A major election in Houston just wrapped up, but the job isn’t done yet! The special election for the city’s 18th Congressional District (CD-18) seat is officially heading to a runoff.
This election is a big deal because the person who wins will represent a huge part of Houston in the U.S. Congress, helping to make laws and bring resources back home.
Why Was There a Special Election?
This special election was necessary to fill a vacant seat in Washington, D.C. This seat previously belonged to the late U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner, who filled the seat when late U.S Rep Sheila Jackson Lee passed.
When a member of Congress leaves office suddenly—whether through retirement, resignation, or death—a special election is held to make sure the district doesn’t go too long without representation.
The CD-18 district is historically a very Democratic area, anchored in downtown Houston. The race featured a large number of candidates, but because no one managed to secure more than 50% of the vote, the top two moved on to a second round of voting: a runoff.
The Two Candidates Headed to a Runoff
Credit: Houston Chronicle via Getty Images
The special election results from November 4, 2025, showed a clear frontrunner and a close second-place finisher. These two individuals will now face each other one-on-one in the upcoming runoff election.
1. Christian Menefee
Christian Menefee, who currently serves as the Harris County Attorney, led the race with about 29% of the total votes. At 37 years old, he is seen as a prominent figure in the next generation of Houston’s Democratic leaders.
2. Amanda Edwards
Coming in a close second was Amanda Edwards, a former Houston City Councilmember, who received nearly 26% of the vote. She is also a Democrat and has experience in city government and previous campaigns.
Since both candidates who advanced are Democrats, this guarantees that the 18th Congressional District seat will remain under Democratic control once the winner is seated in Congress.
What Happens Next in the District 18 Race?
The runoff election will happen early next year. If you live in the 18th Congressional District in Houston, this next vote is the most important one!
🗳️ What is a Runoff?
Simply put, a runoff is a second election between the two candidates who got the most votes in the first round, because neither of them reached the needed majority (50% plus one vote) to win outright.
🗓️ A Short-Term Seat, Big Future Decisions
The winner of the upcoming runoff will only serve for the remainder of the current term, which ends in January 2027.
However, the real political action doesn’t stop there. The person who wins this special election runoff will immediately need to start preparing to run for the full two-year term in the 2026 primary and general elections. This means the new representative will be campaigning almost as soon as they get sworn into office!
Stay Informed and Ready to Vote!
This race has already seen a lot of movement, and the runoff will be a crucial chance for voters in the 18th Congressional District to pick their next representative. Make sure you know your polling place and the exact date of the runoff election so your voice can be heard.