As the vibrant and historically significant 18th Congressional District of Texas remains without a voice in Washington, calls are intensifying for Governor Greg Abbott to take decisive action. Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, a rising Democratic leader and candidate for the seat once held by the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, is holding the Governor accountable for his prolonged silence and inaction.

During an 4 Governor Abbott sparked outrage by vaguely stating he would announce the special election date for TX-18 "sometime soon." This lack of urgency, Menefee says, is not only a dereliction of duty—it is a direct threat to democratic representation.

“Governor Abbott’s claim that he’ll ‘announce something soon’ about the TX-18 special election is not leadership—it’s a failure to uphold his responsibility to the voters of this district,” said Menefee. “Nearly 800,000 Houstonians are without a voice in Congress. If the election is delayed until November, our communities will go unrepresented for nearly 250 days. That’s unacceptable.”

A Seat Without a Voice

The vacancy in TX-18 was created following the passing of beloved Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a champion of civil rights and tireless advocate for underserved communities. Her legacy now hangs in the balance as the district—comprised predominantly of Black and Latino voters—remains disenfranchised while decisions in Congress press forward without their input.

Under Section 201.051 of the Texas Election Code, a special election must be ordered “as soon as practicable.” Legal experts and election officials alike argue there is no procedural barrier to holding the election in June or July. Yet, Governor Abbott continues to stall.

Abbott’s Excuse? Harris County.

Abbott has pointed fingers at Harris County’s election operations, claiming past failures justify the delay. But Menefee swiftly pushed back on what he called a political smokescreen.

“Let’s be clear—this has nothing to do with Harris County’s ability to conduct elections, which has been praised even by Republican officials in recent cycles,” Menefee stated. “The Governor’s excuse is nonsense. This is about politics. It’s about helping Republicans maintain a razor-thin majority in Congress. And the people of TX-18 see right through it.”

The district, long a Democratic stronghold, is viewed as a safe seat for Democrats. The longer it remains vacant, the longer Republicans in Congress benefit from one less vote against their agenda.

The Cost of Silence

Menefee emphasized that the real cost of delay is borne by the families, workers, and seniors of TX-18—those who rely on federal representation to navigate funding, policy decisions, and constituent services.

“The law says the election should be called as soon as possible—not ‘whenever the Governor feels like it,’” said Menefee. “There is no reason this election couldn’t be scheduled soon. Voters deserve certainty. They deserve to be heard.”

As the summer approaches with no election date in sight, Menefee is turning up the pressure on Governor Abbott to act swiftly and ethically.

“Governor Abbott—‘I’ll be announcing something soon’ is not enough,” Menefee declared. “Call the election. The people of the 18th Congressional District deserve better. Democracy delayed is democracy denied.”

The Stakes Are Higher Than Ever

For Houstonians, especially in communities of color that have long faced voter suppression, the delayed TX-18 special election is more than a scheduling issue—it’s a matter of justice. As the race to fill this critical seat intensifies, so too does the spotlight on Texas' democratic process and the leadership—or lack thereof—guiding it.