Christian Menefee, Amanda Edwards head to runoff for U.S. House seat in Texas' 18th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. race for Texas' 18th Congressional District heads to runoff

The race for U.S. representative in Texas' 18th Congressional District heads to a runoff election.

HOUSTON - The race to fill late U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner’s seat in Congress is headed to a runoff.

Democrats Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards were the top two voter-getters in Tuesday's election.

Why is the race headed to a runoff?

In order to win the election on Tuesday, a candidate would have needed to get more than 50% of the vote. Because no single candidate got more than 50% of the vote, the race will head to a runoff between the top two candidates who got the most votes.

There was no primary election to narrow down the field of candidates, so 16 names appeared on the Nov. 4 ballot.

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Why was a special election held?

U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner died on March 5, leaving his seat vacant.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called for a special election on Nov. 4 to elect the person who will finish out the term that expires in January 2027.

Who are the candidates in the runoff?

Christian Menefee

Christian Menefee addresses supporters on election night

Christian Menefee, candidate for U.S. representative for Texas' 18th Congressional District, addresses his supporters on election night.

Democrat Christian Menefee worked as a commercial litigator in Houston before becoming the youngest and first Black Harris County Attorney in 2020.

A message on his campaign site reads, "Christian is running for Congress because working people deserve a government that has their back. Trump and his allies are making life harder for everyday Americans—rolling back voting rights, attacking reproductive freedom, and rigging the economy for billionaires. Christian has spent his career fighting back against bullies, and he’s ready to do it in Washington."

Amanda Edwards

Amanda Edwards addresses supporters on election night

Amanda Edwards, candidate for U.S. representative in Texas' 18th Congressional District, addresses her supporters on Election Night.

Amanda Edwards – an attorney – has sought to represent CD-18 twice before –first in a losing head-to-head primary with Sheila Jackson Lee, and again in a very close contest with Turner decided by Democratic precinct chairs in favor of the former Mayor. She recently served as an At-Large Houston City Council Member.

In a message announcing her candidacy, she wrote, ""I am honored to announce that I am running for Congress. My commitment to this community has never wavered, and I will continue to fight for the opportunities and resources our district needs. We need the next generation of new leaders in Washington to combat Trump’s attacks on jobs, healthcare, and education. The stakes are far too important to stay on the sidelines right now. With unwavering determination, I will work every day to deliver real results for the people I serve."

FOX 26 interviews

Texas election 2025: CD-18 finalists speak on runoff race

Attorneys Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards were the top two candidates for Texas Congressional District 18. FOX 26's Greg Groogan spoke to both candidates after their runoff was confirmed.

What they're saying:

The finalists in the Tx-18 race spoke with Fox 26 Political Reporter Greg Groogan

Menefee: "Folks want fighters who don't just run their mouth but who fight and win for communities who are going to use aggressive tactics to stand up in opposition to some of the things we've soon coming out of D.C. I've done that work and I think I'm the only candidate in the race before and now in the run-off who has those receipts."

Edwards: "I want to be judged by the work that I've done, the impact that I've had. That's what we go into these public offices to do is to serve the people. I truly am a servant leader whether I have a title or not. The mission the goal has never stopped and they see that committment. They that grit. They see that person who is unwilling to take no for an answer and that is the kind of person you need in Washington, especially at a time like this."

About Texas’ 18th Congressional District

Texas’ 18th Congressional District includes much of inner-city Houston and the surrounding areas.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee represented the district for nearly three decades from 1995 until her death in July 2024.

Jackson Lee’s daughter, Erica Lee Carter, won a special election to finish out her mother’s term from November 2024 to January 2025.

Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner was elected to represent Texas' 18th Congressional District for the following term in the November 2024 election. He took office in January 2025 and passed away in March, leaving the seat vacant.

Voters are now deciding who will finish out the term that expires in January 2027.

More election results

What was on the ballot?

Texas voters headed to the polls on Nov. 4 to decide on some statewide issues and local positions.

Every voter in Texas was able to vote on 17 propositions in the Texas Constitutional Amendment Election.

Voters in several counties also had elections for positions and measures that impact their community. That might include bonds, school board trustees, city council positions or bonds impacting utility districts.

The Source: The information in this article comes from Harris County election results, candidates' campaign websites and previous FOX 26 reporting.

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