In the conclusion of the Democratic primary runoff between incumbent representatives, rookie Rep. Christian Menefee beat longtime Rep. Al Green for the seat in Texas’s 18th Congressional District.
Green has been very vocal against President Donald Trump, even being forcibly removed during Trump’s State of the Union address for the past two years. This year, Green held up a sign reading “black people aren’t apes!” during the SOTU address.
Trump was quick to celebrate Green’s loss. “Congratulations to the Dumocrat Party!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Al Green, one of the most mentally deficient Congressmen in the history of our Country, has lost, in a landslide, his seat in Congress – But I will miss that lunatic not screaming and violently waving his cane at me during my next State of the Union Speech.”
Due to Republican-led redistricting efforts, the redrawn maps force one of the longest-serving incumbents to run in a new district, leading to a faceoff with one of the newest House members. In the primary, Menefee earned 46% to Green’s 44%, prompting a runoff since neither earned a majority in the first round on March 3.
Green, 78, chose to run in the dark blue district after his 9th district became heavily Republican on the new district map, a result of the GOP plan to gain more seats in the state.
Menefee, 38, originally won the seat in this district following a special election to replace Rep. Sylvester Turner following his death last year.
Standing up to the president is a key point for both candidates. While Menefee has not made public displays of dissent like Green, the former Harris County attorney cited lawsuits his office filed against Trump as examples.
During his campaign, Menefee has received more than $5 million of outside spending from Protect Progress, a super PAC aligned with cryptocurrency industry leaders. One of this group’s ads featured Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), who lost her Senate run this year. While Green has been a major critic of megadonor money, Menefee also believes campaign finance laws should be amended to ban super PACs.
This district has faced turmoil over the past few years, having two sitting representatives die in 2024 and 2025. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee died in July 2024, leaving her seat vacant until her daughter, Erica Lee Carter, was sworn in the following November. Followed by Turner taking office in January, dying just months later.
Starting with Barbara Jordan in 1973, who was the first black woman from the South elected to the House, this district has been represented by a black representative.
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