The 2024 Texas's 18th congressional district special election was a special election that was held on November 5, 2024, to choose a new member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat became vacant when incumbent Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee died on July 19, 2024.
The special election only filled the remainder of Jackson Lee's unexpired term, from November 2024 until January 2025. Harris County Democratic party precinct chairs convened on August 13 to nominate former Houston mayor Sylvester Turner as a replacement on the ballot in the general election, which took place the same day as the special election and decided a congressperson for the new term beginning in January 2025. Upon being selected as the nominee, Turner chose not to run in the special election and endorsed Erica Lee Carter, the daughter of Jackson Lee.
Candidates had until August 22 to declare their candidacy in the all-party special election. If no candidate received a majority of the vote, a runoff would have been held on a later date. As a deeply blue urban district, this race was considered safe for Democrats.
Candidates Democratic Party Declared Erica Lee Carter, former Harris County Department of Education trustee and daughter of deceased incumbent Sheila Jackson Lee
Withdrawn Dwight Boykins, former Houston city councilor from district D (2014–2019) and candidate for mayor of Houston in 2019 James Dixon, pastor and president of NAACP Houston (endorsed Lee Carter) Amanda Edwards, former at-large Houston city councilor (2016–2020), candidate for this district in the 2024 regular election, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020 Sylvester Turner, former mayor of Houston (2016–2024) and nominee for this district in the general election (endorsed Lee Carter)
Declined Jolanda Jones, state representative from the 147th district (2022–present) (endorsed Turner) Christian Menefee, Harris County Attorney (2021–present) (endorsed Turner)
Republican Party Declared Maria Dunn, retiree Kevin Dural, infrastructure project manager
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error AmandaEdwards JarvisJohnson ChristinaMorales LetitiaPlumber SylvesterTurner UndecidedTexas Victory ConsultingTexas Victory ConsultingAugust 5–7, 20241,113 (V)± 2.0%33%9%3%3%34%16%
Results
See also 2024 United States House of Representatives elections 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives List of United States representatives from Texas 118th United States Congress
Notes
References