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Texas' 18th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Democratic primary)

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Texas redrew its congressional district boundaries in August 2025. Voters will elect representatives under the new map in 2026. Click here to read more about mid-decade redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections.


← 2024
Texas' 18th Congressional District
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: December 8, 2025
Primary: March 3, 2026
Primary runoff: May 26, 2026
General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times:

7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voting in Texas

Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Democratic
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending
Inside Elections: Solid Democratic
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Democratic
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
Texas' 18th Congressional District
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Texas elections, 2026
U.S. Congress elections, 2026
U.S. Senate elections, 2026
U.S. House elections, 2026

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.[1] Amanda Edwards (D) suspended her campaign on February 9, 2026, though her name will still appear on the ballot.[2]

The primary is taking place in the context of redistricting in Texas ahead of the 2026 elections. As of February 2026, this race is projected to be one of two incumbent-versus-incumbent U.S. House elections in 2026.

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.[3] 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."[1]

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."[4]

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.[5]

Gretchen Brown (D) and Amanda Edwards (D) completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. To read those survey responses, click here.

This page focuses on Texas' 18th Congressional District Democratic primary. For more in-depth information on the district's Republican primary and the general election, see the following pages:

Candidates and election results

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 18

Incumbent Al Green, incumbent Christian Menefee, Gretchen Brown, and Amanda Edwards (Unofficially withdrew) are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 18 on March 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Al Green
Al Green
Image of Christian Menefee
Christian Menefee
Image of Gretchen Brown
Gretchen Brown Candidate Connection
Image of Amanda Edwards
Amanda Edwards (Unofficially withdrew) Candidate Connection

Incumbents are bolded and underlined.

Candidate Connection = 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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Voting information

See also: Voting in Texas

Election information in Texas: March 3, 2026, election.

What was the voter registration deadline?

  • In-person: Feb. 2, 2026
  • By mail: Postmarked by Feb. 2, 2026
  • Online: N/A

Is absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

No

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

  • In-person: Feb. 20, 2026
  • By mail: Received by Feb. 20, 2026
  • Online: N/A

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

  • In-person: March 3, 2026
  • By mail: Postmarked by March 3, 2026

Is early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What are the early voting start and end dates?

Feb. 17, 2026 to Feb. 27, 2026

Are all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, is a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When are polls open on Election Day?

7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (CT/MT)

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Al Green

Image of Al Green

WebsiteFacebookX

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: Yes

Political Office: 

Biography:  Green obtained a law degree from Texas Southern University. Green co-founded the law firm of Green, Wilson, Dewberry, and Fitch. Before his election to Congress, Green served as president of the Houston branch of the NAACP.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Green's campaign website said his "impeccable character has gained him the respect of his colleagues, community leaders, and people of diverse backgrounds as he continues to bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice."

Green said he had a record of standing up for his values, referencing his censure after disrupting President Trump's 2025 Joint Address to Congress. Green's campaign website said his "statement brought national attention to his fight to safeguard Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security."

Green said his policy priorities included measures he said would protect immigrants, preserve civil rights for LGBT Americans, and reduce restrictions on abortion.

Show sources

Sources: Al Green campaign website, "Meet Al Green," accessed January 14, 2026; Al Green campaign website, "Issues," accessed January 14, 2026; Al Green campaign website, "Meet Al Green," accessed January 14, 2026; Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "GREEN, Al," accessed January 14, 2026

Christian Menefee

Image of Christian Menefee

WebsiteFacebookXYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: Yes

Political Office: 

Biography:  Menefee graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio and obtained his law degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Before seeking elected office, Menefee practiced law as a commercial litigator and with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Menefee's campaign website said he was running for Congress "because working people deserve a government that has their back. Trump and his allies are making life harder for everyday Americans—rolling back voting rights, attacking reproductive freedom, and rigging the economy for billionaires."

Menefee said he had a record of delivering results, with his campaign website saying 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."

Menefee said he had grown up in the district and was "shaped by Houston's public schools" and by "two military parents who taught him the values of service, hard work, and standing up for what’s right."

Show sources

Sources: Christian Menefee campaign website, "About," accessed January 14, 2026; YouTube, "TX-18 Deserves a Fighter. Christian D. Menefee Delivers Results., posted March 17, 2025," accessed January 14, 2026; Christian Menefee campaign website, "About," accessed January 14, 2026

Gretchen Brown

Image of Gretchen Brown

WebsiteFacebook

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "Gretchen Brown is a native Houstonian, born and raised on Houston’s Southside. She is a proud product of the Houston Independent School District and earned a B.A. in International Studies from Mt. Vernon College in Washington, D.C., and an M.A. in International Relations from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. For nearly 30 years, Gretchen has served as a defense and national security expert, supporting federal agencies including the Department of Defense (Pentagon), the FBI, the Missile Defense Agency, and the Defense Intelligence Agency. She currently shapes federal agency reports and briefings submitted to Congress, including the House and Senate Appropriations and Armed Services Committees. Gretchen's work ensures lawmakers have the clarity and accurate information they need to make decisions on national security, military readiness, and the responsible use of federal resources."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

Cash — Economic Stability for Families and Real Support for Small Businesses Families and small businesses in TX‑18 deserve economic stability. I’m focused on bringing federal investment into the district and ensuring households and entrepreneurs receive the support they’ve long been promised. District 18 receives few federal contracts, many business owners lack training to navigate federal systems, and access to capital remains a major barrier. With nearly 30 years of federal experience, I know how to open these systems so local businesses can compete and win. I’m also focused on lowering everyday costs and expanding job pathways.

Care — Every family in TX‑18 deserves dignity. In my federal career, I’ve helped shape the reports and briefings that guide Congress’s decisions on healthcare, veterans’ services, and the programs families rely on. That work showed me how policy takes shape and how federal dollars must be guided by clear, accurate information. I’m focused on expanding access to affordable healthcare, strengthening maternal health, improving mental health resources, and ensuring seniors and veterans receive the services they’ve earned.

Community — Safety, Infrastructure, and Neighborhood Strength Strong communities are built on safety, stability, and respect. I’m focused on strengthening the neighborhoods that make TX‑18 home by addressing what residents talk about every day: safer streets, cleaner blocks, better infrastructure, and real federal support. Public safety must be community-centered, rooted in prevention, opportunity, and trust. That includes supporting re-entry programs, youth initiatives, and tackling long-neglected issues like trash, flooding, food deserts, and failing streets and drainage.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

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.

Expand all | Collapse all

Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Gretchen_Brown_20251214_035259.jpg

Gretchen Brown (D)

Cash — Economic Stability for Families and Real Support for Small Businesses

Families and small businesses in TX‑18 deserve economic stability. I’m focused on bringing federal investment into the district and ensuring households and entrepreneurs receive the support they’ve long been promised. District 18 receives few federal contracts, many business owners lack training to navigate federal systems, and access to capital remains a major barrier. With nearly 30 years of federal experience, I know how to open these systems so local businesses can compete and win. I’m also focused on lowering everyday costs and expanding job pathways.

Care — Every family in TX‑18 deserves dignity. In my federal career, I’ve helped shape the reports and briefings that guide Congress’s decisions on healthcare, veterans’ services, and the programs families rely on. That work showed me how policy takes shape and how federal dollars must be guided by clear, accurate information. I’m focused on expanding access to affordable healthcare, strengthening maternal health, improving mental health resources, and ensuring seniors and veterans receive the services they’ve earned.

Community — Safety, Infrastructure, and Neighborhood Strength

Strong communities are built on safety, stability, and respect. I’m focused on strengthening the neighborhoods that make TX‑18 home by addressing what residents talk about every day: safer streets, cleaner blocks, better infrastructure, and real federal support. Public safety must be community-centered, rooted in prevention, opportunity, and trust. That includes supporting re-entry programs, youth initiatives, and tackling long-neglected issues like trash, flooding, food deserts, and failing streets and drainage.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AmandaEdwards26.jpg

Amanda Edwards (D)

I am running to put people over politics and deliver real results for Houston families. As a former At-Large City Council Member and public finance attorney, I have a proven record of turning policy into progress — expanding economic opportunity, strengthening infrastructure, supporting small businesses, and protecting access to healthcare. We need these foundational investments in our communities to create a system where everyone can thrive. I know how to navigate government to bring home the bacon and make sure our community gets its fair share.

Our democracy only works when every voice is heard and every vote is protected. I will fight to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore federal preclearance, stop discriminatory election laws before they take effect, and hold states accountable when they target vulnerable communities. I oppose extreme and mid-decade gerrymandering that silences communities of color and undermines fair representation. In Congress, I will defend reproductive freedom, protect civil rights, and strengthen the foundations of our democracy so families decide the future of our communities.

As a product of Eisenhower High School, I know strong public schools are the backbone of opportunity and economic mobility. I will fight to fully fund public education, protect neighborhood schools, and ensure every child—regardless of ZIP code—has access to quality teachers, safe facilities, modern technology, and pathways to success. That means increasing federal investment in Title I schools, expanding workforce training and apprenticeships, and supporting educators with fair pay and classroom resources. As a former Houston City Council Member, I worked to connect education, workforce development, and economic opportunity so students can graduate prepared to thrive. In Congress, I will always put students first.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Gretchen_Brown_20251214_035259.jpg

Gretchen Brown (D)

I am passionate about policies that strengthen everyday life for families and communities in TX‑18. That includes expanding access to affordable healthcare and mental health services, strengthening maternal health, and ensuring seniors and veterans get the care they’ve earned. I’m committed to promoting economic stability through job pathways, small-business growth, and access to federal resources. I also focus on community-centered public safety and infrastructure, addressing long-neglected issues like trash, flooding, raggedy streets, and failing drainage systems. My federal experience shows me how to connect neighborhood issues to federal solutions and make policy work for the people of TX‑18.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AmandaEdwards26.jpg

Amanda Edwards (D)

I am deeply passionate about policies that expand opportunity, protect fundamental freedoms, and improve quality of life for working families. That includes protecting access to affordable healthcare, strengthening public education, and building an economy that works for small businesses and workers — not just those at the top. I am also committed to defending voting rights, reproductive freedom, and civil rights so every person can participate fully in our democracy. As a public finance attorney and former Houston City Council Member, I care deeply about responsible budgeting, resilient infrastructure, and disaster preparedness because smart investments today protect families and communities tomorrow.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AmandaEdwards26.jpg

Amanda Edwards (D)

My campaign has been endorsed by a broad coalition of community, labor, and advocacy organizations, including EMILY’s List, Elect Democratic Women, Higher Heights, Elect Black Women PAC, AKA1908 PAC, Common Good, HUE PAC, PEARL PAC, Run Sister Run PAC, UFCW Local 455, Greater Heights Democrats, and the Minister’s Coalition of Harris County & Vicinity. I am also proud to be designated a Gun Sense Candidate by Moms Demand Action. I have been endorsed by Congresswoman Jenn McClellan, Congresswoman Lateefa Simon, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Hill Harper, Tina Knowles, State Rep. Jolanda Jones and more.


You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:


Campaign ads

This section includes a selection of up to three campaign advertisements per candidate released in this race, as well as links to candidates' YouTube, Vimeo, and/or Facebook video pages. If you are aware of other links that should be included, please email us.

Democratic Party Al Green

Ballotpedia did not come across any campaign ads for Al Green while conducting research on this election. If you are aware of any ads that should be included, please email us.


Democratic Party Christian Menefee


"The Fighter That Delivers" – Menefee campaign ad, released January 13, 2026
"It's Our Time To Fight" – Menefee campaign ad, released October 22, 2025
"Fighting For Our Families" – Menefee campaign ad, released October 22, 2025
"Receipts" – Menefee campaign ad, released October 22, 2025
"Stronger Every Fight" – Menefee campaign ad, released October 4, 2025
"The Fighter That Wins" – Menefee campaign ad, released September 25, 2025

View more ads here:


Endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

Click the links below to see official endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites for any candidates that make that information available. If you are aware of a website that should be included, please email us.

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.

Race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

  • Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
  • Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
  • Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[6]
  • Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[7][8][9]

Race ratings: Texas' 18th Congressional District election, 2026
Race trackerRace ratings
2/17/20262/10/20262/3/20261/27/2026
The Cook Political Report with Amy WalterSolid DemocraticSolid DemocraticSolid DemocraticSolid Democratic
Decision Desk HQ and The HillPendingPendingPendingPending
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesSolid DemocraticSolid DemocraticSolid DemocraticSolid Democratic
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallSafe DemocraticSafe DemocraticSafe DemocraticSafe Democratic
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week.

Campaign finance

Candidate spending

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."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.

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.[10][11][12]

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

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

  • District map - A map of the district before and after redistricting ahead of the 2026 election.
  • Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2026 U.S. House elections in the state.
  • Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
  • State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.


Below is the district map used in the 2024 election next to the map in place for the 2026 election. Click on a map below to enlarge it.

2024

2023_01_03_tx_congressional_district_018.jpg

2026

2027_01_03_tx_congressional_district_018.jpg
See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2026

This section contains data on U.S. House primary election competitiveness in Texas.

Post-filing deadline analysis

The following analysis covers all U.S. House districts up for election in Texas in 2026. Information below was calculated on Dec. 8, 2025, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.

Two hundred fifty-two candidates — 98 Democrats and 154 Republicans — ran for Texas’ 38 U.S. House districts. That’s 6.6 candidates per district. There were 4.2 candidates per district in 2024, 5.8 in 2022, 6.4 in 2020, 5.9 in 2018, 3.5 in 2016, and 2.8 in 2014.

These were the first elections to take place since the Texas Legislature passed a new congressional map. The Texas House of Representatives passed it on Aug. 20, 2025, and the Texas Senate passed it on Aug. 23, 2025. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed the new congressional map into law on Aug. 29, 2025.

This was the highest total number of candidates who ran for the U.S. House since 2014.

Ten districts were open in 2026. There were three districts open in 2024, six in 2022, six in 2020, eight in 2018, two in 2016, and one in 2014. 

Reps. Morgan Luttrell (R-8th), Michael McCaul (R-10th), Jodey Arrington (R-19th), Troy Nehls (R-22nd), Marc Veasey (D-33rd), and Lloyd Doggett (D-37th) retired from public office. Reps. Jasmine Crockett (D-30th) and Wesley Hunt (R-38th) ran for the U.S. Senate. Rep. Chip Roy (R-21st) ran for attorney general of Texas.

Two incumbents — Reps. Christian Menefee (D) and Al Green (D) — ran against each other in the redrawn 18th district. Menefee was the incumbent in the 18th district, and Green was the incumbent in the 9th district.

Fifty-nine primaries — 32 Democratic and 28 Republican — were contested in 2026. In total, there were 39 contested primaries in 2024, 44 in 2022, 50 in 2020, 46 in 2018, 33 in 2016, and 19 in 2014.

Fifteen candidates ran for the open 9th district, 21st district, and 35th district, tying for the most candidates running for a district in 2026.

Nineteen incumbents — eight Democrats and 11 Republicans — faced primary challengers in 2026. There were 19 incumbents in a contested primary in 2024, 19 in 2022, 18 in 2020, 15 in 2018, 19 in 2016, and 12 in 2014.

Candidates filed to run in the Republican and Democratic primaries in all 38 districts, meaning no districts were guaranteed to either party.

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is D+21. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 21 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made Texas' 18th the 48th most Democratic district nationally.[13]

2020 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2024 presidential election was in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by The Downballot.

2024 presidential results in Texas' 18th Congressional District
Kamala Harris Democratic PartyDonald Trump Republican Party
81.2%17.1%

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in Texas, 2024

Texas presidential election results (1900-2024)

  • 16 Democratic wins
  • 15 Republican wins
Year 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Winning Party D D D D D D D R D D D D D R R D D D R D R R R R R R R R R R R R
See also: Party control of Texas state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of Texas' congressional delegation as of February 2026.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Texas
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 0 13 13
Republican 2 25 27
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 0 0
Total 2 38 40

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in Texas' top four state executive offices as of October 2025.

State executive officials in Texas, October 2025
OfficeOfficeholder
GovernorRepublican Party Greg Abbott
Lieutenant GovernorRepublican Party Dan Patrick
Secretary of StateRepublican Party Jane Nelson
Attorney GeneralRepublican Party Ken Paxton

State legislature

Texas State Senate

Party As of October 2025
     Democratic Party 11
     Republican Party 18
     Other 0
     Vacancies 2
Total 31

Texas House of Representatives

Party As of October 2025
     Democratic Party 62
     Republican Party 88
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 150

Trifecta control

Texas Party Control: 1992-2025
Three years of Democratic trifectas  •  Twenty-three years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Senate D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
House D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

District election history

2024

Regular election

See also: Texas' 18th Congressional District election, 2024

Texas' 18th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 Republican primary)

Texas' 18th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 Democratic primary)

General election
General election for U.S. House Texas District 18

Sylvester Turner defeated Lana Centonze, Vince Duncan, and Kevin Dural in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 18 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Sylvester Turner
Sylvester Turner (D)
 
69.4
 
151,834
Image of Lana Centonze
Lana Centonze (R) Candidate Connection
 
30.5
 
66,810
Image of Vince Duncan
Vince Duncan (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
62
Image of Kevin Dural
Kevin Dural (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
14

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 218,720
Candidate Connection = 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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 18

Incumbent Sheila Jackson Lee defeated Amanda Edwards and Robert Slater (Unofficially withdrew) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 18 on March 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Sheila Jackson Lee
Sheila Jackson Lee
 
60.0
 
23,629
Image of Amanda Edwards
Amanda Edwards
 
37.3
 
14,668
Image of Robert Slater
Robert Slater (Unofficially withdrew) Candidate Connection
 
2.7
 
1,059

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 39,356
Candidate Connection = 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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 18

Lana Centonze defeated Aaron Hermes in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 18 on March 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Lana Centonze
Lana Centonze Candidate Connection
 
53.3
 
6,202
Image of Aaron Hermes
Aaron Hermes Candidate Connection
 
46.7
 
5,438

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 11,640
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Special election

See also: Texas' 18th Congressional District special election, 2024

The special election filled the vacancy left by Sheila Jackson Lee (D), who died on July 19, 2024.[14]

General election
Special general election for U.S. House Texas District 18

Erica Lee Carter defeated Maria Dunn and Kevin Dural in the special general election for U.S. House Texas District 18 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Erica Lee Carter
Erica Lee Carter (D)
 
67.9
 
146,413
Image of Maria Dunn
Maria Dunn (R) Candidate Connection
 
22.2
 
47,835
Image of Kevin Dural
Kevin Dural (R)
 
9.9
 
21,257

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 215,505
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2022

See also: Texas' 18th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Texas District 18

Incumbent Sheila Jackson Lee defeated Carmen Montiel, Vince Duncan, and Phil Kurtz in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 18 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Sheila Jackson Lee
Sheila Jackson Lee (D)
 
70.7
 
110,511
Image of Carmen Montiel
Carmen Montiel (R) Candidate Connection
 
26.2
 
40,941
Image of Vince Duncan
Vince Duncan (Independent)
 
1.8
 
2,766
Image of Phil Kurtz
Phil Kurtz (L)
 
1.3
 
2,050

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 156,268
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 18

Incumbent Sheila Jackson Lee advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 18 on March 1, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Sheila Jackson Lee
Sheila Jackson Lee
 
100.0
 
35,194

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 35,194
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 18

Carmen Montiel advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 18 on March 1, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Carmen Montiel
Carmen Montiel Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
11,087

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 11,087
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 18

Phil Kurtz advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 18 on March 12, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Phil Kurtz
Phil Kurtz (L)
 
90.7
 
39
 Other/Write-in votes
 
9.3
 
4

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 43
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: Texas' 18th Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House Texas District 18

Incumbent Sheila Jackson Lee defeated Wendell Champion, Luke Spencer, and Vince Duncan in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 18 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Sheila Jackson Lee
Sheila Jackson Lee (D)
 
73.3
 
180,952
Image of Wendell Champion
Wendell Champion (R) Candidate Connection
 
23.5
 
58,033
Image of Luke Spencer
Luke Spencer (L)
 
1.8
 
4,514
Image of Vince Duncan
Vince Duncan (Independent) Candidate Connection
 
1.4
 
3,396

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 246,895
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Watch the Candidate Conversation for this race!

Republican primary runoff election

Republican primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 18

Wendell Champion defeated Robert Cadena in the Republican primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 18 on July 14, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Wendell Champion
Wendell Champion Candidate Connection
 
71.8
 
4,000
Image of Robert Cadena
Robert Cadena Candidate Connection
 
28.2
 
1,570

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 5,570
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 18

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 18 on March 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Sheila Jackson Lee
Sheila Jackson Lee
 
77.1
 
49,729
Image of Marc Flores
Marc Flores Candidate Connection
 
8.3
 
5,353
Image of Bimal Patel
Bimal Patel
 
3.8
 
2,456
Image of Jerry Ford Sr.
Jerry Ford Sr.
 
3.7
 
2,417
Image of Stevens Orozco
Stevens Orozco Candidate Connection
 
3.4
 
2,180
Image of Michael Allen
Michael Allen Candidate Connection
 
2.6
 
1,672
Image of Donovan Boson
Donovan Boson Candidate Connection
 
1.1
 
709

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 64,516
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 18

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 18 on March 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Wendell Champion
Wendell Champion Candidate Connection
 
35.1
 
3,428
✔
Image of Robert Cadena
Robert Cadena Candidate Connection
 
20.5
 
2,005
Image of T.C. Manning
T.C. Manning Candidate Connection
 
18.7
 
1,823
Image of Nathan Milliron
Nathan Milliron Candidate Connection
 
11.0
 
1,076
Image of Ava Pate
Ava Pate
 
8.1
 
794
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
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Nellie Heiskell
 
6.5
 
638

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 9,764
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 18

Luke Spencer advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 18 on March 21, 2020.

Candidate
✔
Image of Luke Spencer
Luke Spencer (L)

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Earliest results


Ballot access reequirements

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Texas in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Texas, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Texas U.S. House Democratic or Republican 2% of votes cast for governor in the district in the last election, or 500, whichever is less $3,125 12/8/2025 Source
Texas U.S. House Unaffiliated 5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election, or 500, whichever is less N/A 12/8/2025 Source

2025 battleground elections

See also: Battlegrounds

This was a battleground election. Other 2025 battleground elections included:

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Houston Public Media, "Longtime Houston Rep. Al Green switching to 18th Congressional District in run for reelection." November 7, 2025
  2. ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Amanda Edwards drops out of Houston race for 18th Congressional District," February 9, 2026
  3. ↑ Al Green campaign website, "Meet Al Green," accessed January 14, 2026
  4. ↑ Christian Menefee campaign website, "About," accessed January 14, 2026
  5. ↑ Inside Elections, "A Detailed Analysis of Texas’ New Congressional Map," August 27, 2025
  6. ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
  7. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
  8. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
  9. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
  10. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed December 12, 2021
  11. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed December 12, 2021
  12. ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," December 12, 2021
  13. ↑ Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025
  14. ↑ CBS News, "Sheila Jackson Lee, longtime Texas congresswoman, dies at 74," July 20, 2024
  15. ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2016 March Primary Election Candidate Filings by County," accessed December 15, 2015
  16. ↑ The New York Times, "Texas Primary Results," March 1, 2016
  17. ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, Texas," November 6, 2012
  18. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
  19. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008," accessed March 28, 2013
  20. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006," accessed March 28, 2013
  21. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2004," accessed March 28, 2013
  22. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 2002," accessed March 28, 2013
  23. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2000," accessed March 28, 2013
  24. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1998," accessed March 28, 2013
  25. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 1996," accessed March 28, 2013
  26. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 8, 1994," accessed March 28, 2013
  27. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1992," accessed March 28, 2013
  28. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1990," accessed March 28, 2013


Texas' current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
John Cornyn (R)
Ted Cruz (R)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
Al Green (D)
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
Chip Roy (R)
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
Republican Party (27)
Democratic Party (13)


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