Electors will return to the voting stations at the end of January for a runoff election.
Texan electors will revisit the voting stations in late January following the announcement by Governor Greg Abbott regarding the timing of the special runoff election intended to fill the congressional position that became vacant after the passing of former U. S. Representative Sylvester Turner.
Abbott has scheduled the runoff for Saturday, January 31, 2026. This election will determine the successor for Congressional District No. 18 for the remaining duration of Turner’s term, utilizing the current district boundaries.
The necessity for a runoff arises from the fact that no candidate achieved a majority (over 50%) of the votes cast on November 4. A total of 16 candidates were listed on the ballot. Christian Menefee garnered 28. 9% of the votes while Amanda Edwards obtained 25. 55% of the votes.
The electoral statutes of the state stipulate specific timeframes: the runoff must occur between 70 and 77 days following the final count of the original election.
However, voters will not need to wait until the end of January to participate in the election. Early in-person voting will commence on Wednesday, January 21, and continue through Tuesday, January 27.
The upcoming election will adhere to the boundaries of the former congressional district as they were prior to the recent redistricting adjustments. The midterm elections scheduled for November 2026 will utilize the newly established congressional district boundaries set by the Texas legislature over the summer.
Representative and former mayor of Houston Sylvester Turner passed away in March, only weeks into his term. The seat was previously occupied by Erica Lee Carter, who succeeded her mother, the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
