Houston mayor's contest is 2-person race, new poll shows

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A new poll from the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston finds the crowded contest for mayor remains a two-person race.

The survey, conducted between Sept. 30 and Oct. 6 found that voters prefer U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and Texas Sen. John Whitmire above the other declared candidates by a large margin. No other candidate polls above 4%, while Whitmire and Jackson Lee poll at 34% and 31% respectively.

In an expected runoff, Whitmire outpolls Jackson Lee 50% to 36%.

Others who garnered support in the low single digits were Gilbert Garcia, Jack Christie, Robert Gallegos, Lee Kaplan, and MJ Khan.

You can view the entire survey here.

Below are some highlights from the survey:

• 43% of likely voters indicate they would never vote for Jackson Lee, compared to 15% who say they would never vote for Whitmire.

• 51% of likely voters hold an unfavorable opinion of Jackson Lee (41% very unfavorable), compared to 24% who hold an unfavorable opinion of Whitmire (13% very unfavorable).

• Whitmire's runoff vote intention among men is 29% points greater than that of Jackson Lee, 57% to 28%. The two are effectively tied among women, 42% to 43%, respectively.

• Whitmire holds a substantial advantage over Jackson Lee among white likely voters -- 69% to 18% -- and among Latino likely voters -- 55% to 26% -- in a runoff election.

• Jackson Lee has a substantial advantage over Whitmire among Black likely voters -- 68% to 19% -- in a runoff election.

• Jackson Lee is the favored candidate among Democrats in a runoff, with a 59% to 29% advantage in vote intention over Whitmire.

• Whitmire is the favored candidate among Republicans in a runoff, with an 82% to 1% advantage in vote intention over Jackson Lee.

• Whitmire is the favored candidate of Independents in a runoff, with a 62% to 15% advantage over Jackson Lee.

Election Day is set for Nov. 7.

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