Christian Menefee won the recent special election runoff for Texas' 18th Congressional District. This victory came after he and Amanda Edwards topped a crowded primary field, leading to the January 31, 2026, runoff.

Latest Texas Special Elections

Texas has seen multiple high-profile special elections in early 2026 amid President Trump's second term. Democrat Taylor Rehmet also flipped a reliably Republican state Senate seat (District 9) on February 1, 2026 , defeating Trump-endorsed Republican Leigh Wambsganss in a district Trump won by 17 points in 2024.

  • Menefee (D) secured 67% in the CD-18 runoff, filling the seat vacated by the late Rep. Sylvester Turner; he'll serve until the next Congress and oppose Trump's agenda, including calls to impeach DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
  • Rehmet (D), an Air Force veteran and union leader, triumphed in SD-9 after leading the first round with 48%; this marks Democrats' overperformance in specials, shrinking GOP margins.

These wins signal Democratic momentum in off-year races, with pundits calling them "warning signs" for Republicans ahead of 2026 midterms.

Broader Context

No statewide Texas elections (like governor) occurred recently—Greg Abbott remains governor post-2022. The buzz stems from these federal and state specials in a polarized climate.

Election| Winner| District/Seat| Key Margin/Notes 135
---|---|---|---
CD-18 Runoff (Jan 31)| Christian Menefee (D)| U.S. House (Houston area)| 67% vote; anti-Trump pledges
SD-9 Runoff (Feb 1)| Taylor Rehmet (D)| State Senate (Fort Worth)| Flipped GOP seat; Trump +17 district

TL;DR: Democrats swept recent Texas specials—Menefee for Congress, Rehmet for state Senate—stunning in red areas.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.