Houston voters to fill vacant congressional seat in special runoff

Texas' 18th District race highlights shifting political landscape ahead of midterms

Jan. 30, 2026 at 9:07am

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Houston voters will finally fill a vacant U.S. House seat in a special runoff election on Saturday, while voters in the Fort Worth area will elect a new state senator. The 18th Congressional District race is a Democratic stronghold that is set to be redrawn ahead of the November midterm elections, making the outcome of the special runoff only a temporary fix.

Why it matters

The special runoff election in Texas' 18th Congressional District will provide a glimpse into the shifting political landscape in the state ahead of the November midterm elections, as the district's boundaries are redrawn to be more favorable to Republicans. The winner will only briefly represent the area, but the race could offer clues about voter sentiment and turnout trends.

The details

Democrats Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards were the top vote-getters in the November special election to replace the late Democratic Congressman Sylvester Turner. No one received a majority, forcing a runoff. With only two Democrats on the ballot, the party is guaranteed to at least temporarily narrow the slim Republican majority in the House. Menefee edged Edwards in the November vote, 29% to 26%, and has the backing of former Rep. Erica Lee Carter, the daughter of the district's longtime former congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. As of January 11, Menefee had spent about $1.8 million on his campaign, compared to $1.5 million for Edwards.

  • The special runoff election will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2026.
  • The winner will only briefly represent the area, as Texas is using different district lines for the November 2026 midterm elections.

The players

Christian Menefee

A Democratic candidate in the special runoff election for Texas' 18th Congressional District.

Amanda Edwards

A Democratic candidate in the special runoff election for Texas' 18th Congressional District.

Sylvester Turner

The late Democratic congressman who previously represented the 18th District and died two months into his term in March 2025.

Erica Lee Carter

The daughter of Sheila Jackson Lee, the longtime former Democratic congresswoman who represented the 18th District, and a brief occupant of the seat in 2024 before Turner took office.

Sheila Jackson Lee

The longtime former Democratic congresswoman who represented the 18th District before her death in July 2024.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

The special runoff election in Texas' 18th Congressional District will provide a glimpse into the shifting political landscape in the state ahead of the November midterm elections, as the district's boundaries are redrawn to be more favorable to Republicans. The outcome of the race, while only a temporary fix, could offer clues about voter sentiment and turnout trends that could shape the larger midterm battles to come.