Candidates frustrated with Gov. Greg Abbott as TX-18 election date still hasn't been set

HOUSTON - Several candidates have declared their candidacy for late Congressman Sylvester Turner's open seat, but, at this time, no date has been set for the special election to replace him.

Governor Greg Abbott must schedule the special election to replace Turner, but with every vote counting in Congress, some are accusing the governor of intentionally dragging out the process to fill a seat in the heavily Democratic 18th District.

The special election is typically held to coincide with a regularly scheduled election date.

The next regularly scheduled election is Saturday, May 3, 2025, but the deadline to put a vote for Texas' 18th District on the ballot was missed.

The next election after that will be held on November 4, 2025.

Candidates call for Abbott to schedule election

What they're saying:

Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, who is running for the seat representing Texas' 18th Congressional District, called on Gov. Abbott to put the special election on the calendar.

He held a news conference on Monday.

"It's no secret that Gov. Abbott and I don't agree on many policies. I've pushed back against him many times. But the one thing we should both be able to agree on is that all Texans deserve representation," said Menefee. "Governor Abbott is fully aware of his legal obligation to call a special election when a vacancy occurs, as he has acknowledged under both the U.S. Constitution and Texas law. In the past, he has called special elections just days after vacancies in other districts, including as few as 4 days after a vacancy in Texas's 34th District in 2022. Yet, despite the urgency of the situation in the 18th District—especially as hurricane season looms—Abbott has remained silent."

Former Houston City Council Member Amanda Edwards also posted on social media last week called for the special election.

Local perspective:

Until the election, Texas' 18th Congressional District will not have a vote in the House of Representatives.

The district's offices will continue to represent the people of TX-18 by offering constituent services.

House of Representatives

Big picture view:

Republicans currently hold 218 seats in the US House. Democrats hold 213. 

There are currently four seats that are vacant in Congress, including TX-18.

Last week, President Donald Trump announced that he was pulling Rep. Elise Stefanik’s nomination to the United Nations over concerns that it could threaten Republicans’ tight majority in the House, posting on Truth Social that it was "essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress."

The announcement shows a growing concern among some in the GOP that the majority will narrow and risk their control of the chamber.

Texas' 18th Congressional District

The backstory:

Congressman Sylvester Turner died on March 5, 2025.

Turner was elected to represent Texas' 18th Congressional District in the November 2024 election.

The district includes much of inner-city Houston and the surrounding areas.

Before Turner, the seat was held for a short time by Erica Lee Carter, the daughter of late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Lee represented the district from 1995 until July 2024, when she died of pancreatic cancer.

Abbott called the special election to fill Lee's seat about two weeks after her death.

Texas' 18th Congressional District Candidates

Several candidates have already filed FEC paperwork to run for Texas' 18th District.

Democrats:

• Christian Menefee
• Amanda Edwards
• Laverne Crump
• Earnest Clayton
• Kivan Polimis
• Robert Slater
• Selena Samuel
• Isaiah Martin
• James Joseph

Republicans:

• Deshon Porter
• Cyrus Sajna

Independents:

• Derrell Turner
• Chance Davis
• Khristopher Beal
• Tejas Tuppera

Texas PoliticsTexasGreg Abbott