Texas Governor Greg Abbott has called for a special election for the state’s 18th Congressional District to be held on November 4, nearly eight months after the death of U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner. Despite criticism from Houston-area Democrats for not scheduling the election sooner, Abbott defended his decision by stating that he wanted to give Harris County enough time to prepare for the important election.
Acting Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, a Democrat who has announced his candidacy for the vacant seat, condemned Abbott’s delay, calling it “a slap in the face” to the constituents who are left without representation in Congress. Menefee criticized Abbott for prioritizing the election process over the needs of the people in the district.
The 18th Congressional District, historically held by Black Democrats, has seen a number of candidates announce their intentions to run for the seat, including Menefee and former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards. The election comes at a time when Democrats and Republicans are closely matched in the U.S. House of Representatives, making the outcome of this special election crucial.
Abbott’s decision to delay the special election has drawn criticism from Democrats in Houston, including Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who called the delay “unnecessary, unjust, and deeply harmful.” Despite the backlash, candidates for the vacant seat have until September 3 to file their applications, with early voting set to begin on October 20.
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