Democrat Christian Menefee wins special election for U.S. House in Texas

Politics Democrat Christian Menefee wins special election for U.S. House seat in Texas Updated on: February 1, 2026 / 8:31 AM EST / CBS/AP Add CBS News on Google Democrat Christian Menefee won a Texas U.S. House seat in a special election Saturday that will narrow Republicans' already-slim majority, telling President Trump that the Democratic district "topples corrupt presidencies."Menefee, the Harris County attorney, prevailed in a runoff against Amanda Edwards, a former Houston City Council member. He will replace the late Rep. Sylvester Turner, a former Houston mayor, who died in March 2025.In addition to the Houston-area race, there was a special election in North Texas' Tarrant County for a state senate seat. In a major political upset, Democrat Taylor Rehmet defeated Republican Leigh Wambsganss in that race in Tarrant County, the largest Republican county in the nation, according to complete but unofficial returns. The seat representing the heavily Democratic Houston-based district has been vacant for nearly a year.Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott didn't schedule the first round of voting until November. Menefee and Edwards were the top vote-getters in a 16-candidate, all-parties primary. They advanced to a runoff because no candidate won a majority of the vote. Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, a candidate for the open House seat in the 18th congressional district, speaks to his supporters during an election night watch party in Houston, on Nov. 4, 2025.  Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images Speaking to supporters at his victory party, Menefee promised to fight for universal health insurance, seek to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations and "tear ICE up from the roots."He also addressed Mr. Trump directly after noting that one of the district's most storied representatives, Democrat Barbara Jordan, was an eloquent voice for President Richard Nixon's impeachmen...