Texas race to replace deceased Democrat advances to runoff

The race to replace the late Democratic Rep Sylvester Turner in Texas th Congressional District advanced to a runoff vote between Democrats Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards The congressional seat which covers selected of the bulk densely populated portions of Houston has been empty since Turner s sudden death on March A Democratic stronghold there were candidates in the race seven Democrats five Republicans three independents and one Green Party candidate Menefee an attorney and Houston city council member won of the vote as of late Tuesday night and Edwards who at this time serves as Harris County attorney brought in Because neither candidate took home of the vote to win the seat they will have to face off again in a runoff balloting in February TRUMP S SHADOW LOOMS OVER TEXAS RACE AS HUNT ACCUSES CORNYN OF BETRAYALDue to the passing of Texas mid-decade redistricting bill the district will split into districts and However this change will not happen until March and will not impact the runoff balloting 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 declaration 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 declared in the message 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 landfill expansion He has taken on Greg Abbott Ken Paxton and the Trump administration Christian is the proven fighter Texas s th district demands We are proud to back his campaign MEXICAN IMMIGRANT-TURNED-CONGRESSWOMAN BLASTS DEM ASSERTS TEXAS REDISTRICTING HURTS HISPANIC VOTEMenefee has also boasted in campaign ads about being called a radical attorney by the Trump White House Edwards meanwhile has been endorsed by groups such as EMILY s List and Elect Democratic Women Edwards campaign website emphasizes building a healthier safer and more equitable District TEXAS DEMOCRAT VOWS TO 'GO ACROSS YOUR NECK ' MAKES THROAT-SLASHING GESTURE WHILE REJECTING 'GO HIGH' MANTRAShe states that under President Trump s leadership our country has seen devastating attacks on our democracy divisive rhetoric that weakened communities and policies that have harmed the middle class and working families Turner died at age having only served in Congress for just months He also served as mayor of Houston for eight years from to He replaced the late Democratic Rep Sheila Jackson-Lee who also died in office in after serving in Congress for years