Texas Voters to Fill Empty House Seat in Special Runoff Election

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Voters in Houston will participate in a special runoff election to fill a vacant U.S. House seat that has been empty for nearly a year. Meanwhile, voters in the Fort Worth area will elect a new state senator in a separate special election.

Why it matters

These special elections are critical for ensuring that constituents in these districts have full representation at the state and federal levels. The Houston House seat has been vacant since the previous representative resigned, leaving the district without a voice in Congress.

The details

The special runoff election in Houston's 18th Congressional District will determine who will fill the seat left vacant when the previous representative resigned in early 2025. Voters will choose between the top two finishers from the initial special election held in December 2025. In the Fort Worth area, voters will elect a new state senator to represent the 12th District, which became vacant when the previous senator was appointed to a judgeship.

• The special runoff election in Houston's 18th Congressional District will take place on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
• The special election for the Texas Senate 12th District seat will also be held on Saturday, January 31, 2026.

What’s next

The winners of the special elections will be sworn in to their respective offices in the coming weeks, filling the vacant seats and restoring full representation for the affected districts.