Gov. Abbott Faces Mounting Pressure to Call Special Election for Texas' 18th Congressional District

Nearly a month after Rep. Sylvester Turner's death, Gov. Abbott has yet to set a date, citing Harris County's election issues, while Democrats threaten legal action over the delay.

Gov. Greg Abbott has not yet called a special election to fill the congressional seat of late Rep. Sylvester Turner, who passed away on March 5, 2025.
Abbott attributes the delay to Harris County's history of election problems, stating the county needs adequate time to ensure a fair and accurate election.
Harris County officials, including Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth, reject Abbott's claims, asserting their readiness to conduct the election immediately.
Democratic leaders, including Hakeem Jeffries and Christian Menefee, accuse Abbott of delaying the election to benefit Republicans in the U.S. House and have threatened legal action to compel a date announcement.
The delay has left nearly 800,000 residents of the solidly Democratic district without representation in Congress, raising concerns about federal funding and constituent services.