Texas' 18th Congressional District special runoff election set

Democrats guaranteed to narrow slim Republican House majority

Jan. 30, 2026 at 6:55pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Houston voters will finally fill the vacant 18th Congressional District seat in a special runoff election on Saturday, while voters in the Fort Worth area will elect a new state senator. The winner of the congressional race will only briefly represent the area, as Texas is using different district lines for the upcoming midterm elections in November.

Why it matters

The 18th Congressional District is a Democratic stronghold in a heavily Republican state, and the outcome of this special election could temporarily shift the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives. The new district lines drawn by the Texas legislature are expected to be more favorable to Republicans.

The details

Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards, both Democrats, were the top vote-getters in the Nov. 4 special election to replace the late Congressman Sylvester Turner. No one received a majority, so the race is headed to a runoff. Menefee edged Edwards in the initial vote, 29% to 26%, with state Rep. Jolanda Jones finishing third at 19%. Five Republican candidates collectively received about 15% of the vote.

  • The special runoff election will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
  • The winner will only briefly represent the area, as Texas is using different district lines for the midterm elections in November 2026.

The players

Christian Menefee

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

Amanda Edwards

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

Jolanda Jones

A state representative who finished third in the initial special election and has endorsed Amanda Edwards.

Erica Lee Carter

The former U.S. representative who briefly occupied the 18th District seat in 2024 and has endorsed Christian Menefee.

Sylvester Turner

The Democratic congressman who died two months into his term, leading to the special election.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This special election in Texas' 18th Congressional District highlights the ongoing battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives, as Democrats seek to narrow the slim Republican majority, even if only temporarily. The redrawn district lines for the upcoming midterm elections will likely make the seat more favorable to Republicans in the long run.