Menefee outraises Green in Houston's congressional runoff

Each had a little over $250,000 on hand heading into April.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 8:54pm

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A serene, photorealistic painting of a lone campaign sign on a street corner, its edges softly illuminated by warm, angled sunlight while deep shadows stretch across the pavement, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation about the political process.The competitive fundraising battle in Houston's congressional runoff reflects the high stakes and shifting political dynamics in Texas.Houston Today

U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee out-raised Rep. Al Green in the first quarter of 2026 as the two face off in the Democratic runoff for Houston's 18th Congressional District. Menefee raised roughly $1 million from Jan. 12 to March 31, while Green raised $256,000 from Jan. 1 to March 31 and loaned himself an additional $200,000.

Why it matters

The numbers show momentum for Menefee ahead of the May election as he looks to unseat Green, who's been in Congress since 2004.

The details

Menefee's top political expenditures in Q1 were for TV advertisements and fundraising efforts, while Green's were for radio and digital advertisements, per FEC data.

  • Menefee raised roughly $1 million from Jan. 12 to March 31.
  • Green raised $256,000 from Jan. 1 to March 31 and loaned himself an additional $200,000.

The players

Christian Menefee

U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee is running in the Democratic runoff for Houston's 18th Congressional District.

Al Green

Rep. Al Green has been in Congress since 2004 and is running in the Democratic runoff for Houston's 18th Congressional District.

James Talarico

Democratic candidate James Talarico hauled in more than $27 million in the first quarter of 2026 for the U.S. Senate race in Texas.

John Cornyn

Incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn is facing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a runoff.

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What they’re saying

“I am incredibly grateful to the grassroots movement powering this campaign. The people of the 18th District are ready for leaders who will fight and win, now and for the long haul.”

— Christian Menefee

The takeaway

This fundraising battle highlights the competitive nature of the Democratic runoff for Houston's 18th Congressional District, as well as the high-stakes U.S. Senate race in Texas, which is shaping up to be an expensive contest.