Houston Style recently sat with Amanda Edwards, a native of Houston, in what is considered a highly contested race for Texas’ 18th Congressional District. She is running in the special election scheduled for November 4, 2025 (Election Day), with early voting taking place October 20–31, 2025, to fill the seat left vacant following the passing of Rep. Sylvester Turner earlier in the year. Raised in the district, Edwards frames her campaign as a continuation of its storied legacy, inspired by historic predecessors such as Barbara Jordan, the first African American woman elected to Congress from the South, and Sheila Jackson Lee, who represented the district for nearly three decades.

During our interview, what stood out the most is that Edwards emphasizes she is not just another establishment candidate—she frames herself as “The People’s Candidate,” someone committed to elevating the voices of her constituents at the center of her work.

Grassroots connection has been central to Edwards’ leadership. During her time on Houston City Council, she made a point of meeting people where they were—whether in community centers, churches, or neighborhoods—listening directly to residents and shaping policy around their needs. That same philosophy defines her current campaign. She has been knocking on doors across the district she calls home, reinforcing her belief that lasting change comes from staying grounded in the everyday concerns of the community.

The Late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and Amanda Edwards

 

Edwards graduated from Eisenhower High School in Aldine ISD, then went on to earn a degree in political science from Emory University in 2004. At Emory, she served as a Community Building and Social Change Fellow and worked with six Community Development Corporations (CDCs), gaining firsthand experience in community-based efforts. She began her political career in Washington, D.C., interning in Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s office, where she gained early exposure to constituent services and the legislative process. In 2007, she earned her law degree from Harvard Law School, where she served as a Criminal Justice Institute student attorney, co-chaired the Harvard Black Law Students Association Annual Spring Conference, and was awarded the Elaine Osborne Jacobson Award for her work supporting underserved communities in healthcare law.

After law school, Edwards relocated to New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. There, she served as a judicial law clerk for Federal District Court Judge Ivan Lemelle and founded Project NOW: The New Orleans Writing Project, empowering youth through writing.

From 2016 to 2020, Edwards served on the Houston City Council (At-Large Position 4), where she built a reputation as a champion of innovation, equity, and community-driven solutions:

• She authored a budget amendment to establish the Mayor’s Technology & Innovation Task Force, contributing to the creation of Houston’s Innovation District and The Ion.
• She launched the Women- and Minority-Owned Business Task Force, which evolved into the Business Ecosystem Alliance for Minorities & Women (BEAMW), assisting entrepreneurs with access to capital, counseling, and growth opportunities.
• As a municipal finance attorney, she brought critical expertise addressing budget shortfalls and pension reform. She served as Vice Chair of the Budget & Fiscal Affairs Committee, played a role in overseeing the city’s $5.1 billion budget, and served on the Economic Development Committee, advocating for increased federal investment in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).
• She co-vice-chaired the High-Capacity Transit Task Force, supported transit infrastructure expansion, led relief efforts following Hurricane Harvey, and launched the Community Empowerment Signature Series, offering programming around healthcare, senior services, and women’s empowerment.

Her campaign centers on civil rights, economic opportunity, healthcare access, education, infrastructure, and resilience. Edwards continues to promote support for women- and minority-owned businesses, job creation through infrastructure investment, and expanded federal support for CDFIs. She emphasizes protecting healthcare access under the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid, bolstering social services for seniors and low-income families, and growing educational and youth mentorship programs. Her broader infrastructure goals include improving transit, roads, and resilient public works.

Edwards has also been personally driven by witnessing both her parents’ battles with cancer, which instilled in her the belief that public policy can be a matter of life and death for families. That conviction fuels her urgency to serve—with a particular focus on lowering grocery costs, strengthening protections for healthcare and Social Security, and ensuring equitable opportunities for all.

Polling Snapshot

Recent polls underscore Edwards’ strong position in the race:

• A Brilliant Corners Research & Strategies poll conducted July 20–23 among 500 likely voters shows Edwards leading the Democratic field with 18%, ahead of fellow contenders—including Christian Menefee (10%) and Jolanda Jones (11%)—while 36% remain undecided.
• A University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs poll (July 9–18) also finds Edwards and Menefee tied at 19% support each, followed by Jolanda Jones and Republican Carmen Maria Montiel at 14%, with 27% undecided.

These results signal a competitive, dynamic race where name recognition, grassroots engagement, and direct voter contact could influence final outcomes.

Edwards’ candidacy draws upon deep roots in community development, local governance, and personal conviction. She positions herself as a next-generation leader who both honors the civil rights legacy of the district and meets present-day challenges with innovative, community-centered solutions.

For more information on voting details and Amanda Edwards’ campaign, visit edwardsforhouston.com.