Democrats compete for late Rep. Sylvester Turner's House seat in Texas

Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee and former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards face off in special election runoff

Jan. 31, 2026 at 6:23pm

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Two Democrats, Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee and former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards, are competing in a special election runoff to fill the House seat left vacant by the late Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Texas) in Texas's 18th Congressional District. Neither candidate secured a majority in the November election, leading to this runoff.

Why it matters

The race to fill this House seat in a heavily Democratic district in Houston is an important special election that will determine who represents the 18th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The details

The special election runoff between Menefee and Edwards is taking place after neither candidate won a majority in the initial November election to replace the late Rep. Sylvester Turner. Menefee currently serves as the Harris County Attorney, while Edwards is a former Houston City Council member. The winner of this runoff will fill the remainder of Turner's term in the House.

  • The special election runoff is taking place on February 1, 2026.

The players

Christian Menefee

Harris County Attorney and Democratic candidate in the special election runoff.

Amanda Edwards

Former Houston City Council member and Democratic candidate in the special election runoff.

Sylvester Turner

Late U.S. Representative whose House seat is being filled by this special election.

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The takeaway

This special election runoff in Texas's 18th Congressional District will determine who fills the remainder of the late Rep. Sylvester Turner's term in the U.S. House of Representatives, with the winner representing a heavily Democratic district in Houston.