Freshman Rep. Christian Menefee defeated longtime Rep. Al Green in the Democratic primary runoff for Texas’ 18th Congressional District, NBC News projects, after a rare incumbent-on-incumbent matchup sparked by Republican-led redistricting efforts.
The redraw of the state’s political map pitted one of the newest members of the House Democratic caucus against one of the longer-serving incumbents in the chamber. Menefee got 46% of the primary vote to Green’s 44% in the first round on March 3, pushing the race to a runoff since neither got majority support.
Menefee, 38, was sworn in to Congress earlier in 2026 after winning a special election to replace the late Rep. Sylvester Turner, a Democrat who died last year.
Green, 78, opted to run in the deep-blue, Houston-based 18th District after his 9th District was redrawn to make it more heavily Republican, a key part of the GOP plan to gain more seats in Texas in 2026.
Green, who is seeking a 12th term in Congress, has been a vocal opponent of President Donald Trump, frequently pushing for his impeachment. Green was ejected from the House chamberduring Trump’s State of the Union address earlier this year and in 2025 as well.
Both candidates made standing up to Trump a key issue. Menefee, who previously served as the Harris County attorney, pointed to lawsuits his office filed against the Trump administration as proof.
Menefee also benefitted from more than $5 million in outside spending from a super PAC aligned with cryptocurrency industry leaders, Protect Progress. Outgoing Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who unsuccessfully ran for Senate earlier this year, appeared in one of the group’s ads supporting Menefee. Green has harshly criticized the flood of megadonor money, while Menefee has said he thinks campaign finance laws should be changed to ban super PACs.
Posted by cmaia1503
17 Comments
I don’t know much about Rep. Menefee, but the fact that Crypto and AI were so eager to fund him makes me nervous
menefee wants super PACs banned but also accepted $5mil from one? am i understanding that correctly
Gerrymandering working as intended, erasing a Black district and forcing two of the few Black Reps to run against each other. This sucks. Such an ugly and destructive way to use power.
Usually I’m all for younger politicians(and even limitations on years in office served) but I’m very cautiously skeptical of Menefee. He accepts 5 million from a donor but then campaigns on banning mega donors??? Green is also one of the only politicians to not stop calling out Trump. Too many democrats are acting like what’s happening is normal, it’s extremely disappointing to be losing someone like Green.
I am skeptical about redistricting in general. It seems like there is always a motive and someone with someone to gain
Unfortunate redistricting result. Green was yet another 70+ year old incumbent but was always anti bigotry and and a critic of Israel. Menefee was supported by the nightmare blunt rotation of crypto pacs, aipac, and jasmine Crockett
The debate between Menefee and Green should be irrelevant. This is a win for the GOP no matter who would’ve won. I’m skeptical of Menefee, though he does have a few progressive supporters, and would’ve preferred Green.
But they should both still be in their original seats.
People’s.
Aipac just congratulated Christian lmfao what a fucking joke.
Redistricting in action. They combined these two representatives districts so they would knock one of them off the board
Green probably wishing “let’s stay together”
I live in this district
Menefee was the County Attorney for Harris County before being elected to congress and refused Gov Abbott’s orders to investigate parents of trans kids for child abuse. He has a terrific record on voting rights, environmental policy and helping immigrants.
I’m proud that I got to vote for Al Green who represented me with fire and righteous indignation and I fully expect Menefee to do the same
https://preview.redd.it/l4akiosjal3h1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f429fe624dc86051c9e020bdef0fb81a66f8e28d
I know he’s the younger candidate but maaaaajor red flag here. 😬
A 78-year old shouldn’t serve in Congress. I don’t like Menefee receiving more than $5M in financing from a super PAC but at least he won’t roll over for the pedophile
Pour one out for Rep. Green. He stood up to Trump when no one else did. His courage should have inspired others.
I live in this district! I think it’s good to be skeptical of the donors/PACs of it all, but as someone who’s followed Menefee in local politics, I do want to reassure y’all that he regularly fought against Trump and against Texas GOP officials as Harris County Attorney. I have faith in him!
I do also think age played a big contextual role, as the last two TX-18 representatives died in office. I live in a portion that didn’t change with the redistricting, so I haven’t had consistent representation for nearly two years. Sheila Jackson Lee was 74 when she died in July 2024, and Sylvester Turner was 70 when he died in March 2025 (two months into his term). And Al Green is 78.
More importantly, Green was one of the few in the House who voted against military aid to Israel and stood up for the rights of Palestinians.