Texas's 18th congressional district

Texas's 18th congressional district
Interactive map of district boundaries
Representative
Distribution
  • 99.94% urban[1]
  • 0.06% rural
Population (2024)825,192[2]
Median household
income		$66,803[3]
Ethnicity
Cook PVID+21[4]

Texas's 18th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Texas. It includes much of inner-city Houston and the surrounding area and has been the Downtown Houston district since 1973. The district is represented by Democrat Christian Menefee, who was sworn in on February 2, 2026, after being elected in a January 2026 special election runoff following the death of Democrat Sylvester Turner.[5]

History

The district was represented during the 1970s by Barbara Jordan, the first black woman elected to Congress from the South, who was praised by many for her powerful presence and oratorical skills.[6] The district was represented by Sheila Jackson Lee from 1995 until her death in 2024, when the seat became vacant. Her daughter, Erica Lee Carter succeeded her for the unexpired term.[7] Former Houston mayor Sylvester Turner then succeeded Carter before his death on March 5, 2025. A special election was held on November 4, 2025, followed by a runoff on January 31, 2026, which was won by Christian Menefee.[8]

Since the district was moved to Houston in 1972, it has voted for a Democrat in every presidential election. The district gave George McGovern 69% in 1972 and Walter Mondale 72% in 1984.

In the TV series The West Wing, Texas's 18th congressional district was represented by fictional Democratic presidential candidate Matt Santos.

Recent election results from statewide races

2023–2027 boundaries

Year Office Results[9]
2008 President Obama 73% - 26%
2012 President Obama 73% - 27%
2014 Senate Alameel 70% - 30%
Governor Davis 73% - 27%
2016 President Clinton 74% - 22%
2018 Senate O'Rourke 77% - 22%
Governor Valdez 71% - 27%
Lt. Governor Collier 75% - 24%
Attorney General Nelson 75% - 23%
Comptroller of Public Accounts Chevalier 72% - 25%
2020 President Biden 74% - 25%
Senate Hegar 71% - 27%
2022 Governor O'Rourke 73% - 25%
Lt. Governor Collier 72% - 25%
Attorney General Mercedes Garza 72% - 25%
Comptroller of Public Accounts Dudding 70% - 27%
2024 President Harris 69% - 29%
Senate Allred 71% - 26%

2027–2033 boundaries

Year Office Results[10]
2008 President Obama 82% - 17%
2012 President Obama 83% - 17%
2014 Senate Alameel 80% - 20%
Governor Davis 82% - 18%
2016 President Clinton 82% - 15%
2018 Senate O'Rourke 84% - 15%
Governor Valdez 78% - 20%
Lt. Governor Collier 82% - 16%
Attorney General Nelson 83% - 15%
Comptroller of Public Accounts Chevalier 80% - 17%
2020 President Biden 81% - 18%
Senate Hegar 79% - 19%
2022 Governor O'Rourke 81% - 18%
Lt. Governor Collier 79% - 18%
Attorney General Mercedes Garza 80% - 18%
Comptroller of Public Accounts Dudding 78% - 19%
2024 President Harris 77% - 22%
Senate Allred 78% - 19%

Current composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:[11]

Harris County (4)

Atascocita (part; also 2nd), Houston (part; also 2nd, 7th, 8th, 9th, 22nd, 29th, 36th, 38th; shared with Fort Bend and Montgomery counties), Humble (part; also 2nd and 29th), Jacinto City (part; also 29th and 36th)

Future composition

Beginning with the 2026 election, the 18th district will consist of the following counties:

List of members representing the district

Representative Party Term Cong
ress		 Electoral history Counties represented
District established March 4, 1919

J. Marvin Jones
(Amarillo)		 Democratic March 4, 1919 –
November 20, 1940		 66th
67th
68th
69th
70th
71st
72nd
73rd
74th
75th
76th		 Redistricted from the 13th district and re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Re-elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Resigned to become judge of the U.S. Court of Claims.		 1919–1923
[data missing]
1923–1931
[data missing]
1931–1933
[data missing]
1933–1943
[data missing]
Vacant November 20, 1940 –
January 3, 1941		 76th

Eugene Worley
(Shamrock)		 Democratic January 3, 1941 –
April 3, 1950		 77th
78th
79th
80th
81st		 Elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Resigned to become judge of the U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals
1943–1945
[data missing]
1945–1953
[data missing]
Vacant April 3, 1950 –
May 6, 1950		 81st

Ben H. Guill
(Pampa)		 Republican May 6, 1950 –
January 3, 1951		 Elected to finish Worley's term.
Lost re-election.

Walter E. Rogers
(Pampa)		 Democratic January 3, 1951 –
January 3, 1967		 82nd
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th
88th
89th		 Elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Retired.
1953–1959
[data missing]
1959–1963
[data missing]
1963–1967
[data missing]

Bob Price
(Pampa)		 Republican January 3, 1967 –
January 3, 1973		 90th
91st
92nd		 Elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Redistricted to the 13th district.		 1967–1973
[data missing]

Barbara Jordan
(Houston)		 Democratic January 3, 1973 –
January 3, 1979		 93rd
94th
95th		 Elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Retired.		 1973–1983
[data missing]

Mickey Leland
(Houston)		 Democratic January 3, 1979 –
August 7, 1989		 96th
97th
98th
99th
100th
101st		 Elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Died.
1983–1993
[data missing]
Vacant August 7, 1989 –
December 9, 1989		 101st

Craig Washington
(Houston)		 Democratic December 9, 1989 –
January 3, 1995		 101st
102nd
103rd		 Elected to finish Leland's term.
Re-elected in 1990.
Re-elected in 1992.
Lost renomination.
1993–1997
[data missing]

Sheila Jackson Lee
(Houston)		 Democratic January 3, 1995 –
July 19, 2024		 104th
105th
106th
107th
108th
109th
110th
111th
112th
113th
114th
115th
116th
117th
118th		 Elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.
Ran for re-election, but died.
2003–2005
[data missing]
2005–2007
[data missing]
2007–2013
2007–2013
2013–2023
2013–2023
2023–2027
Vacant July 19, 2024 –
November 12, 2024		 118th

Erica Lee Carter
(Houston)		 Democratic November 12, 2024 –
January 3, 2025		 Elected to finish her mother's term.
Did not seek election to a full term.

Sylvester Turner
(Houston)		 Democratic January 3, 2025 –
March 5, 2025		 119th Elected in 2024.
Died.
Vacant March 5, 2025 –
February 2, 2026

Christian Menefee
(Houston)		 Democratic February 2, 2026 –
present		 Elected in runoff to finish Turner’s term.

Recent election results

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas: District 18
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 148,617 77.32
Republican John Faulk 39,095 20.34
Libertarian Mike Taylor 4,486 2.33
Majority 109,522 56.98
Turnout 192,295 82.5
Democratic hold
2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas: District 18
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 85,108 70.15
Republican John Faulk 33,067 27.26
Libertarian Mike Taylor 3,118 2.57
Independent Charles B. Meyer (Write-in) 28 0.02
Majority 52,041 42.89
Turnout 125,968 36.73
Democratic hold
2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas: District 18
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 146,223 75.01
Republican Sean Seibert 44,015 22.58
Libertarian Christopher Barber 4,694 2.41
Majority 102,208 52.43
Turnout 194,932 58.79
Democratic hold
2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas: District 18
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 76,097 71.78
Republican Sean Seibert 26,249 24.76
Green Remington Alessi 1,302 1.23
Independent Vince Duncan 2,376 2.23
Majority 49,848 47.02
Turnout 106,010 30.60
Democratic hold
2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas: District 18
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 150,157 73.50
Republican Lori Bartley 48,306 23.64
Green Thomas Kleven 5,845 2.86
Majority 101,851 49.85
Turnout 204,308 55.96
Democratic hold
2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas: District 18[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (Incumbent) 138,704 75.3
Republican Ava Reynero Pate 38,368 20.8
Libertarian Luke Spencer 4,067 2.2
Independent Vince Duncan 3,193 1.7
Total votes 184,332 100.0
Democratic hold
2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas: District 18[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 180,952 73.3
Republican Wendell Champion 58,033 23.5
Libertarian Luke Spencer 4,514 1.8
Independent Vince Duncan 3,396 1.4
Total votes 246,895 100.0
Democratic hold
2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas: District 18[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Jackson Lee (incumbent) 110,511 70.7
Republican Carmen Maria Montiel 40,941 26.2
Independent Vince Duncan 2,766 1.7
Libertarian Phil Kurtz 2,050 1.3
Total votes 156,268 100.0
Democratic hold
2024 Texas's 18th congressional district special election[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Erica Lee Carter 146,413 67.94
Republican Maria Dunn 47,835 22.20
Republican Kevin Dural 21,257 9.86
Total votes 215,505 100.00
Democratic hold
2024 Texas's 18th congressional district election[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sylvester Turner 151,834 69.4
Republican Lana Centonze 66,810 30.6
Write-in Vince Duncan 62 0.03
Write-in Kevin Dural 14 0.01
Total votes 218,720 100.00
Democratic hold
2025–26 Texas's 18th congressional district special election[17]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Christian Menefee 22,022 28.90
Democratic Amanda Edwards 19,467 25.55
Democratic Jolanda Jones 14,549 19.10
Republican Carmen María Montiel 5,110 6.71
Democratic Isaiah Martin 4,337 5.69
Republican Ollie Knox 3,131 4.11
Democratic Stephen Huey 1,415 1.86
Republican Ronald Whitfield 1,175 1.54
Republican Carter Page 943 1.24
Republican Theodis Daniel 937 1.23
Democratic Valencia Williams 915 1.20
Independent George Foreman IV 828 1.09
Democratic Feldon Bonner II 555 0.73
Independent Vince Duncan 407 0.53
Independent Reyna Anderson 263 0.35
Green Tammie Rochester 135 0.18
Total votes 76,189 100.00
General election
Democratic Christian Menefee 16,174 68.38
Democratic Amanda Edwards 7,478 31.62
Total votes 23,652 100.00
Democratic hold

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (State-based)". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 2, 2013.
  2. ↑ "My Congressional District".
  3. ↑ "My Congressional District".
  4. ↑ "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)". Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  5. ↑ Hill, Meredith Lee (February 2, 2026). "Menefee to be sworn in". Politico. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Before Things Went to Hell". This American Life. December 28, 2018.
  7. ↑ Terry, Christian (November 10, 2024). "'I am honored': Daughter of Sheila Jackson Lee to be sworn in Tuesday to finish mother's term in Congress". Click2Houston.
  8. ↑ "Live Results". www.harrisvotes.com. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  9. ↑ "DRA 2020". davesredistricting.org. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  10. ↑ "DRA 2020". davesredistricting.org. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  11. ↑ https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST48/CD118_TX18.pdf
  12. ↑ "Texas Election Results". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Texas Election Results - Official Results". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Texas Election Results - Official Results". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  15. ↑ "2024 Special Election Congressional District 18 Results". Texas Elections Division. November 5, 2024.
  16. ↑ "U.S. Representative District 18". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
  17. ↑ "United States Representative, District 18 - Unexpired Term" (PDF). Harris County Clerk. November 3, 2025. Retrieved November 3, 2025.

29°49′07″N 95°15′13″W / 29.81861°N 95.25361°W / 29.81861; -95.25361

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