Valencia Williams (Texas)
Valencia Williams (Democratic Party) is running in a special election to the U.S. House to represent Texas' 18th Congressional District. She is on the ballot in the special general election on November 4, 2025.[source]
Biography
Valencia Williams' career experience includes working as a philanthropist and small business owner. She earned a certification in medical coding & billing from Houston Community College in 2002.[1][2]
Williams served as a chair of Harris County Precinct 490 from 2008 to 2012 and as a presiding election judge of Harris County Precinct 490 in 2013.[1]
2025 battleground election
Ballotpedia identified the Nov, 4, 2025, general election as a battleground election. The summary below is from our coverage of this election, found here. Sixteen candidates are running in the special general election for Texas' 18th Congressional District on November 4, 2025. Candidates from all parties are running in the election, and if no one wins an outright majority, the top two candidates will advance to a runoff. The winner of this election will be the fourth person to represent the district since 2024 and will serve the remainder of Turner's term through January 2027.
Former Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D) represented the district from 1995 until she died in July 2024.[3] On Nov. 5, 2024, Erica Lee Carter won the special election to fill the vacancy, and Sylvester Turner won the general election. Carter represented the district from Nov. 12, 2024, to Jan. 3, 2025, when Turner assumed office. Turner died on March 5, 2025.[4]
This special election could have implications on legislative votes in the House. As of Oct. 15, Republicans have a 219-213 House majority with three vacancies. If a Republican wins, Republicans will still have enough votes to pass legislation, even if three Republicans vote with Democrats or don’t vote. If a Democrat wins, Republicans will only still have a majority if two or fewer Republicans vote with Democrats or don’t vote.[5]
Four candidates—Amanda Edwards (D), Jolanda Jones (D), Christian Menefee (D), and Carmen Montiel (R)—lead in media attention, polling, and endorsements.
- Edwards is an attorney and founded a nonprofit.[6] She was elected at large to the Houston City Council in 2015 and was a member of the council from 2016 to 2020. Her campaign website says she is "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."[7] U.S. Reps. Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.) and Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.) endorsed Edwards.[8]
- Jones is an attorney and was elected to represent District 147 in the Texas House of Representatives in 2022. Before she was elected to the state House, Jones was also a member of the Houston City Council and the Houston Independent School District school board. Jones' campaign website says she will, "fight to stop Trump cuts to healthcare and Medicaid, Social Security, education, and veterans. I’ll fight to lower the cost of prescription drugs, expand coverage for mental health care and substance abuse – and make healthcare more affordable and accessible for all of us."[9] Former U.S. Rep. Craig Washington (D), who represented the district from 1989 to 1995, and U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) endorsed Jones.[10]
- Menefee was elected Harris County Attorney in 2020. His campaign website says 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 is 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."[11] Former U.S. Rep. Erica Lee Carter (D), who represented the district for two months after Lee's death, 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.[12]
- Montiel is a real estate broker and former news anchor.[13] According to her campaign website, Montiel grew up in Venezuela and came to the U.S. in 1998. Her campaign website says she "witnessed firsthand the devastating collapse of Venezuela under socialist rule.... That experience drives Carmen’s mission today. She understands, better than most, what happens when a nation abandons its core values. She sees the warning signs in America, and she refuses to stay silent."[14]Montiel's campaign website said she would advocate for "secure borders", "safe communities", "economic opportunity", and "education free from political indoctrination."[14] Former Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst (R) and Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller (R) endorsed Montiel.[15]
On September 21, 2025, AfroVibes TV hosted a debate with nine candidates. Edwards, Jones, Menefee, and Montiel all participated. Click here to watch the debate.
According to the candidate's most recent financial reports filed with the FEC, here's how much each candidate raised and spent through June 30, 2025. Click here to see each candidate's campaign finance reports.
- Menefee raised $978,000 and spent $337,000
- Edwards raised $803,000 and spent $181,000
- Jones raised $101,000 and spent $9,400
- Montiel raised $5,000 and spent $2,500
According to the Texas Tribune's Natalia Contreras, "The 18th Congressional District, which includes inner Houston and surrounding Harris County areas, is home to more than 760,000 people. It was shaped by redistricting that followed the 1965 Voting Rights Act — signed into law by president Lyndon B. Johnson — and deliberately crafted to strengthen minority representation in Houston."[16]
The Texas Legislature voted to redraw the state's congressional district boundaries, including those of the 18th District, in August 2025. Governor Greg Abbott (R) signed the new map into law on August 29, 2025. The special election will take place within the boundaries of the old district. Voters will first vote under the new district boundaries in the March 2026 primary. Click here to learn more about redistricting in Texas ahead of the 2026 elections.
Feldon Bonner II (D), Stephen Huey (D), Isaiah Martin (D), Valencia Williams (D), Theodis Daniel (R), Ollie Knox (R), Carter Page (R), Ronald Whitfield (R), Tammie Rochester (G), Reyna Anderson (Independent), Vince Duncan (Independent), and George Foreman (Independent) are also running.
Huey, Menefee, Montiel, and Rochester completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Click here to read their responses.
Elections
2025
See also: Texas' 18th Congressional District special election, 2025
General election
The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.
Special general election for U.S. House Texas District 18
The following candidates are running in the special general election for U.S. House Texas District 18 on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
| Feldon Bonner II (D) | ||
 | Amanda Edwards (D) | |
 | Stephen Huey (D)  | |
 | Jolanda Jones (D) | |
 | Isaiah Martin (D) | |
 | Christian Menefee (D) | |
 | Valencia Williams (D) | |
 | Theodis Daniel (R) | |
| Ollie Knox (R) | ||
 | Carmen Montiel (R) | |
 | Carter Page (R) | |
| Ronald Whitfield (R) | ||
| Tammie Rochester (G) | ||
| Reyna Anderson (Independent) | ||
 | Vince Duncan (Independent) | |
| George Foreman (Independent) | ||
| ||||
| = 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
- Barry Dewayne Marchant (D)
- Zoe Cadore (D)
- Jarvis Johnson (D)
- Peter Filler (D)
- Lizette Prestwich (D)
- Chance Davis (Independent)
- Robert Slater (D)
- Derrell Turner (Independent)
- Khris Beal (Independent)
- James Joseph (D)
- Kivan Polimis (D)
- Corisha Rogers (D)
- Selena Samuel (D)
- Ebony Eatmon (D)
- T.J. Baker (D)
- Tejas Tuppera (Independent)
- Laverne Crump (D)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Valencia Williams has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey. If you are Valencia Williams, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey.
Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?
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Campaign finance summary
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from the Federal Elections Commission. That information will be published here once it is available.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Harris County Democratic Party, "Valencia Williams CD 18 Potential Nominee Questionnaire," accessed September 9, 2025
- ↑ Ballotpedia staff, "Email communication with Valencia Williams," September 9, 2025]
- ↑ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "JACKSON LEE, Sheila," accessed October 25, 2025
- ↑ Houston Chronicle, "Houston Chronicle, "Sylvester Turner, former Houston mayor, dies at 69," March 5, 2025
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Gov. Greg Abbott sets Nov. 4 special election to fill U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner’s seat," April 7, 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
- ↑ Jolanda Jones 2025 campaign website, "Home," accessed October 9, 2025
- ↑ Jolanda Jones 2025 campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed October 10, 2025
- ↑ Christian Menefee 2025 campaign finance, "About," accessed October 9, 2025
- ↑ Christian Menefee 2025 campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed October 10, 2025
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Carmen Maria Montiel," accessed October 8, 2025
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Carmen Montiel, "About," accessed October 9, 2025
- ↑ Carmen Montiel 2025 campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed October 10, 2025
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "How Texas’ mid-decade redistricting could affect voters in one Houston community," August 19, 2025
