Governor Abbott called a special election on May 7, 2022 for House District 147 at the end of February, to fill the unexpired term left by Representative Garnet F. Coleman that lasts the remainder of this year. Jolanda Jones and Danielle Keys Bess, who are also the primary runoff candidates for the May 24 election, were the only candidates to file.
Jolanda Jones
Former Houston City Councilmember, current Houston ISD Board Trustee and practicing lawyer since 1995, University of Houston alumni Jolanda Jones earned 41% of the vote in the primary election. With endorsements from the former officeholder of HD 147, the Honorable Garnet F. Coleman, Senator Royce West, and former US Congressman Craig Washington; Jolanda Jones has enjoyed quite a bit of support from her prospective peers. Her stated concerns are health care, public schools, and election integrity.
Danielle Keys Bess
University of Texas alumni Danielle Keys Bess, a real estate professional at Womack Development & Investment Realtors for 15 years and worked for Obama for America, Ron Kirk for Senate, and then Sheila Jackson Lee’s campaign for 14 years. Endorsed by the Houston Chronicle, Bess has been involved in community development in the district’s surrounding area. Her stated concerns are community infrastructure, educational reform, and civil rights. She earned 20% percent of the vote in the primary election.
