Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee stands a good chance of finishing in one of the top two positions in the Houston mayoral race and competing in a runoff election.

Station KTRK reports that a new poll released Tuesday (Oct. 10) shows Jackson Lee and Texas Sen. John Whitmire maintaining an overwhelming lead in a crowded field of candidates. Jackson Lee trails Whitmire, also a Democrat, 31 percent to 34 percent among voters who intend to cast a ballot in November.

The Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston conducted the poll between Sept. 30 and Oct. 6. It shows that 22 percent of likely voters were undecided, and the other 15 candidates dividing the remaining 13 percent of the likely voters.

Election day is November 7. If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote, election officials will hold a runoff in December between the top two finishers. According to the survey, Whitmire outpolls Jackson Lee 50 to 36 percent if they face each other in a runoff.

The poll suggests Lee has the majority support of Democrats and Black voters, while Whitmire has strong support among Republicans, Independents, White and Latino voters.

Lee has represented Houston in Congress since 1995 and announced her mayoral candidacy in March. In under three months,  she was able to pull in a whopping $1.2 million in donations for the for the six-month period ending June 30, Houston Public Media reported.

"It still appears to be a two-person race, even with the amount of money spent by some of the candidates. It is so close to being exactly as it was in July. That itself is a surprise.," senior executive director Renee Cross said, adding that other candidates could gain traction as the elections nears.

"Anything is possible, but more than likely, we will see Whitmire and Jackson Lee on the runoff ballot in December," Cross continued.