Polls have suggested that Democratic U.S.  Rep. faces an uphill climb in her Houston mayoral runoff race.

Houston Public Media reports that Jackson Lee and her opponent, Democratic state Sen. John Whitmire, must broaden their support bases to win, with Jackson Lee having a steeper climb for victory in the December 9 election.

If elected, Jackson Lee would be Houston’s first Black female mayor.

In the first round of voting on Nov. 7, Jackson Lee finished second behind Whitmire in a field of 17 candidates. She won 36 percent of the vote to Whitmire’s 43 percent. No candidate passed the 50 percent threshold, triggering a runoff election between Jackson Lee and Whitmire.

A University of Houston poll before the general election showed Whitmire holding a 51 percent to 33 percent lead in the runoff race, with 13 percent undecided. Jackson Lee had the upper hand among Black Houstonians and Democratic voters, and Whitmire had stronger support among White, Latino and Republican voters.

Texas Southern University political science professor Michael O. Adams told Houston Public Media that for Jackson Lee to win, she must broaden her support among independents and Republicans, as well as drive record Black voter turnout.

Jackson Lee received the endorsement of current Mayor Sylvester Turner, who is Black. His support could help ramp up Black voter turnout to the 80 percent threshold Jackson Lee needs. 

However, Lee Brown, Houston’s first Black mayor, endorsed Whitmire, who also has a huge campaign finance advantage over Jackson Lee. Adams estimated Whitmire’s war chest has at least $6 million compared to roughly $100,000 for Jackson Lee.