Overview

• Texas Governor Greg Abbott has scheduled the special election for November 4, 2025, to fill the seat left vacant by Rep. Sylvester Turner's death on March 5.
• Critics, including House Democrats and local officials, accuse Abbott of delaying the election to benefit the GOP's slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
• Abbott defended the delay, citing Harris County's history of election administration issues and the need for adequate preparation time.
• The extended vacancy means the district's predominantly Black and Hispanic population will lack congressional representation during critical legislative and budgetary periods.
• Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have threatened potential legal action, arguing the delay undermines democratic representation.