Democrat Christian Menefee has won the special election for Texas’ 18th Congressional District, defeating fellow Democrat Amanda Edwards in the Jan. 31 runoff.
The district had been without a representative since former Rep. Sylvester Turner passed away in March 2025, leaving voters in central Houston and surrounding areas without a voice in Congress for nearly 11 months. The special election runoff was the culmination of a crowded November primary that saw Menefee and Edwards emerge as the top two candidates.
With more than two-thirds of the vote in early results, roughly 68% to Edwards’ roughly 32%, according to county returns, Menefee secured a clear mandate from voters eager to restore leadership to the district.
A former Harris County Attorney, Menefee, 37, ran on a platform centered on expanding healthcare access, reforming immigration policy and pushing back against federal policies he described as out of step with his constituents’ needs. His campaign drew on his legal background, including high-profile challenges to Texas officials over voting rights and other civil matters.
In his victory speech, Menefee called the result a message to national leaders and pledged to bring his “fighter mentality” to Congress, promising to advocate for policies that reflect the values of his district.
Menefee’s win also has implications beyond the district’s borders: it narrows the Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
With the House divided narrowly between Republicans and Democrats, Menefee’s addition shifts the balance slightly, leaving Republicans with just a two-seat margin in a chamber where every vote can be decisive on major legislation.
The 18th District, a Democratic stronghold in inner-city Houston, has a rich legacy of electing influential Black lawmakers, including Barbara Jordan and Sheila Jackson Lee.
Menefee’s victory continues that tradition while positioning him for the upcoming March Democratic primary under newly redrawn district lines. Both Menefee and Edwards, along with longtime Rep. Al Green, are set to compete in that contest as the 2026 general election cycle approaches.
