Senator John Whitmire represents the 15th Senatorial District comprised of north Houston and north Harris County. He was first elected to the Texas Senate in 1982 after serving 10 years in the Texas House of Representatives. With over 20 years of service in the Texas Senate, Senator Whitmire ranks first in seniority and serves as the "Dean of the Texas Senate."

Currently, Senator Whitmire is the Chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee and serves as a member of the Senate Government Organization Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, and the Senate Administration Committee. He is also a member of the Legislative Budget Board.