Freshman Congressman Christian D. Menefee has introduced his first bill in Congress, aiming to prevent long vacancies in U.S. House seats by requiring states to hold special elections within a set national deadline.

The legislation, called the Special Election Timeliness Act, or SET Act, would require that a special election be held within 180 days after a U.S. House seat becomes vacant. States with stricter election timelines would be allowed to keep their existing laws.

Menefee, who represents Texas’ 18th Congressional District, said the bill is designed to stop governors from delaying elections and leaving communities without representation in Washington for months at a time.

Under the U.S. Constitution, governors are required to call special elections when a House seat becomes vacant. However, state laws vary widely. Some states have no firm deadline, while others — including Texas — use broad language such as “as soon as practicable,” giving governors significant discretion over timing.

Menefee argues that this inconsistency allows vacant seats to become political tools rather than urgent democratic responsibilities.

The bill was inspired by what residents of Texas’ 18th District experienced following the death of former Congressman and former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner in March 2025. According to Menefee, the district remained without representation in Congress for 334 days after Turner’s passing, leaving Houston-area residents without a voting member during hurricane season and major federal spending decisions.

He also pointed to what he described as a pattern of faster appointments for vacant Republican-held seats, some of which were filled in less than 90 days.

Menefee said the issue extends beyond Texas, noting that lawmakers from both parties in other states have raised similar concerns about delayed special elections.

A Houston native, Menefee previously served as Harris County Attorney, becoming the first Black person and the youngest person elected to that office.

His election to Congress in Texas’ historically significant 18th District placed him in one of the nation’s most closely watched seats, long represented by prominent Black political leaders including Barbara Jordan and Sheila Jackson Lee.

Menefee said the principle behind the legislation is simple: communities should not lose their voice in Congress because of political delay.