2025 Texas's 18th congressional district special election
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A special election to determine the member of the United States House of Representatives for Texas's 18th congressional district will be held on November 4, 2025. The seat became vacant following the death of Democrat Sylvester Turner on March 5, 2025. It is considered a safely Democratic district. This will be the second special election to this seat in almost one year, the first being held in November 2024.
Background
[edit]Incumbent Sylvester Turner died in office on March 5, 2025, from "health complications", according to a statement released by his family.[1][2] Turner was elected in 2024 to Congress after serving as a two-term mayor of Houston.[2] District 18 is a deeply blue urban district, with Turner winning the district with 69.4% of the vote.[3] More than a month later, Governor Greg Abbott called for the special election to take place on November 4.[4] Texas has no legal deadline for when special elections must take place, and many Democrats criticized Abbott, alleging he intentionally delayed the election to aid congressional Republicans, who hold a narrow majority in the House of Representatives.[5][6]
Candidates
[edit]Democratic Party
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Zoe Cadore, director of federal and regulatory affairs for Calpine[7]
- Rain Eatmon, community advocate[8]
- Amanda Edwards, former at-large Houston city councilor (2016–2020), candidate for this district in 2024, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020[9]
- James Joseph, former director of civic engagement and community outreach for state senator Borris Miles[10]
- Isaiah Martin, government contract consultant, former senior advisor to Sheila Jackson Lee, and candidate for this district in 2024[11]
- Christian Menefee, outgoing Harris County Attorney (2021–present)[a][12]
Filed paperwork
[edit]Publicly expressed interest
[edit]- Jolanda Jones, state representative from the 147th district (2022–present)[14]
- Letitia Plummer, at-large Houston city councilor (2020–present) and candidate for this district in 2024[15]
Potential
[edit]- Jarvis Johnson, former state representative from the 139th district (2016–2025) and candidate for this district in 2010 and 2024[16]
Declined
[edit]- Erica Lee Carter, former U.S. Representative (2024–2025) (endorsed Menefee)[17]
American Solidarity Party
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Reyna Anderson, former advisor to the Holy See Permanent Observer Mission to the U.N.[18]
Endorsements
[edit]Christian Menefee (D)
- U.S. Representatives
- Colin Allred, TX-32 (2019–2025)[14]
- Erica Lee Carter, TX-18 (2024–2025)[17]
- Greg Casar, TX-35 (2023–present)[19]
- Lizzie Fletcher, TX-07 (2019–present)[14]
- Maxwell Frost, FL-10 (2023–present)[19]
- Pramila Jayapal, WA-07 (2017–present)[19]
- Beto O'Rourke, TX-16 (2013–2019)[14]
- State legislators
- Alma Allen, state representative from the 131st district (2005–present)[14]
- Ana Hernandez, state representative from the 143rd district (2005–present)[14]
- Jon Rosenthal, state representative from the 135th district (2019–present)[14]
- James Talarico, state representative from the 50th district (2018–present)[14]
- Armando Walle, state representative from the 140th district (2009–present)[14]
- Royce West, former President pro tempore of the Texas Senate (2006–2007) from the 23rd district (1993–present)[14]
- County officials
- Rodney Ellis, Harris County commissioner (2017–present)[20]
- Lina Hidalgo, Harris County Judge[b] (2019–present)[21]
- Local officials
- Dwight Boykins, former Houston city councilor from district D (2014–2019)[14]
- Ronald Green, former Houston City Controller (2010–2016)[14]
- Chris Hollins, Houston City Controller (2024–present)[20]
- Organizations
Fundraising
[edit]| Campaign finance reports as of March 31, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Amanda Edwards (D) | $375,023 | $25,337 | $350,900 |
| Isaiah Martin (D) | $71,728 | $28,075 | $218,288 |
| Christian Menefee (D) | $391,603 | $16,815 | $374,787 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[23] | |||
See also
[edit]- 2025 United States House of Representatives elections
- List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives
- List of United States representatives from Texas
- 119th United States Congress
Notes
[edit]- ^ Under Texas's resign-to-run law, Menefee was required to resign his seat when he entered the congressional race. However, he will remain in office in an acting capacity until the Harris County Board of Commissioners appoints a replacement.[10]
- ^ County executive
References
[edit]- ^ Church, Abby; Warren, Peter (March 5, 2025). "Longtime Houston mayor Sylvester Turner dies at 70, months after winning U.S. House seat". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
- ^ a b Lozano, Juan A. (March 5, 2025). "US Rep. and former Houston mayor Sylvester Turner dies at 70". Associated Press. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
- ^ "2024 House Vote Tracker". Cook Political Report. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ Mueller, Julia (April 7, 2025). "Abbott sets November special election to replace Sylvester Turner in House". The Hill. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
- ^ Wallace, Jeremy (March 7, 2025). "Gov. Abbott could delay setting special election in Houston to help D.C. Republicans". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
- ^ Oppenheim, Oren; Osteen, Olivia; Peller, Lauren (April 8, 2025). "Texas governor under fire after pushing special election to November". ABC News. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ Nir, David; Singer, Jeff (April 24, 2025). "Morning Digest: Dick Durbin announces retirement after four decades in Congress". Retrieved April 24, 2025.
- ^ Towery, April (April 17, 2025). "Acres Homes Community Advocate Launches Bid for Congressional District 18". Houston Press. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ Church, Abby (March 19, 2025). "Former Houston council member Amanda Edwards announces bid to replace Sylvester Turner in Congress". Houston Chronicle.
- ^ a b Church, Abby (March 17, 2025). "With Christian Menefee running for U.S. Congress, what happens to the Harris County attorney seat?". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- ^ Kelly, Cara (March 17, 2025). "Isaiah Martin Roasts MAGA Creators on TikTok. Now He's Running for Congress". The Barbed Wire. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
- ^ Church, Abby (March 15, 2025). "Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee vying for Sylvester Turner's House seat". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
- ^ "FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1882434". March 25, 2025. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Nir, David; Singer, Jeff (March 19, 2025). "Morning Digest, sponsored by Liftoff Campaigns: New Hampshire might finally abandon its last-in-the-nation primary". The Downballot. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ Bugenhagen, Faith (March 19, 2025). "Battle for Texas Congressional District 18 ignites as Abbott delays election call". Chron.com. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
Houston City Council At-Large member Dr. Letitia Plummer...has not formally announced yet but told Chron that she is considering the possibility of the role.
- ^ Taylor, Brittany (March 5, 2025). "What's next for 18th Congressional District after Sylvester Turner's passing?". KPRC-TV. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
- ^ a b Bugenhagen, Faith (March 17, 2025). "Christian Menefee vies for Congress with Sheila Jackson Lee's daughter by his side". Chron.com. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
- ^ "American Solidarity Party". Facebook. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Elbein, Saul (April 24, 2025). "National progressives back Houston attorney who fought GOP in court in Texas special election". The Hill. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
- ^ a b Church, Abby (March 18, 2025). "Christian Menefee endorsed by some of state's top Democrats in congressional campaign's first day". Houston Chronicle.
- ^ Church, Abby (March 20, 2025). "Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has endorsed Christian Menefee in the race to replace U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner in Congress". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- ^ "Press Statements & Endorsements". Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ "2026 Election United States House - Texas 18th". fec.gov. Federal Election Commission. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Official campaign websites