2025 Texas's 18th congressional district special election
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A special election to determine the member of the United States House of Representatives for Texas's 18th congressional district will be held on November 4, 2025. The seat became vacant following the death of Democrat Sylvester Turner on March 5, 2025. It is considered a safely Democratic district. This will be the second special election to this seat in almost one year, the first being held in November 2024.
Background
Incumbent Sylvester Turner died in office on March 5, 2025, from "health complications", according to a statement released by his family.[1][2] Turner was elected in 2024 to Congress after serving as a two-term mayor of Houston.[2] District 18 is a deeply blue urban district, with Turner winning the district with 69.4% of the vote.[3] More than a month later, Governor Greg Abbott called for the special election to take place on November 4.[4] Texas has no legal deadline for when special elections must take place, and many Democrats criticized Abbott, alleging he intentionally delayed the election to aid congressional Republicans, who hold a narrow majority in the House of Representatives.[5][6] This special election will be conducted with a nonpartisan primary with all candidates on the ballot followed by a runoff held on a later date if no candidate receives a majority of the vote.
Candidates
Democratic Party
Declared
- Zoe Cadore, director of federal and regulatory affairs for Calpine[7]
- Ebony Rain Eatmon, community advocate[8]
- Amanda Edwards, former at-large Houston city councilor (2016–2020), candidate for this district in the 2024 special and regular elections, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020[9]
- Jolanda Jones, state representative from the 147th district (2022–present)[10]
- James Joseph, former director of civic engagement and community outreach for state senator Borris Miles[11]
- Isaiah Martin, government contract consultant and candidate for this district in 2024[12]
- Christian Menefee, outgoing Harris County Attorney (2021–present)[a][13]
- Robert Slater, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Texas Chapter and candidate for this district in 2024[14]
Filed paperwork
- TJ Baker[15]
- Earnest Clayton[16]
- Laverne Crump[17]
- Peter Filler[18]
- Stephen Huey, healthcare software engineer[19]
- Kivan Polimis, data scientist[20]
- Lizette Prestwich[21]
- Corisha Rogers[22]
- Selena Samuel, business owner[23]
Potential
- Christina Morales, state representative from the 145th district (2019–present)[24]
- Jarvis Johnson, former state representative from the 139th district (2016–2025) and candidate for this district in 2010 and 2024[25]
Declined
- Erica Lee Carter, former U.S. Representative (2024–2025) (endorsed Menefee)[26]
Republican Party
Declared
Filed paperwork
- Allen Berry, adjunct professor[29]
- Carmen María Montiel, former Miss Venezuela and nominee for this district in 2022[30]
- Deshon Porter[31]
American Solidarity Party
Declared
- Reyna Anderson, former advisor to the Holy See Permanent Observer Mission to the U.N.[32]
Independents
Declared
- George Foreman IV, television personality and son of professional boxer George Foreman[33]
Filed paperwork
- Khristopher Beal[34]
- Chance Davis[35]
- Deshon Porter[36]
- Tejas Tuppera[37]
- Derrell Sherrod Turner[38]
Endorsements
Amanda Edwards (D)
- Organizations
Jolanda Jones (D)
- Organizations
Christian Menefee (D)
- U.S. Representatives
- Colin Allred, TX-32 (2019–2025)[41]
- Erica Lee Carter, TX-18 (2024–2025)[26]
- Greg Casar, TX-35 (2023–present)[42]
- Lizzie Fletcher, TX-07 (2019–present)[41]
- Maxwell Frost, FL-10 (2023–present)[42]
- Pramila Jayapal, WA-07 (2017–present)[42]
- Beto O'Rourke, TX-16 (2013–2019)[41]
- State legislators
- Alma Allen, state representative from the 131st district (2005–present)[41]
- Ana Hernandez, state representative from the 143rd district (2005–present)[41]
- Jon Rosenthal, state representative from the 135th district (2019–present)[41]
- James Talarico, state representative from the 50th district (2018–present)[41]
- Armando Walle, state representative from the 140th district (2009–present)[41]
- Royce West, former President pro tempore of the Texas Senate (2006–2007) from the 23rd district (1993–present)[41]
- County officials
- Rodney Ellis, Harris County commissioner (2017–present)[43]
- Lina Hidalgo, Harris County Judge[b] (2019–present)[44]
- Local officials
- Dwight Boykins, former Houston city councilor from district D (2014–2019)[41]
- Ronald Green, former Houston City Controller (2010–2016)[41]
- Chris Hollins, Houston City Controller (2024–present)[43]
- Organizations
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[c] |
Margin of error |
Amanda Edwards (D) |
George Foreman IV (I) |
Jolanda Jones (D) |
Isaiah Martin (D) |
Christian Menefee (D) |
Carmen Maria Montiel (R) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brilliant Corners[46][A] | July 20–23, 2025 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 18% | 6% | 11% | 3% | 10% | 12% | 4% | 36% |
| University of Houston[47] | July 9–18, 2025 | 400 (LV) | ± 4.90% | 19% | 4% | 14% | 3% | 19% | 14% | – | 27% |
See also
- 2025 United States House of Representatives elections
- List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives
- List of United States representatives from Texas
- 119th United States Congress
Notes
- ^ Under Texas's resign-to-run law, Menefee was required to resign his seat when he entered the congressional race. However, he will remain in office in an acting capacity until the Harris County Board of Commissioners appoints a replacement.[11]
- ^ County executive
- ^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
- Partisan clients
- ^ Poll sponsored by Edwards's campaign
References
- ^ Church, Abby; Warren, Peter (March 5, 2025). "Longtime Houston mayor Sylvester Turner dies at 70, months after winning U.S. House seat". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
- ^ a b Lozano, Juan A. (March 5, 2025). "US Rep. and former Houston mayor Sylvester Turner dies at 70". Associated Press. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
- ^ "2024 House Vote Tracker". Cook Political Report. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ Mueller, Julia (April 7, 2025). "Abbott sets November special election to replace Sylvester Turner in House". The Hill. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
- ^ Wallace, Jeremy (March 7, 2025). "Gov. Abbott could delay setting special election in Houston to help D.C. Republicans". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
- ^ Oppenheim, Oren; Osteen, Olivia; Peller, Lauren (April 8, 2025). "Texas governor under fire after pushing special election to November". ABC News. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ Nir, David; Singer, Jeff (April 24, 2025). "Morning Digest: Dick Durbin announces retirement after four decades in Congress". Retrieved April 24, 2025.
- ^ Towery, April (April 17, 2025). "Acres Homes Community Advocate Launches Bid for Congressional District 18". Houston Press. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ Church, Abby (March 19, 2025). "Former Houston council member Amanda Edwards announces bid to replace Sylvester Turner in Congress". Houston Chronicle.
- ^ Guo, Kayla (June 5, 2025). "Texas Rep. Jolanda Jones announces bid to succeed Sylvester Turner in Congress". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ^ a b Church, Abby (March 17, 2025). "With Christian Menefee running for U.S. Congress, what happens to the Harris County attorney seat?". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- ^ Kelly, Cara (March 17, 2025). "Isaiah Martin Roasts MAGA Creators on TikTok. Now He's Running for Congress". The Barbed Wire. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
- ^ Church, Abby (March 15, 2025). "Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee vying for Sylvester Turner's House seat". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
- ^ Williams-Quezada, Nicole (June 5, 2025). "State Rep. Jolanda Jones to campaign for seat left vacant by congressman's death". KAMR-TV. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ^ "BAKER, MS TJ - Candidate overview". FEC.gov. April 9, 2025. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
- ^ "CLAYTON, EARNEST - Candidate overview". FEC.gov. March 23, 2025. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
- ^ "CRUMP, LAVERNE BARLETTE MS - Candidate overview". FEC.gov. March 28, 2025. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
- ^ "FILLER, PETER STEVEN - Candidate overview". FEC.gov. April 8, 2025. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
- ^ "HUEY, STEPHEN - Candidate overview". FEC.gov. June 6, 2025. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
- ^ "POLIMIS, KIVAN - Candidate overview". FEC.gov. March 19, 2025. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
- ^ "PRESTWICH, LIZETTE - Candidate overview". FEC.gov. June 9, 2025. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
- ^ "ROGERS, CORISHA - Candidate overview". FEC.gov. May 5, 2025. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
- ^ "SAMUEL, SELENA - Candidate overview". FEC.gov. March 28, 2025. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
- ^ Schneider, Andrew (June 6, 2025). "State Rep. Jolanda Jones enters race for Texas' 18th Congressional District". KUHT. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
- ^ Taylor, Brittany (March 5, 2025). "What's next for 18th Congressional District after Sylvester Turner's passing?". KPRC-TV. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
- ^ a b Bugenhagen, Faith (March 17, 2025). "Christian Menefee vies for Congress with Sheila Jackson Lee's daughter by his side". Chron.com. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
- ^ Heavey, Deirdre (August 14, 2025). "'Not a politician': Father of young cancer survivor DJ Daniel runs for Texas 18th district seat". Fox News. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
- ^ Green, Lauren (April 7, 2025). "Gov. Greg Abbott schedules Texas special election after Democrats threaten lawsuit". Washington Examiner. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
- ^ "BERRY, ALLEN D DR - Candidate overview". FEC.gov. April 17, 2025. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
- ^ "MONTIEL, CARMEN". fec.gov. April 15, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
- ^ "PORTER, DESHON - Candidate overview". FEC.gov. March 6, 2025. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
- ^ Winger, Richard (June 3, 2025). "American Solidarity Party Plans to Place Candidate on Ballot for Special U.S. House Election in Texas". Ballot Access News. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
- ^ Wallace, Jeremy (June 30, 2025). "George Foreman IV to run for Congress in Houston district". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
- ^ "BEAL, KHRISTOPHER W". fec.gov. March 6, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
- ^ "DAVIS, CHANCE". fec.gov. March 5, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
- ^ "PORTER, DESHON". fec.gov. March 6, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
- ^ "TUPPERA, TEJAS". fec.gov. March 17, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
- ^ "TURNER, DERRELL SHERROD". fec.gov. March 13, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
- ^ Nir, David; Singer, Jeff (August 11, 2025). "Morning Digest: A new poll shows Mary Peltola cruising if she runs for governor". Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ "LGBTQ+ Victory Fund Endorses Jolanda Jones & Sarah McBride for the U.S. House, 2025 State and Local Candidates". July 29, 2025. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Nir, David; Singer, Jeff (March 19, 2025). "Morning Digest, sponsored by Liftoff Campaigns: New Hampshire might finally abandon its last-in-the-nation primary". The Downballot. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Elbein, Saul (April 24, 2025). "National progressives back Houston attorney who fought GOP in court in Texas special election". The Hill. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
- ^ a b Church, Abby (March 18, 2025). "Christian Menefee endorsed by some of state's top Democrats in congressional campaign's first day". Houston Chronicle.
- ^ Church, Abby (March 20, 2025). "Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has endorsed Christian Menefee in the race to replace U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner in Congress". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- ^ "Press Statements & Endorsements". Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ Singer, Jeff (August 12, 2025). "TX-18: brilliant corners Research & Strategies (D) for Amanda Edwards (Aug. 2025)". DocumentCloud. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
- ^ "Harris County 2025: Texas Congressional District 18" (PDF). University of Houston. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
External links
- Official campaign websites
- Reyna Anderson (AS) for Congress
- T.J. Baker (D) for Congress
- Allen Berry (R) for Congress
- Zoe Cadore (D) for Congress
- Theodis Daniel (R) for Congress
- Ebony Rain Eatmon (D) for Congress
- Amanda Edwards (D) for Congress
- George Foreman IV (I) for Congress
- Stephen Huey (D) for Congress
- James Joseph (D) for Congress
- Carmen Maria Montiel (R) for Congress
- Isaiah Martin (D) for Congress
- Christian Menefee (D) for Congress
- Kivan Polimis (D) for Congress
- Selena Samuel (D) for Congress
- Cyrus Sajna (R) for Congress
- Robert Slater (D) for Congress