Rep. Christian Menefee (D-TX) defeated longtime Rep. Al Green (D-TX) in Tuesday's Democratic primary runoff for Texas' newly drawn 18th Congressional District. The race pitted two incumbent Democrats against each other after redistricting merged parts of their Houston-area districts.
Core Facts
Menefee, 38, won with 68.9% of the vote to Green's 31.1%, according to the Associated Press. The 18th District remains reliably Democratic, making Menefee the likely winner in November's general election. Green, 78, has represented the 9th District since 2005 but ran in the 18th after redistricting made his old district more Republican-leaning.
Background and Context
The race highlighted generational shifts in Texas politics, with Menefee representing a younger generation of Democrats. He was sworn in earlier this year after winning a special election to replace the late Rep. Sylvester Turner, who died in office. Turner had succeeded Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who also died in office in 2024. Both were in their 70s, making age a factor in the race.
Green is known for his vocal opposition to former President Donald Trump, including multiple attempts to impeach him. He was ejected from Trump's State of the Union address in 2025 after repeatedly interrupting and waving a cane. Menefee, a former Harris County attorney, narrowly led the March primary with 46% of the vote to Green's 44.2%, forcing a runoff.
Redistricting Impact
The race was shaped by Texas' Republican-controlled Legislature redrawing congressional districts at Trump's request. The Supreme Court allowed the new map, which aimed to create five additional Republican-leaning seats. The 18th District remained Democratic, but the redistricting forced Green and Menefee into the same race.
Reactions and Implications
Menefee called the victory a win for the district's residents, pledging to fight for their future. Green's loss marks the first casualty of the redistricting plan for Democrats. The race also saw endorsements from other Texas Democrats, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who backed Menefee.
The outcome reflects broader trends in Texas politics, where younger Democrats are challenging older incumbents amid shifting district boundaries.