = 77.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = John Faulk
| party      = Republican Party (United States)
| votes      = 39,095
| percentage = 20.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Mike Taylor
| party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes      = 4,486
| percentage = 2.3
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes      = 192,198
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = Texas's 18th congressional district, 2010<ref>{{cite web |title=Sheila Jackson Lee |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Sheila_Jackson_Lee#cite_note-145 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en |access-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210105217/https://ballotpedia.org/Sheila_Jackson_Lee#cite_note-145 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent)
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 85,108
| percentage = 70.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = John Faulk
| party      = Republican Party (United States)
| votes      = 33,067
| percentage = 27.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Mike Taylor
| party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes      = 3,118
| percentage = 2.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Charles Meyer
| party      = Write-in
| votes      = 28
| percentage = 0.0
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes      = 121,321
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = Texas's 18th congressional district, 2012<ref name="Sheila Jackson Lee"/>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent)
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 146,223
| percentage = 75.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Sean Seilbert
| party      = Republican Party (United States)
| votes      = 44,015
| percentage = 22.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Christopher Barber
| party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes      = 4,694
| percentage = 2.4
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes      = 194,932
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = Texas's 18th congressional district, 2014<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web |title=Sheila Jackson Lee |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Sheila_Jackson_Lee#cite_note-huffpost14-142 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en |access-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210105217/https://ballotpedia.org/Sheila_Jackson_Lee#cite_note-huffpost14-142 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent)
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 76,097
| percentage = 71.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Sean Seibert
| party      = Republican Party (United States)
| votes      = 26,249
| percentage = 24.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Vince Duncan
| party      = Independent Party (United States)
| votes      = 2,362
| percentage = 2.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Remington Alessi
| party      = Green Party (United States)
| votes      = 1,302
| percentage = 1.2
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes      = 106,010
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = Texas's 18th congressional district, 2016<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent)
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 150,157
| percentage = 73.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Sean Seibert
| party      = Republican Party (United States)
| votes      = 48,306
| percentage = 23.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Remington Alessi
| party      = Green Party (United States)
| votes      = 5,845
| percentage = 2.9
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes      = 204,308
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic Primary for Texas's 18th congressional district, 2018<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent)
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 34,514
| percentage = 86.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Vince Duncan
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 5,604
| percentage = 14.0
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes      = 40,118
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = Texas's 18th congressional district, 2018<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent)
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 138,704
| percentage = 75.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Ava Pate
| party      = Republican Party (United States)
| votes      = 38,368
| percentage = 20.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Luke Spencer
| party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes      = 4,067
| percentage = 2.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Vince Duncan
| party      = Independent Party (United States)
| votes      = 3,193
| percentage = 1.7
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes      = 184,332
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic Primary for Texas's 18th congressional district, 2020<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent)
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 49,729
| percentage = 77.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Marc Flores
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 5,353
| percentage = 8.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Bimal Patel
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 2,456
| percentage = 3.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Jerry Ford Sr.
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 2,417
| percentage = 3.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Stevens Orozco
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 2,180
| percentage = 3.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Michael Allen
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 1,672
| percentage = 2.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Donovan Boson
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 709
| percentage = 1.1
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes      = 64,516
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = Texas's 18th congressional district, 2020<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent)
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 180,952
| percentage = 73.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Wendell Champion
| party      = Republican Party (United States)
| votes      = 58,033
| percentage = 23.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Luke Spencer
| party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes      = 4,514
| percentage = 1.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Vince Duncan
| party      = Independent Party (United States)
| votes      = 3,396
| percentage = 1.2
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes      = 246,895
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = Texas's 18th congressional district, 2022<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent)
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 110,511
| percentage = 70.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Carmen Maria Montiel
| party      = Republican Party (United States)
| votes      = 40,941
| percentage = 26.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Vince Duncan
| party      = Independent Party (United States)
| votes      = 2,766
| percentage = 1.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Phil Kurtz
| party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes      = 20,050
| percentage = 1.3
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes      = 156,268
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = Houston mayoral general election, 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=Houston Mayor Election Results and Maps 2023 {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/election/2023/results/houston/mayor |website=CNN |language=en |access-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210105216/https://www.cnn.com/election/2023/results/houston/mayor |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = [[John Whitmire]]
| party      = Non-partisan democracy
| votes      = 107,410
| percentage = 42.5
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Sheila Jackson Lee
| party      = Non-partisan democracy
| votes      = 90,093
| percentage = 35.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Gilbert Garcia
| party      = Non-partisan democracy
| votes      = 18,220
| percentage = 7.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Jack Christie
| party      = Non-partisan democracy
| votes      = 17,364
| percentage = 6.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Lee Kaplan
| party      = Non-partisan democracy
| votes      = 6,645
| percentage = 2.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Robert Gallegos
| party      = Non-partisan democracy
| votes      = 2,679
| percentage = 1.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = M.J. Khan
| party      = Non-partisan democracy
| votes      = 2,478
| percentage = 1.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Annie Garcia
| party      = Non-partisan democracy
| votes      = 1,979
| percentage = 0.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Julian Martinez
| party      = Non-partisan democracy
| votes      = 1,813
| percentage = 0.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Roy Vasquez
| party      = Non-partisan democracy
| votes      = 1,083
| percentage = 0.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = M. Griffin
| party      = Non-partisan democracy
| votes      = 674
| percentage = 0.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Kathy Lee Tatum
| party      = Non-partisan democracy
| votes      = 532
| percentage = 0.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = David Lowy
| party      = Non-partisan democracy
| votes      = 368
| percentage = 0.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Chanel Mbala
| party      = Non-partisan democracy
| votes      = 356
| percentage = 0.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Naoufal Houjami
| party      = Non-partisan democracy
| votes      = 352
| percentage = 0.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Gaylon Caldwell
| party      = Non-partisan democracy
| votes      = 331
| percentage = 0.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = B. Ivy
| party      = Non-partisan democracy
| votes      = 287
| percentage = 0.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Robin Williams
| party      = Non-partisan democracy
| votes      = 95
| percentage = 0.0
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes      = 252,759
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = Houston mayoral runoff election, 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=Houston Mayor Runoff Live Election Results 2023 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2023-elections/houston-mayor-runoff-results |website=www.nbcnews.com |access-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210100823/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2023-elections/houston-mayor-runoff-results |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = [[John Whitmire]]
| party      = Non-partisan democracy
| votes      = 129,495
| percentage = 64.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = Sheila Jackson Lee
| party      = Non-partisan democracy
| votes      = 71,523
| percentage = 35.6
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes      = 201,018
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{End}}

==See also==
* [[List of African-American United States representatives]]
* [[List of members of the United States Congress who died in office (2000–present)]]
* [[Politics of Houston]]
* [[Women in the United States House of Representatives]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2|refs=
<ref name="dms">{{cite news |author=Tim Fleck |date=February 20, 1997 |title=What's Driving Miss Shelia? |url=http://www.houstonpress.com/1997-02-20/news/what-s-driving-miss-shelia/Sheila/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809034734/http://www.houstonpress.com/1997-02-20/news/what-s-driving-miss-shelia/Sheila/ |archive-date=August 9, 2011 |work=[[Houston Press]]}}</ref>}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
{{wikisource|works=or}}

* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH4QdHxO-Q0 Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Celebration of Life], August 1, 2024, Fallbrook Church, Houston, Texas
* [http://jacksonlee.house.gov/ Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee] official U.S. House website
* [http://www.sheilajacksonlee18.com/ Sheila Jackson Lee for U.S. Congress] 
* {{C-SPAN|36819}}
{{CongLinks | congbio=j000032 | votesmart=21692 | fec=H4TX18054 | congress=sheila-jackson-lee/588 }}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{US House succession box
|state    = Texas
|district = 18
|before   = [[Craig Washington]]
|years    = 1995–2024
|after    = [[Erica Lee Carter]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{USCongRep-start |congresses=104th–118th [[United States Congress]] |state=[[Texas]]}}
{{USCongRep/TX/104}}
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{{USCongRep-end}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson Lee, Sheila}}
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