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The Texas Tribune
The Texas Tribune
National
Joshua Fechter

After years of losing battles with GOP leaders, some big city Texas mayors strike friendlier tone

Left: Senator John Whitmire, D-Houston, speaks at a press confrence to announce legislation aimed at reforming the state’s bail system on Feb. 4, 2019. Right: Austin Mayor Kirk Watson speaks with the press to discuss the city's response to mass power outages after a ice storm, at the Combined Transportation, Emergency, and Communications Center in Austin on Feb. 3, 2023.
John Whitmire, left, who was elected as Houston mayor last month, and Austin Mayor Kirk Watson are both former Texas lawmakers who have promised to mend their cities' strained relationship with the state. (Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune, Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune)

After nearly a decade of high tensions between Republicans running the state and leaders of the state’s bluer urban areas, some mayors of major Texas cities are trying a new playbook: play nice with the state.

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