February 1, 2026
The election has narrowed the majority within the GOP-controlled House of Representatives.
A Democrat has won in the Texas special election for the U.S. House, threatening the GOP majority in the congressional body.
Christian Menefee won the House Runoff for Texas’ 18th Congressional District. The former county attorney secured the months-long vacant seat after defeating another Democrat, Amanda Edwards, for the position. Edwards previously served as a Houston city councilmember.
The special election was held following the former Representative’s, Sylvester Turner, death in March. According to CNN, no one had occupied the seat for the majority of last year, further cementing a GOP majority in the House.
However, Menefee’s storied win creates a new dynamic on the House floor. Now, Speaker Mike Johnson has a smaller majority in the U.S. House, with just a soon-to-be 218 Republicans to 214 Democrats makeup upon the swearing-in of the newly-elected official. This leaves more leeway for legislation to not go the Republicans’ way, as only one vote can thwart the passing of new bills.
Despite the spark of hope for Democrats’ influence in the House, the congressional breakdown may change once again with new special elections underway. Following the resignation of Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a special election will occur in the Peach State in March. While Republicans hope to keep that seat Red, Dems will also by vying to maintain a seat previously held by a New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill. Sherill had to leave the position upon her appointment to lead her state as Governor.
The months-long vacancy of Texas’ 18th congressional district stemmed from multiple factors, including the July 2024 death of its previous leader, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee. After her successor died just two months into office, the state’s GOP leadership scrambled to secure another seat through redistricting efforts.
The redistricting measure secured the district’s blue-leaning base, but paved the way for more GOP-leaning seats. Despite opposition from a federal court on using the map for the midterms, the U.S. Supreme Court overruled the decision.
“Because of the way President Trump and Governor Abbott pushed through these new congressional maps, we’re in a rare situation where campaigning for the special election and the March primary is taking place all at once,” Menefee said to the news outlet.
While Menefee will currently represent the district, his position is not wholly solidified. Despite just winning the special election, he will have to return to the campaign trail again with the March primaries beginning in just weeks. Edwards also intends to run in the primary. The two will run in the newly-revised district maps to earn a full two-year term in 2027.
Menefee will face more opposition as well from another storied politician, Rep. Al Green. With his district absorbed into the 18th, Green has plans to seek leadership under this new domain.
In the meantime, Menefee will showcase his leadership through the end of 2026, at the very least.
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