Christian Menefee
Christian Menefee (Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing Texas' 18th Congressional District. He assumed office on February 2, 2026. His current term ends on January 3, 2027.
Menefee (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent Texas' 18th Congressional District. He is on the ballot in the Democratic primary on March 3, 2026.[source]
Biography
Christian Menefee was born in Petaluma, California. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2010 and a law degree from Washington University, St. Louis School of Law in 2013. His career experience includes working as a public servant.[1][2]
2026 battleground elections
January 31 special election runoff
Ballotpedia identified the January 31, 2026 runoff election as a battleground election. The summary below is from our coverage of this election, found here.
Christian Menefee (D) defeated Amanda Edwards (D) in the runoff general election for Texas' 18th Congressional District on January 31, 2026.
Menefee and Edwards advanced to the runoff after no candidate received an outright majority in the special election on November 4, 2025. In that election, Menefee received 28.9% of the vote, and Edwards received 25.6%. Candidates from all parties ran in the November 4 election.
This election determined who would serve the remainder of former Rep. Sylvester Turner's (D) term through January 2027. Turner died on March 5, 2025.[3]
Former Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D) represented the district from 1995 until she died in July 2024.[4] On November 5, 2024, Erica Lee Carter (D) won the special election to fill the vacancy, and Sylvester Turner (D) won the general election. Carter represented the district from November 12, 2024, to January 3, 2025, when Turner assumed office.
Menefee was elected Harris County Attorney in 2020. Menefee's campaign website said that he "has been engaged in the national legal fight against Trump—challenging his administration’s efforts to cut funding for life-saving medical research and deny birthright citizenship to immigrant families" and that he was running because "Trump and his allies are making life harder for everyday Americans—rolling back voting rights, attacking reproductive freedom, and rigging the economy for billionaires."[5] Former U.S. Rep. Erica Lee Carter (D), U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), U.S. Rep. Lizzie Pannill Fletcher (D-Texas), former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas), and former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) endorsed Menefee.[6]
Edwards was, at the time of the election, an attorney, nonprofit founder, and former intern for Jackson Lee.[7] Edwards was elected at large to the Houston City Council in 2015 and was a member of the council from 2016 to 2020. Edwards' campaign website said she was "laser-focused on delivering transformative results for the community, from lowering the price of groceries, building better schools, roads, and homes, protecting our healthcare and social security, and standing up to the Trump administration."[8] U.S. Reps. Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.) and Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.) endorsed Edwards.[9]
Here's where the candidates' fundraising totals stood through January 30, 2026:
- Menefee raised $2.2 million and spent $1.8 million.
- Edwards raised $1.7 million and spent $1.5 million.
In August 2025, the Texas Legislature voted to redraw the boundaries of all 38 of the state's congressional districts. Governor Greg Abbott (R) signed the new map into law on August 29, 2025. This election took place within the boundaries of the old district. On December 4, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Texas could use the redrawn map in the 2026 elections. Click here to learn more about redistricting in Texas ahead of the 2026 elections.
Menefee completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Click here to read his responses.
March 3 Democratic primary
Ballotpedia identified the March 3 Democratic primary for Texas' 18th Congressional District as a battleground election. The summary below is from our coverage of this election, found here.
Incumbent Al Green (D), incumbent Christian Menefee (D), and Gretchen Brown (D) are running in the Democratic primary for Texas' 18th Congressional District on March 3, 2026. As of February 2026, Green and Menefee led in local media attention.[10] Amanda Edwards (D) suspended her campaign on February 9, 2026, though her name will still appear on the ballot.[11]
The primary is taking place in the context of redistricting in Texas ahead of the 2026 elections. Green was elected to represent the 9th District in 2024 and is running for re-election in the 18th District after redistricting shifted the 9th District towards Republicans and moved Green's home address into the 18th District. Sylvester Turner (D) was elected to represent the 18th District in 2024. Turner died in March 2025. Menefee defeated Edwards in the January 31 special runoff election for the remainder of Turner's term. The runoff took place in the 2024 version of the 18th District.
Green was first elected to the House in 2004. Green worked as an attorney in private practice and served as president of the Houston branch of the NAACP.[12] Green is running on his record: "You know that I will stand up to Donald Trump because you saw me do it...You know that I will fight for your health care because you’ve seen me do it. You know that I believe in raising the minimum wage to $25 an hour, because you’ve heard me say it."[10]
Menefee is a litigator and was elected the Harris County Attorney in 2020, when he defeated incumbent Vince Ryan (D). Menefee says he is running "because working people deserve a government that has their back...Christian has spent his career fighting back against bullies, and he’s ready to do it in Washington."[13]
If no candidate wins 50% or more of the vote, the top two finishers will advance to a May 26 runoff. As of January 2026, major election forecasters rated the general election Solid/Safe Democratic.
According to an Inside Elections analysis of Texas' redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections, the 2024 version of the 9th District—where Green was elected—had a partisan baseline of D+48 and the 2024 version of the 18th District had a partisan baseline of D+39. The partisan baseline of the 2026 version of the 18th District is D+61.[14]
Elections
2026
See also: Texas' 18th Congressional District election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on March 3, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 18
Incumbent Al Green (D), incumbent Christian Menefee (D), Gretchen Brown (D), and Amanda Edwards (D) (Withdrew, still on ballot) are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 18 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Al Green | |
 | Christian Menefee | |
 | Gretchen Brown  | |
 | Amanda Edwards (Withdrew, still on ballot) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Sylvester Turner (D)
Republican primary
Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 18
Elizabeth Vences (R) and Ronald Whitfield (R) are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 18 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Elizabeth Vences | |
| Ronald Whitfield | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Allen Berry (R)
- Cyrus Sajna (R)
Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
We provide results for polls that are included in polling aggregation from RealClearPolitics, when available. We will regularly check for polling aggregation for this race and add polls here once available. To notify us of polls available for this race, please email us.
Election campaign finance
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Green | Democratic Party | $728,813 | $420,335 | $527,563 | As of December 31, 2025 |
| Christian Menefee | Democratic Party | $2,225,235 | $1,836,496 | $388,740 | As of January 11, 2026 |
| Gretchen Brown | Democratic Party | $11,938 | $1,400 | $10,538 | As of December 31, 2025 |
| Amanda Edwards | Democratic Party | $1,740,159 | $1,460,807 | $280,566 | As of January 11, 2026 |
|
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
|||||
Satellite spending
- See also: Satellite spending
Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[15][16][17]
If available, this section includes links to online resources tracking satellite spending in this election. To notify us of a resource to add, email us.
| By candidate | By election |
|---|---|
Endorsements
Menefee received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
2025
See also: Texas' 18th Congressional District special election, 2025
General runoff election
Special general runoff election for U.S. House Texas District 18
Christian Menefee defeated Amanda Edwards in the special general runoff election for U.S. House Texas District 18 on January 31, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Christian Menefee (D) | 67.5 | 11,630 |
| Amanda Edwards (D) | 32.5 | 5,602 | |
| Total votes: 17,232 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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General election
Special general election for U.S. House Texas District 18
The following candidates ran in the special general election for U.S. House Texas District 18 on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Christian Menefee (D) | 28.9 | 22,022 |
| ✔ | | Amanda Edwards (D) | 25.6 | 19,467 |
 | Jolanda Jones (D) | 19.1 | 14,549 | |
 | Carmen Montiel (R) | 6.7 | 5,110 | |
 | Isaiah Martin (D) | 5.7 | 4,337 | |
| Ollie Knox (R) | 4.1 | 3,131 | ||
 | Stephen Huey (D) | 1.9 | 1,415 | |
| Ronald Whitfield (R) | 1.5 | 1,175 | ||
 | Carter Page (R) | 1.2 | 943 | |
 | Theodis Daniel (R) | 1.2 | 937 | |
 | Valencia Williams (D) | 1.2 | 915 | |
| George Foreman (Independent) | 1.1 | 828 | ||
| Feldon Bonner II (D) | 0.7 | 555 | ||
 | Vince Duncan (Independent) | 0.5 | 407 | |
| Reyna Anderson (Independent) | 0.3 | 263 | ||
| Tammie Rochester (G) | 0.2 | 135 | ||
| Total votes: 76,189 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Lizette Prestwich (D)
- Jarvis Johnson (D)
- Derrell Turner (Independent)
- Khris Beal (Independent)
- James Joseph (D)
- Zoe Cadore (D)
- Kivan Polimis (D)
- Chance Davis (Independent)
- Corisha Rogers (D)
- Selena Samuel (D)
- Robert Slater (D)
- Ebony Eatmon (D)
- Peter Filler (D)
- T.J. Baker (D)
- Tejas Tuppera (Independent)
- Laverne Crump (D)
- Barry Dewayne Marchant (D)
Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
We provide results for polls from a wide variety of sources, including media outlets, social media, campaigns, and aggregation websites, when available. No polls were available for this election. To notify us of polls published in this election, please email us.
Election campaign finance
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amanda Edwards | Democratic Party | $1,266,234 | $935,650 | $331,799 | As of October 15, 2025 |
| Christian Menefee | Democratic Party | $1,539,610 | $1,146,989 | $392,621 | As of October 15, 2025 |
|
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2025. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
|||||
Satellite spending
- See also: Satellite spending
Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[15][16][18]
If available, this section includes links to online resources tracking satellite spending in this election. To notify us of a resource to add, email us.
| By candidate | By election |
|---|---|
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2024
See also: Municipal elections in Harris County, Texas (2024)
General election
General election for Harris County Attorney
Incumbent Christian Menefee defeated Jacqueline Lucci Smith in the general election for Harris County Attorney on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Christian Menefee (D) | 50.6 | 739,048 |
| Jacqueline Lucci Smith (R) | 49.4 | 722,031 | ||
| Total votes: 1,461,079 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Harris County Attorney
Incumbent Christian Menefee defeated Umeka Lewis in the Democratic primary for Harris County Attorney on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Christian Menefee | 70.0 | 108,207 |
| Umeka Lewis | 30.0 | 46,282 | ||
| Total votes: 154,489 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Harris County Attorney
Jacqueline Lucci Smith advanced from the Republican primary for Harris County Attorney on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jacqueline Lucci Smith | 100.0 | 142,237 | |
| Total votes: 142,237 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Menefee in this election.
2020
See also: Municipal elections in Harris County, Texas (2020)
General election
General election for Harris County Attorney
Christian Menefee defeated John Nation in the general election for Harris County Attorney on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Christian Menefee (D) | 54.7 | 848,451 |
| John Nation (R) | 45.3 | 703,771 | ||
| Total votes: 1,552,222 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Harris County Attorney
Christian Menefee defeated incumbent Vince Ryan and Ben Rose in the Democratic primary for Harris County Attorney on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Christian Menefee | 50.4 | 125,971 |
| Vince Ryan | 25.1 | 62,630 | ||
 | Ben Rose | 24.5 | 61,103 | |
| Total votes: 249,704 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Harris County Attorney
John Nation advanced from the Republican primary for Harris County Attorney on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | John Nation | 100.0 | 152,793 | |
| Total votes: 152,793 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Campaign themes
2026
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Campaign website
Menefee's campaign website stated the following:
Affordability and the American Dream
There was a time in this country when working 40 hours a week meant you could buy a home, raise a family, and retire with dignity. But now, even folks working 60 hours a week are barely scraping by. Over the past few decades, the cost of just about everything has gone up: housing, healthcare, childcare, and college. At the same time, wages for everyday people have barely moved. Meanwhile, billionaires and corporate CEOs have seen their wealth explode. The ultra-wealthy are getting richer, and everyone else is being asked to settle for less.
Christian believes Congress has a responsibility to rebuild the American Dream for working families. He’ll fight to:
- Raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour
- Make it easier to build homes that the average person can afford
- Provide down payment help for first-time homebuyers
- Expand tax credits for parents and caregivers
- Invest in career pipelines that lead to good-paying jobs without requiring a college degree
- Wipe medical debt off credit reports
- Eliminate student loan debt and make public and community college free for all
- And pass Medicare for All so everyone can see a doctor when they need one
He’ll also work to fix the tax code so that billionaires and large corporations pay their fair share, and we can finally afford a country that works for everyone, not just the people at the top.
Guaranteeing Access to Healthcare Through Medicare for All
Healthcare is not a privilege – it’s a basic human right. No one should be denied care because of their income or insurance status. When Christian’s brother received life-saving cancer treatment at MD Anderson – covered by TRICARE because of their parents’ military service – Christian saw firsthand how government-sponsored healthcare can work.
In Congress, he will fight to guarantee access to care by expanding Medicare, strengthening Medicaid, and ensuring coverage includes dental, vision, and hearing. He will work to address the maternal mortality crisis impacting Black women and stop efforts by Trump and his allies to gut the programs families rely on. And he will fight for Medicare for All. Everyone deserves care when they need it – no exceptions.
Protecting and Strengthening Public Education
Every child deserves a great public education—but politicians are starving our schools of funding and turning classrooms into battlegrounds. Teachers are underpaid, buildings are crumbling, and the cost of college keeps rising, pushing too many students into lifelong debt. Christian believes our schools should be a national priority—not a political pawn.
In Congress, he’ll fight to fully fund public education, raise teacher pay, and expand Pell Grants so every student can afford college or career training. He’ll champion universal pre-K, invest in high-need schools, and oppose Trump’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education. From preschool to higher education, Christian will ensure every student has a real opportunity to succeed.
Protecting Abortion Rights & Reproductive Healthcare
Texas politicians have stripped away women’s rights, making it harder to access reproductive healthcare. The right to abortion, birth control, and fertility treatments shouldn’t depend on where you live—it should be protected under federal law. In Congress, Christian will fight to restore abortion rights, defend contraception and IVF, and block a national abortion ban. As Harris County Attorney, he took on MAGA Republicans who tried to restrict abortion access, and he’ll bring that same fight to Washington. With Trump and his allies attacking reproductive rights, Christian will stand with Texas women to protect their healthcare decisions.
Defending Our Democracy
Every American deserves a voice in our democracy, but Republican leaders are working to silence voters and rig the system for themselves. When Texas passed voter suppression laws and came after Harris County’s elections office, Christian sued Governor Greg Abbott and fought back in court.
In Congress, he’ll fight to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act to protect every voter. He’ll push for automatic and same-day registration, tougher campaign finance laws, and an end to gerrymandering that locks communities out of power. Democracy only works if it works for everyone—and Christian will fight to make sure every vote counts.
Reinvesting in Our Neighborhoods
Too many communities in TX-18 are marked by vacant lots, crumbling infrastructure, and a lack of basic necessities like grocery stores. These conditions aren’t just inconvenient—they’re the result of decades of disinvestment that have made neighborhoods less safe and healthy. In Congress, Christian will fight for federal funding to revitalize neglected neighborhoods, attract grocery stores and small businesses, generate good local jobs, encourage home building and rehabilitation, and bring essential services back into walking distance. He’ll work with local leaders to secure grants, pressure state officials to release funds, and ensure every part of the district gets the investment it deserves. Every community—no matter the zip code—should be a place where families can thrive.
Fighting for Clean Air & Water
No one should worry that the air they breathe, the water they drink, or the land around them is making them sick. But in too many Black and Brown neighborhoods, industrial plants, illegal dumpers, and landfills are allowed to pollute with impunity—often in plain sight. As Harris County Attorney, Christian filed lawsuits against polluters and the government entities that enabled them, standing up for communities long targeted by environmental injustice. In Congress, he’ll fight for tougher environmental protections, hold bad actors accountable, and push for federal funds to clean up contaminated sites. He’ll also work to stop Trump’s efforts to dismantle the EPA and defend progress made through the Inflation Reduction Act. Every community deserves a clean, healthy place to call home—no matter their zip code.
Fighting for Equality
Everyone deserves to live with dignity and be treated equally under the law—no matter who they are or who they love. As Harris County Attorney, Christian has been a visible ally to the LGBTQ+ community, publicly opposing state efforts to target families and submitting formal objections when the Trump administration tried to roll back protections. In Congress, he’ll fight to pass strong federal protections so LGBTQ+ Americans are treated fairly in jobs, housing, healthcare, education, and more. He’ll work to defend the progress made under the Biden administration and push back against attempts to take us backward. Christian believes equality is not optional—it’s a core American value, and he’ll never stop fighting to make it real.
Innovation and Emerging Technology
America has always led the world in innovation. Technologies like blockchain offer the potential to increase trust, transparency, and efficiency—from finance to supply chains. Artificial intelligence is transforming how we work, learn, and access services. But with that promise comes responsibility.
We need clear rules of the road that protect consumers, support innovation, and ensure these tools are used ethically—to strengthen our economy, not exploit it, and to protect workers, not replace them.
As Harris County Attorney, Christian went after scammers who targeted underserved communities and led efforts to modernize government services with online payments and easier access to public records. In Congress, he’ll bring that same approach—championing innovation that uplifts working families, improves everyday life, and builds a more equitable future.
Standing Up for Workers
Christian believes that every worker deserves fair pay, a safe workplace, and the freedom to organize. As Harris County Attorney, he championed policies to protect workers—requiring OSHA safety training for county contractors, supporting apprenticeship programs, and pushing for a livable wage. In Congress, he’ll fight to expand paid family leave, raise the minimum wage, and ensure workers have access to training programs that open doors to better opportunities. Christian knows that strong unions build strong communities, and he’ll always stand up for the people who power our economy.
Expanding Pathways to Good Jobs
Every young person deserves a real shot at a good-paying career—whether or not they go to college. In Houston, we have the jobs and we have the talent, but too many students are missing out on opportunities to become electricians, pipefitters, and other skilled trades. We’re nearing a dangerous shortage of workers in these fields, and it’s holding families and our economy back. Christian believes Congress needs to invest in career and technical education, apprenticeships, and industry certifications—so students can build strong futures doing work that matters. He’ll fight to connect more young people to training programs, expand dual-credit and certification access, and make sure no one is forced into debt just to make a decent living.
Ending Gun Violence and Saving Lives
Gun violence is a national emergency—tearing apart families and communities across Houston. Christian knows the pain personally and believes every person deserves to feel safe at school, church, or home. As Harris County Attorney, he stood with survivors, joined legal fights, and called out Republican leaders who blocked basic reforms. In Congress, Christian will fight to ban assault weapons, close background check loopholes, and limit high-capacity magazines. He also supports restarting the federal Office of Gun Violence Prevention and banning bump stocks.
Fixing Our Broken Immigration System
America is a nation of immigrants—but our immigration system is broken. Christian believes we must fix it with compassion and common sense. That means protecting families, ending cruel policies like family separation, and creating a path to citizenship.
In Congress, he’ll support protections for Dreamers through DACA, keep families together through fair visa and refugee policies, and ensure those fleeing violence and disasters are treated with dignity. He’ll also fight to increase funding for processing asylum applications so the system works faster and more fairly. Our immigration system should reflect our values—safe, humane, and rooted in respect for every person.
Protecting Our Veterans
As the son of two veterans, Christian Menefee has seen firsthand the sacrifice it takes to serve our country—and he believes we must honor that sacrifice when veterans return home.
In Congress, he’ll fight for reliable healthcare funding, increased mental health services, job training, housing support, and real accountability at the VA. He’ll support legislation to protect veterans from fraud, ease student loan debt for caregivers, and ensure veterans can access care whether at VA centers or private facilities. Serving our veterans is more than a promise—it’s a responsibility.
Criminal Justice Reform
The criminal justice system is failing too many families—over-incarcerating communities of color while doing little to make people safer. Too many are locked up for nonviolent offenses, which costs taxpayers billions every year. These people struggle to rebuild their lives and are denied opportunities by a broken system. Real public safety means investing in mental health care, substance abuse treatment, and protections for survivors of domestic violence—not just tougher sentences. In Congress, Christian will fight to end for-profit prisons and expand job training and reentry programs. The system should be about justice, not punishment—and Christian will fight to make it fair for everyone.
— Christian Menefee's campaign website (January 21, 2026)
Campaign ads
View more ads here:
2025
Video for Ballotpedia
| Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released March 17, 2025 |
Christian Menefee completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Menefee's responses.
| Collapse all
- Protecting Our Democracy The right to vote is the foundation for every other freedom—and MAGA Republicans are trying to take it away. In Texas, I sued to stop them from canceling ballots and won. I also sued Donald Trump to stop massive federal layoffs that would have weakened Social Security and other services families rely on. In Congress, I’ll keep fighting back—defending voting rights, standing up to power, and protecting the programs that working people count on.
- Lowering Costs and Reinvesting in Our Neighborhoods Life costs too much, and families in TX-18 feel it every day. Housing, childcare, and healthcare are out of reach for too many—and entire neighborhoods are still waiting on basics like grocery stores and decent infrastructure. In Congress, I’ll fight to lower everyday costs and bring investment to every part of our district. That means funding neighborhood clinics and early childhood education, creating workforce training programs, and helping more people get good-paying jobs—whether or not they go to college. That also means protecting Medicaid, food assistance, and other essential benefits that are critical to working families throughout our community.
- Fighting for Reproductive Healthcare Decisions about birth control, abortion, and IVF should be made by families—not politicians. I’ve fought back in court against Texas’s extreme abortion bans and defended access to reproductive healthcare in other court cases around the country. I’ve made clear that reproductive care is healthcare—plain and simple. In Congress, I’ll keep up that fight: restoring the right to choose, protecting access to contraception and fertility treatments, and stopping national bans pushed by MAGA Republicans.
As County Attorney for Harris County, Texas, I stood up in court to stop voter suppression and protect elections, beating back efforts to cancel ballots and dismantle local election offices. In Congress, I’ll do the same: fighting to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the Freedom to Vote Act, and other laws to ensure our democracy works for everyone.
As Harris County Attorney, I’ve done just that. I’ve taken President Trump to court when he tried to gut federal services like Social Security. I’ve challenged Texas MAGA officials when they passed laws to suppress the vote. And I’ve held scammers and corporations accountable when they preyed on vulnerable residents. In Congress, I’ll bring that same approach—principled, tough, and focused on getting results for the people I serve.
Not long after, I landed a job bagging groceries and pushing carts at a local store. I often worked the late shift on weekends—4:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.—even during high school. I stayed with that job for nearly five years, moving up to cashier, then business center attendant, and eventually a college intern in their management program. After graduating college and getting into law school, I went back for one last summer—still checking and bagging groceries and saving up before leaving.
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Campaign ads
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2024
Christian Menefee did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Christian Menefee completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Menefee's responses.
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Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
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Notable endorsements
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See also
2026 Elections
External links
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Candidate U.S. House Texas District 18 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 22, 2025
- ↑ ’’Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 9, 2020’’
- ↑ Houston Chronicle, "Houston Chronicle, "Sylvester Turner, former Houston mayor, dies at 69," March 5, 2025
- ↑ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "JACKSON LEE, Sheila," accessed October 25, 2025
- ↑ Christian Menefee 2025 campaign finance, "About," accessed October 9, 2025
- ↑ Christian Menefee 2025 campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed October 10, 2025
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Amanda Edwards," accessed October 8, 2025
- ↑ Amanda Edwards 2025 campaign website, "Home," accessed October 9, 2025
- ↑ Amanda Edwards 2025 campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed October 10, 2025
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Houston Public Media, "Longtime Houston Rep. Al Green switching to 18th Congressional District in run for reelection." November 7, 2025
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Amanda Edwards drops out of Houston race for 18th Congressional District," February 9, 2026
- ↑ Al Green campaign website, "Meet Al Green," accessed January 14, 2026
- ↑ Christian Menefee campaign website, "About," accessed January 14, 2026
- ↑ Inside Elections, "A Detailed Analysis of Texas’ New Congressional Map," August 27, 2025
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed December 12, 2021
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed December 12, 2021
- ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," December 12, 2021
- ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," December 12, 2021
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sylvester Turner (D) |
U.S. House Texas District 18 2026-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by Vince Ryan (D) |
Harris County Attorney 2021-2025 |
Succeeded by Jonathan Fombonne (D) |
