Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee (D) has won the special election runoff for late Rep. Sylvester Turner’s (D-Texas) seat, according to a Decision Desk HQ projection.

Menefee defeated former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards (D) in the Saturday runoff, after they were the top two vote-getters in the November primary. 

The Lone Star State’s 18th Congressional District, which voted overwhelmingly blue in the 2024 presidential race, was long expected to stay in Democratic hands — but the runoff delayed Democrats from being able to add to their numbers in the House for months. 

Republicans currently hold a 218-213 majority, with four vacancies. Menefee’s win will, at least temporarily, narrow that gap. 

Sixteen candidates ran to fill the remainder of Turner’s term in the House after he died in March, though none received a majority of votes. Turner, who was first elected to Congress in November 2024 and died last year, had himself succeeded the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D), after she died the July prior. 

Menefee will serve the remainder of Turner’s term, but will then run again for a full term for the seat in March after the district was redrawn last year. Edwards and Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) have also filed to run in that primary.