Democrat Wins Special House Election in Texas, Further Shrinking Slim GOP Majority

Democrat Christian Menefee won a special House election runoff in Texas Saturday night, further narrowing the already slim Republican majority in the chamber.

Menefee, the former Harris County attorney, beat Democratic former Houston city councilmember Amanda Edward with 68 percent of the vote, filling the seat left empty since Rep. Sylvester Turner’s death in March.

“The results here tonight are a mandate for me to work as hard as I can to oppose your agenda, to fight back against where you’re taking this country and to investigate your crimes,” Menefee said before the crowd at his victory party.

Menefee takes the reins of a district that has lacked consistent representation for nearly two years. The late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee represented the district for almost 30 years, until her death in July 2024 triggered a special election filled by Turner.

Turner only held the seat for two months before he died in March, following a yearslong battle with bone cancer. Following his death, NOTUS reported that his campaign committee spent thousands of dollars in campaign funds on expenses related to Turner’s funeral — which campaign finance experts said is a possible misuse of the money under current law.

Turner’s seat has remained empty since his death.

In a post congratulating Menefee, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Texas’ 18th congressional district “has sent legends to Congress.”

“House Democrats are now proud to welcome such a talented young public servant to join us,” Jeffries posted.

Menefee’s swearing in would solidify a 218 to 214 majority for Republicans. The majority party’s margin has dwindled since President Donald Trump took office following the resignations of Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mark Green, the death of Rep. Doug LaMalfa and the departure of Rep. Mike Waltz, who became Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations.

Democrats have also suffered their own losses throughout the last year, navigating the deaths of Reps. Raul Grijalva and Gerry Connolly. While Connolly’s successor, his former chief of staff, was sworn in without delay, Grijalva’s daughter, Adelita Grijalva, had her swearing-in postponed for seven weeks at the direction of House Speaker Mike Johnson.

In a separate X post, Jeffries said Menefee is a “young public servant” and called on his swearing in as soon as possible, seemingly referencing the drama surrounding Adelita Grijalva’s swearing-in ceremmony.

“Republicans must swear him in immediately,” he posted. “No more games.”

Fellow Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat, said in a post to X that Menefee would be joining her on Capitol Hill on Monday “so Speaker Johnson can conduct his swearing-in expeditiously.”