HOUSTON – As representation for Texas’ 18th Congressional District remains in limbo, Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee called out the governor for the not calling for a special election.
During a news conference Monday, Menefee noted how it’s been nearly a month since U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner’s sudden passing, but Governor Greg Abbott has still not provided a date for a special election. Simultaneously, Texas’ next uniform election is a little more than a month away.
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“We’re at 24 days and counting since the 18th congressional district has been without representation and Governor Abbott has said nothing,” Menefee said.
The Texas Governor has the sole authority to call a special election to fill Turner’s seat for the rest of the two-year term. State law does not specify a deadline for the governor to order a special election. If called, the election must happen within two months of the announcement.
Texas’ next scheduled election date is May 3. Per state election law and precedent, the governor would have had to order the special election by March 18 for it to take place in May. The practical deadline to call a May 3 election may have also already passed, due to how much time the state needs to program voting machines and prepare and mail ballots.
“It’s no secret that Governor Abbott and I don’t agree on many policies and I’ve stood up and pushed back against him many many times, but the one thing that we should all be able to agree on — regardless of what political party you’re in; regardless of where in this state you live—all Texans deserve representation in Congress,” Menefee added. “Governor Abbott, don’t play games with our communities; the 18th Congressional District is not a political toy; your silence is suppression; your doing nothing is disenfranchising our communities.”
Last Wednesday, KPRC 2′s Rilwan Balogun reached out to Abbott’s office for a statement, asking if he would call for a special election before March 31.
“An announcement on a special election will be made at a later date,” Andrew Mahaleris, Abbott’s press secretary replied via email.
We’ve reached out again for a follow-up statement.
Turner was elected to Congress last year after his predecessor and political ally, former U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, died in office after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Since Turner’s passing, the race has heated up with several Democrat leaders running to replace the late rep and former Houston mayor. Among the lineup include Jackson-Lee’s former senior advisor Isaiah Martin and former Houston City Councilmember Amanda Edwards.
LIST: Who’s running for 18th congressional district?
Menefee, however, is backed by Erica Lee Carter, the late congresswoman’s daughter, who previously held Jackson Lee’s seat before Turner was sworn in January and is currently serving as his campaign’s chairwoman.