Amanda Edwards

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Amanda Edwards

| image = Amanda Edwards headshot (1).jpg

| office = Member of the Houston City Council
from the at-large district
Position 4

| term_start = January 2, 2016

| term_end = January 2, 2020

| predecessor = Clarence Bradford

| successor = Letitia Plummer

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982-01-19}}

| birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic

| education = Emory University (BA)
Harvard University (JD)

}}

Amanda Edwards (born January 19, 1982) is an American attorney and politician who served as a member of the Houston City Council from 2016 to 2020. She was a candidate for the 2020 United States Senate election in Texas in the Democratic primary and briefly ran in the 2023 Houston mayoral election before making a pivot to run for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2024.{{cite news|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/11/sheila-jackson-lee-reelection-house/|title=Sheila Jackson Lee files for reelection for U.S. House seat after losing in mayoral race|first=Patrick|last=Svitek|publisher=Texas Tribune|date=December 11, 2023|accessdate=December 11, 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.fox26houston.com/news/rep-sheila-jackson-lee-gears-up-for-congressional-race-against-amanda-edwards|title=Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee gears up for Congressional race against Amanda Edwards|publisher=Fox 26 Houston|date=December 11, 2023|accessdate=December 11, 2023}}

Education and early career

Edwards was born and raised in Houston. After graduating from Eisenhower High School, she continued on to Emory University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. While at Emory, Edwards served as president of the undergraduate student body and was later inducted into the Emory University Hall of Fame.{{cite web |title=Truman National Security Project |url=http://trumanproject.org/home/team-view/amanda-edwards/ |access-date=June 17, 2020 |archive-date=September 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913145604/http://trumanproject.org/home/team-view/amanda-edwards/ |url-status=dead }} She also spent her time at Emory assisting Georgia State Senator Connie Stokes. After graduating from Emory, Edwards moved to Washington, D.C. and began working for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

From there, she went on to attain a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. Edwards became a Criminal Justice Institute student attorney. She was also recognized with the Elaine Osborne Jacobson Award for her work in supporting underserved communities in healthcare law. This was in addition to her duties as the Co-Chair of the Harvard Black Law Students Association Spring Conference.

After graduation, her interest in public service led Edwards to relocate to New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, where she served as a judicial law clerk for Federal District Court Judge Ivan Lemelle. While in New Orleans, Edwards founded Project NOW: The New Orleans Writing Project to teach New Orleans Youth use writing as a tool of empowerment after Hurricane Katrina.{{cite web |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Houston-Councilwoman-Amanda-Edwards-announces-run-14105641.php |title= Houston Councilwoman Amanda Edwards announces run for U.S. Senate |date= July 18, 2019 }}

Ultimately, Edwards returned to Houston, where she practiced as a municipal finance attorney. She has focused primarily on public finance, involving bond issuances, government partnerships, non-profit organizations, and community-development organizations.

Public office

= Houston City Council =

Edwards ran for Houston City Council in 2015 for At-Large Position 4 and won, succeeding C.O. Bradford. In the runoff, she received more votes than anyone in the municipal election, including the mayor, Sylvester Turner. During her tenure, Edwards served on the Transportation, Technology, and Infrastructure Committee and the Economic Development Committee; additionally, she was the Vice Chair of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee.{{cite web |title=Amanda Edwards, Texas Open Innovation |url=https://www.texasopeninnovation.com/agenda/speakers/224892 }}

In the spring of 2016, Edwards authored an amendment for the city's annual budget process to create a task force for innovation and technology.{{cite web |url=https://www.thirdway.org/interview/amanda-edwards-developing-houstons-innovation-economy-through-inclusion |title=Amanda Edwards: Developing Houston's Innovation Economy Through Inclusion }} She helped lead the efforts of the Task Force, which recommended, among other things, the creation of an innovation district.{{cite web |url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/local/2018/04/12/278818/watch-live-houston-mayor-and-rice-university-president-announce-new-houston-innovation-hub/ |title= Former Midtown Sears Site To Be Houston 'Innovation District' |date= April 12, 2018 }}{{cite web |url=https://news.rice.edu/2018/04/12/historic-midtown-sears-building-to-anchor-houston-innovation-district-2/ |title=Historic Midtown Sears Building to Anchor Houston Innovation District |access-date=March 14, 2020 |archive-date=February 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224224512/http://news.rice.edu/2018/04/12/historic-midtown-sears-building-to-anchor-houston-innovation-district-2/ |url-status=dead }} This new site, The Ion, supports the business district and accelerate investment in innovative technologies.{{cite web |url=https://www.bisnow.com/houston/news/office/the-ion-the-place-where-venture-capitalists-will-come-to-find-houstons-next-promising-company-100006 |title= The Ion: The Place Where Venture Capitalists Will Come To Find Houston's Next Promising Startup }} She also pushed efforts for the City of Houston to commence smart city planning.

In addition to her work to support the innovation economy, Edwards initiated the creation of and led the Women- and Minority-Owned Business Task Force to identify ways to increase access to capital for women- and minority-owned businesses.{{cite web |url=https://nawbohouston.org/nawbo-leaders-appointed-to-city-of-houston-women-and-minority-business-task-force/ |title=NAWBO Leaders Appointed to City Of Houston Women and Minority Business Task Force }}{{cite web |title= Special Announcement May 30, 2018 |url= http://ghwcc.chambermaster.com/news/details/city-of-houston-special-announcement |access-date= June 17, 2020 |archive-date= June 17, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200617045910/http://ghwcc.chambermaster.com/news/details/city-of-houston-special-announcement |url-status= dead }}

Edwards also served as the Co-Vice Chair of the High-Capacity Transit Task Force (a group organized under the Houston-Galveston Area Council) where she advocated for high capacity transit options for the 8 county Houston-Galveston region. This was alongside her proposal for the addition of light rail and rapid transit options to ease congestion on Houston's highways.{{cite web |url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/shows/houston-matters/2019/02/12/321406/what-transit-options-should-houston-have-by-2045/ |title=What Future Transit Options Does Houston Need? |date=February 12, 2019 }}

While on the Houston City Council, Edwards continued in disaster relief efforts after Houston was struck by Hurricane Harvey. She mobilized hundreds of volunteers to assist Harvey survivors by connecting them with help for flood damage, providing emergency supplies, case management and more.{{cite web |url=https://abc13.com/2469140/ |title=A month later, some northeast Houston residents still haven't cleaned their flooded homes }}

Edwards launched the Council Member Edwards’ Community Empowerment Signature Series to empower Houstonians to “be the solution” with respect to issues impacting their respective communities. This series provided programmatic opportunities ranging from senior conferences to film screenings and townhalls that served to educate, empower, and equip members of the community with the tools and the drive necessary for enacting positive change.{{cite web |url=http://aisdcompass.ss7.sharpschool.com/cms/One.aspx?portalId=750&pageId=10292390 |title=Aldine ISD Alumna, City Council Member Amanda Edwards Launches Community Empowerment Signature Series }}{{cite web |url=https://aframnews.com/local/the-empowered-you-houston-senior-citizens-conference/ |title=The Empowered You: Houston Senior Citizens Conference |date=November 13, 2018 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.houstonisd.org/cms/lib2/TX01001591/Centricity/Domain/650/FinalFlyer_UsToo_4.28.18.pdf |title=Empowering #UsToo Igniting Change In The Next Generation of Young Men & Women to Stop Sexual Assault, Harassment & Misconduct }}

= 2020 U.S. Senate race =

In 2020, Edwards announced that she was running for John Cornyn's US Senate seat in the 2020 United States Senate election in Texas. After announcing, she was identified by local media as one of the seven candidates to watch in a crowded race with 12 declared candidates. Edwards placed fifth in the primary election with 10.14% of the vote.{{cite web |title=Using the power of people, Amanda Edwards seeks to jump from Houston City Council to U.S. Senate |date=December 31, 2019 |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2019/12/31/using-the-power-of-people-amanda-edwards-seeks-to-jump-from-houston-city-council-to-us-senate/ }}{{cite news |title=Texas Senate Primary Election Results |work=The New York Times |date=March 3, 2020 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/03/us/elections/results-texas-senate-primary-election.html }}{{cite web |title=Former Houston city council member Amanda Edwards backs Royce West for U.S. Senate |date=May 8, 2020 |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/05/05/progressive-group-endorses-royce-west-for-us-senate-while-pete-buttigieg-backs-mj-hegar/ |accessdate=July 10, 2020}}

= 2023 Houston mayoral campaign and 2024 U.S. House campaigns =

File:TSUHomecoming93023-53.jpg

Edwards briefly in the 2023 Houston mayoral election but withdrew and endorsed U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee following her campaign announcement. Edwards instead pivoted to run for the U.S. House; stating that she intended to remain a candidate even after Jackson Lee announced her intention to run for re-election. Edwards lost the primary election to Jackson Lee, placing second with 37.3% of the vote.

On July 19, 2024, Jackson Lee died due to complications from pancreatic cancer. Edwards announced her intention to run for the Democratic nomination for the seat, which was selected by the Harris County Democratic Party executive committee.{{cite news |last1=Anthony Walsh |first1=Dominic |last2=Schneider |first2=Andrew |title=Sylvester Turner, Amanda Edwards among candidates vying for Sheila Jackson Lee's open seat |url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2024/08/02/495524/sylvester-turner-amanda-edwards-among-candidates-vying-for-sheila-jackson-lees-open-seat/ |access-date=August 2, 2024 |work=KUHF |date=August 2, 2024}} Edwards lost in the second round of the nomination convention, four votes behind former Mayor of Houston Sylvester Turner— who also died while in office on March 5, 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/13/turner-jackson-lee-november-ballot-houston/|title=Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is the Democrats' pick for Jackson Lee seat in Congress|last=Choi|first=Matthew|date=August 13, 2024|access-date=August 13, 2024|website=The Texas Tribune}}{{cite news |last1=Church |first1=Abby |last2=Warren |first2=Peter |title=Longtime Houston mayor Sylvester Turner dies at 70, months after winning U.S. House seat |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/sylvester-turner-texas-dies-20203885.php |access-date=March 5, 2025 |work=Houston Chronicle |date=March 5, 2025}}

Personal life

Amanda Edwards is the founder of a nonprofit, Be The Solution: Community Empowerment Organization, which effectively advocates and empowers various groups ranging from senior citizens to women. Amanda serves on the advisory council of Accelerator for America and has served on the board of directors for National League of Cities, Houston Exponential{{cite web |title=Houston Exponential Governing Board |url=https://houstonexponential.org/about/#board }} and Project Row Houses.

Edwards is a member of the Houston Chapter of The Links,{{cite web |title=Houston Chapter of The Links Chapter Members |url=http://houstonlinks.org/about/chapter-members/ }} and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.{{cite web |title= AKA Council Member Runs to Become First Black Senator From Texas |url=http://ivystorehouse.blog/aka-council-member-runs-to-become-first-black-senator-from-texas/ }} She is Catholic.{{Cite web |last=Freeman |first=Annita |date=December 11, 2023 |title=Sheila Jackson Lee preparing for race against former At-Large City Council member Amanda Edwards |url=https://www.fox26houston.com/news/rep-sheila-jackson-lee-gears-up-for-congressional-race-against-amanda-edwards |access-date=February 17, 2024 |website=FOX 26 Houston |language=en-US}}

Electoral history

=2024=

{{Election box begin no change|title=2024 U.S. House of Representatives election in Texas' 18th congressional district, Democratic primary election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Texas Democratic Party|candidate=Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent)|votes=23,629|percentage=60.0}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Texas Democratic Party|candidate=Amanda Edwards|votes=14,668|percentage=37.3}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Texas Democratic Party|candidate=Robert Slater Jr. (withdrawn)|votes=1,059|percentage=2.7}}{{Election box total no change|votes=39,356|percentage=100.0}}{{Election box end}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" ! colspan="13" {{party shading/Democratic}} \| 2024 Texas' 18th congressional district Democratic nomination convention
style="background:#eee; text-align:center;" ! scope="col" style="width: 12em" rowspan=2 \|Candidate ! scope="col" style="width: 5em" colspan=2 \|First ballot ! scope="col" style="width: 5em" colspan=2 \|Second ballot
Votes ! % ! Votes ! %
scope="row\| {{sortname\|Sylvester\|Turner}} \| style="text-align:center;"\| 35 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 44.3% \| style="text-align:center;"\| 41 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 52.6%
scope="row" \| {{sortname\|Amanda\|Edwards}} \| style="text-align:center;"\| 34 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 43.0% \| style="text-align:center;"\| 37 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 47.4%
scope="row"\| {{sortname\|Letitia\|Plummer}} \| style="text-align:center;"\| 5 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 6.3% \| colspan=2 style="text-align:center; background:#cbcbcb"\| {{sort\|00\|Eliminated}}
scope="row"\| {{sortname\|Christina\|Morales}} \| style="text-align:center;"\| 3 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 3.8% \| colspan=2 style="text-align:center; background:#cbcbcb"\| {{sort\|00\|Eliminated}}
scope="row"\| {{sortname\|Jarvis\|Johnson}} \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2.5% \| colspan=2 style="text-align:center; background:#cbcbcb"\| {{sort\|00\|Eliminated}}
scope="row"\| Total \| style="text-align:center;"\| 79 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 100.0% \| style="text-align:center;"\| 78 \| style="text-align:center;"\| 100.0%

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

! colspan="13" {{party shading/Democratic}} | 2024 Texas' 18th congressional district Democratic nomination convention

style="background:#eee; text-align:center;"

! scope="col" style="width: 12em" rowspan=2 |Candidate

! scope="col" style="width: 5em" colspan=2 |First ballot

! scope="col" style="width: 5em" colspan=2 |Second ballot

Votes

! %

! Votes

! %

scope="row| {{sortname|Sylvester|Turner}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 35

| style="text-align:center;"| 44.3%

| style="text-align:center;"| 41

| style="text-align:center;"| 52.6%

scope="row" | {{sortname|Amanda|Edwards}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 34

| style="text-align:center;"| 43.0%

| style="text-align:center;"| 37

| style="text-align:center;"| 47.4%

scope="row"| {{sortname|Letitia|Plummer}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 5

| style="text-align:center;"| 6.3%

| colspan=2 style="text-align:center; background:#cbcbcb"| {{sort|00|Eliminated}}

scope="row"| {{sortname|Christina|Morales}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 3

| style="text-align:center;"| 3.8%

| colspan=2 style="text-align:center; background:#cbcbcb"| {{sort|00|Eliminated}}

scope="row"| {{sortname|Jarvis|Johnson}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 2.5%

| colspan=2 style="text-align:center; background:#cbcbcb"| {{sort|00|Eliminated}}

scope="row"| Total

| style="text-align:center;"| 79

| style="text-align:center;"| 100.0%

| style="text-align:center;"| 78

| style="text-align:center;"| 100.0%

=2020=

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2020 U.S. Senate election in Texas, Democratic primary election{{cite web |title=Texas Official Election Results|url=https://results.texas-election.com/races|website=results.texas-election.com |publisher=Texas Secretary of State |access-date=15 July 2020}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = MJ Hegar