Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee won a special runoff election Saturday to serve the remainder of former Democratic Texas Rep. Sylvester Turner’s term.
The Associated Press projected that Menefee beat Amanda Edwards, an attorney and former member of the Houston City Council, after a protracted process to fill the central Houston seat after Turner’s death in March 2025.
The process was drawn out by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s refusal to quickly schedule a special election following Turner’s death and a crowded field that triggered a runoff following the first round of voting in November.
But the contest between the pair of Democrats will continue: Both Menefee, 37, and Edwards, 44, are participating in the March primary for a newly refashioned 18th District, going up against Rep. Al Green, 78. The winner will be heavily favored to win a full two-year term in November.
