The challenge for Christian Menefee will be balancing the immediate demands of governing with the realities of a campaign for CD-18 that never stopped.

Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards are competing in a special election runoff Saturday to complete the term of late U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner, who died last March.

Amanda Edwards and Christian Menefee, the two Democratic candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Texas’ 18th Congressional District, debated Thursday at the Hilton University of Houston.

A January poll from Lake Research Partners suggests that if Menefee, the top vote-getter out of 16 candidates in a November 2025 special election, wins the runoff and becomes a sitting Congressman, he will likely go on to secure victory against longtime U.S. Rep. Al Green in the March primary.

Democratic candidates Christian Dashaun Menefee and Amanda Edwards are vying for Congressional District 18 in a special runoff election Jan. 31.

A special runoff election is being held Saturday to fill the vacant U.S. House seat in Texas' 18th Congressional District. Houston-area voters will decide between Democrats Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards.