HOUSTON — The slim majority held by House Republicans is set to get even slimmer this Saturday, as Democrats prepare to cast their votes to fill the Texas seat vacated by the unexpected passing of Rep. Sylvester Turner last year.
This vote marks only the beginning of a longer journey to find a representative for Texas’ 18th Congressional District for a full two-year term, kicking off yet another round of generational change debates that have been stirring the political pot nationwide.
Just five weeks following this special election runoff, residents in this Democratic stronghold—often recognized as a bastion of Black political influence—will head back to the polls in March for a primary election aimed at selecting a candidate to represent the district, which has been redrawn in a recent Texas redistricting shakeup.
On Saturday, voters will choose between Harris County attorney Christian Menefee, 37, and former Houston City Councilmember Amanda Edwards, 44. These two candidates emerged as the frontrunners from a crowded field of 16 in the November primary, with Menefee edging out Edwards by a mere 3 percentage points.
The victor of this runoff will soon find themselves in a precarious position, holding the incumbency for just a few weeks before facing off against activist icon Rep. Al Green, 78. In the upcoming March election, all three candidates will argue that the stakes are about selecting the most capable advocate to confront House Republicans, the Trump administration, and the Texas GOP, which has been increasingly encroaching on Houston’s local governance in recent years.
“It’s going to be a fight between generations,” remarked Marc Campos, a seasoned Democratic consultant in Houston who is not affiliated with any campaign.
Interestingly, this runoff comes at an unusual time, delayed for months due to Governor Greg Abbott’s hesitance to call the special election until eight months post-Turner’s death. Turner had revealed in 2022 that he was battling bone cancer, with his family stating he passed away due to “enduring health complications.” He had been elected to replace former Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who also succumbed to pancreatic cancer in 2024 after nearly three decades in office.
Governor Abbott has defended the delays by expressing distrust in Harris County’s ability to conduct a timely and valid election. The governor, eyeing a potential flip of the county in the upcoming November elections, has long claimed there are extensive problems with electoral administration in Houston.
Texas Democrats argue that Abbott’s procrastination to fill the seat has favored House Republicans’ tenuous majority in Washington, serving as yet another example of GOP interference with Democratic strength in major urban centers. The redistricting maneuvering from last year has scrambled Democratic seats in Houston, Dallas, and Austin, leading Green, a prominent figure in Houston politics, to jump into the race for the newly gerrymandered 18th seat after his own district was significantly altered.
In a further illustration of how redistricting has convoluted the campaigns, Menefee and Edwards find themselves running in Saturday’s runoff under different district lines than those that will be in effect for the March primary. This anomaly forces both candidates to mount simultaneous campaigns targeting overlapping yet distinct sets of voters. Early voting for the March primary is set to kick off in just two weeks.
“This is a microcosm of forced redistricting,” noted Odus Evbagharu, an aide to Menefee. “It’s something that got forced down our throats, and now we just have to live with that.”
As the runoff approaches, candidates have been traversing both the old and new 18th districts, an area in central Houston with a significant Black population. Notably, about a quarter of the constituents in the current district will remain in the new configuration.
During a candidate forum held at a local Catholic church on Thursday evening, Green, Menefee, Edwards, and a lesser-known newcomer, Gretchen Brown, quickly laid out their biographies and what they could bring to Washington. For Green, this wasn’t merely an introduction; it was a reminder of his longstanding representation over the past two decades. A considerable portion of his new constituents were moved over from his previous district.
“It is important for people to understand that I’m not moving into a new congressional district,” Green asserted while grasping his signature gold-capped cane. “I am not. The congressional district moved to me.”
As Democrats rally to counter Republican influence, voters are presented with a significant choice: support a trusted veteran who can deftly navigate the complexities of Washington or take a chance on a younger representative who embodies the party’s future. This urgent debate is reflective of broader conversations within the Democratic Party as they strategize for reclaiming power, a theme playing out in primaries across the nation. Notably, other prominent Democrats facing similar generational shifts, including Reps. Nancy Pelosi of California and Steny Hoyer of Maryland, have opted not to seek re-election.
“Al Green has a great name,” commented Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who has endorsed Menefee in the runoff but remains neutral regarding the primary. “But then again, whoever wins [the runoff] will gain a boost in celebrity status.”
Menefee has made history as the youngest elected Harris County attorney and the first Black individual to hold the position, gaining recognition for his confrontations with Abbott, including legal battles against the governor’s mask mandate ban and challenges to his calls for auditing local elections. This marks Menefee’s inaugural foray into public office following a surprising campaign that unseated a three-term incumbent in 2020.
Menefee—who is making waves with ads that capitalize on 90s millennial nostalgia—has garnered endorsements from groups like Leaders We Deserve and Houston Black American Democrats, as well as over a dozen labor organizations and notable figures such as Rep. Jasmine Crockett and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke.
On the other hand, Edwards commands widespread support from women and has a rich background as an attorney and an at-large member of the city council. She has received endorsements from past opponents, including state representative Jolanda Jones, who has been a vocal critic of Menefee, particularly regarding his decision to continue collecting salary while campaigning.
Edwards has become a recognizable face on campaign materials, having previously run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2020, Houston mayor in 2023, and U.S. House in 2024. Her political journey began as a congressional aide for Lee shortly after graduating from college.
Both Menefee and Edwards reject the notion that the primary is merely a referendum on age, framing it instead as a reflection of voters’ desire for sweeping change in Congress.
“What I think people want is something new,” Menefee stated in a recent interview. “They want fresh strategic thinkers who will come in with a plan to oppose the president.”
Edwards echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of continuity. A victory for Green would mean that some constituents could have been represented by four different lawmakers in just three years. “They want to pass that torch forward, and this is an opportunity to do that,” she said. “It’s not about age; it’s about succession.”
In an interview, Green expressed confidence that voters will favor him if they prioritize experience and accomplishments, highlighting his leadership roles on the Homeland Security and Oversight committees, along with significant funding he has directed toward his district and his recommendations of three judges confirmed during the Obama administration.
“I bring to the table what people have traditionally sought after when making a decision,” he remarked. “So we’ll find out whether tradition continues or whether we’ll have a different circumstance.”
