Texas race to replace deceased Democrat advances to runoff

By Fox News · Fox News

The race to replace the late Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner in Texas’ 18th Congressional District advanced to a runoff election between Democrats Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards. The congressional seat, which covers some of the most densely populated portions of Houston, has been empty since Turner’s sudden death on March 5. A Democratic stronghold , there were 16 candidates in the race, seven Democrats, five Republicans, three independents and one Green Party candidate. Menefee, an attorney and Houston city council member, won 32% of the vote as of late Tuesday night and Edwards, who currently serves as Harris County attorney, brought in 26%. Because neither candidate took home 50% of the vote to win the seat, they will have to face off again in a runoff election in February. TRUMP’S SHADOW LOOMS OVER TEXAS RACE AS HUNT ACCUSES CORNYN OF BETRAYAL Due to the passing of Texas’ mid-decade redistricting bill, the district will split into districts 9, 29 and 18. However, this change will not happen until March and will not impact the runoff election. Though both candidates have been vocal critics of President Donald Trump , Menefee has been endorsed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus Political Action Committee. He has been praised by the likes of Reps. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., Greg Casar, D-Texas, and Maxwell Frost, D-Fla. In a joint statement, the three called Menefee a "proven fighter" against "Republican overreach" and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott , Attorney Ken Paxton and the Trump administration. "As the youngest person and first African-American to serve as chief civil lawyer for Texas’s largest county, Christian Menefee has a demonstrated record of standing up to Republican overreach and delivering results for working families," the three said in the statement. "He has won multi-million dollar settlements holding corporations accountable for emissions deception and deceptive marketing and has protected communities by taking on polluters and discriminatory…