Overview
- Associated Press and major outlets project Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee and former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards as the top two finishers, with early returns around 32% and 26% respectively in a 16-candidate field.
- The runoff date has not been set by Gov. Greg Abbott, who is expected to choose a January or February timeframe under federal election requirements.
- The seat has been vacant since Turner’s death in March, and seating the winner would further trim Republicans’ narrow U.S. House majority.
- The special election and the runoff are being conducted under the district’s old boundaries, while a federal court in El Paso weighs lawsuits over a new GOP-drawn map that could govern the 2026 primaries.
- The winner will serve through January 2027 and face an accelerated decision on the March 2026 primary, with Menefee saying he intends to run for a full term if elected in the runoff.