Monday, October 23, from 7 am to 7 pm, marks the beginning of the opportunity for early voting in the Houston Mayor, City Controller, and City Council races. Early Voting will continue until Friday, November 3, leading up to the General Election on Tuesday, November 7.

As of Friday, August 11, the following individuals turned in the $1,250 cashier's check or cash along with the completed application to run for Houston Mayor: City Council Member Robert Gallegos, former Metro Chairman Gilbert Garcia, Naoufal Houjami, B. Ivy, Lee Kaplan, former City Council Member and business builder MJ Khan, auto shop owner Julian Martinez, Chanel Mbala, and Texas State Senator John Whitmire, who celebrated his 74th birthday this past Sunday, August 13.

U.S. Congress Member Sheila Jackson Lee, who will turn 74 on January 12, just after she would be sworn in as Mayor at the beginning of the new year, is expected to file her fee and notarized application form this week. Last week, after hours of arguments from all sides, she secured the coveted endorsement of the Houston GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender) Caucus. The endorsement highlighted her support from the PAC (Political Action Committee) dating back to her race for Harris County Court at Law Judge in 1984.

Former Interim Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins was the only candidate, as of last week, to have filed for Houston City Clerk to succeed the term-limited Chris Brown. Brown's Deputy District Clerk, Shannon Nobles, hopes to become the first black woman controller, mirroring Jackson Lee's aspiration to become the first black woman mayor. Term-limited District E City Council Mayor Pro-Tem Member Dave Martin and former Houston District C City Council Member, former Harris County Treasurer Orlando Sanchez, are also expected to file the $750 fee and turn in their applications this week to run for City Controller.

District A City Council Member Amy Peck is unopposed so far in her race for re-election, while District B City Council Member Tarsha Jackson faces Kendra London and Tyrone Willis. District C City Council Member Abbie Kamin contends with Fourth Ward activist Perata PB Bradley, and District D City Council Dr. Carolyn Evans Shabbazz faces Georgia Provost and Debra A. Rose.

Humble ISD Board Trustee Martina Lemond Dixon is up against businessman Fred Flickinger, and District G City Council Member Mary Nan Huffman is unopposed so far. Huffman won a special election last year when then City Council member Greg Travis resigned to run for Texas State Representative District 133.

Mario Castillo, Mark McGee, and Sonia Rivera are running for District H. Houston District J City Council Member Edward Pollard, after working and amassing more re-election funds ($1,400,000.000) and more endorsements than any incumbent in Houston City Council history, faces millennial activist Ivan Sanchez. Houston District K City Council Member Martha Castex Tatum is unopposed.

The deadline to file for Mayor, Controller, 11 single-member districts, and five at-large positions is this upcoming Monday, August 21, at 5 pm.

For more info, visit HoustonTX.gov.