The historic 18th Congressional District is one of the districts at the heart of Texas Republicans’ redistricting (gerrymandering) efforts, which have made national news.
On Thursday, Aug. 28, the general public will be able to hear from and question five of the nearly 20 candidates running for the District 18 seat as they square off during the “CD18 Candidates Forum: Ground Zero for Justice.”
The five candidates that will be on stage at the forum are (in alphabetical order) Zoe Cadore, Amanda Edwards, Isaiah Martin, Christian Menefee and Robert Slater.
The five participants were selected on Aug. 26 by the duly elected CD18 Precinct Chairs.
“These grassroots leaders have been interviewing candidates, attending forums and reviewing platforms for months,” said Melanie Miles Bazil of the Harris County Democratic Party (HCDP). “They [voted] to identify the five candidates they believe best represent the range of ideas and viability for CD18.”
The final slate of five candidates to participate in the forum was announced at 8 a.m. on Aug. 27 on the CD18 Facebook page.”
The forum will be held at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church (3826 Wheeler Ave, Houston, TX 77004) from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“It is only fitting that [Wheeler] help provide a platform where the community can hear directly from candidates who aspire to carry forward the legacy of courageous, principled leadership that has always been synonymous with CD18,” said Dr. Angela Ravin-Anderson, director of Wheeler’s social justice ministry. Anderson referenced Wheeler’s “long legacy of advocacy and civic leadership,” led by Wheeler’s founding pastor, Rev. Dr. William Alexander Lawson, during the Civil Rights Movement.
“Today, under the leadership of Pastor Marcus D. Cosby, we continue that legacy by standing at the forefront of the fight against racist gerrymandering and all efforts to silence the voices of our community,” added Ravin-Anderson.
“This forum is not just about politics — it is about justice, accountability and ensuring that the voices of our community remain strong and unwavering.”
Dr. Angela Ravin-Anderson
District 18 residents have been without representation since U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner’s death on March 5. That will change in the Nov. 4 special election called by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Turner won the seat vacated by the death of U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who held it for 29 years.
The forum is sponsored by the Harris County Democratic Party, Black Women of Greater Houston PAC (BWGH) and Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church.
“As Black women, we have always been at the forefront of civic engagement and advocacy, ensuring that our voices are heard in every space where policy is shaped,” said Argentina James, the BWGH VP of policy. “By hosting this forum, we are continuing that tradition, creating a platform where the community can hear directly from the candidates, ask the hard questions and decide who will best carry forward a vision of equity, progress and opportunity for all.”
The forum’s media sponsors include Fox 26 and the Defender Network.
“Since our founding in 1930, the Defender has amplified the community’s voices and civic participation,” said Defender Special Assignments Reporter Tannistha Sinha. “The forum continues that legacy by putting the candidates for the historic 18th Congressional District directly in front of our readers, centering the issues that matter to Houston’s residents and providing clear, nonpartisan information ahead of the November election day.”
Fox 26 reporter Greg Groogan and the Defender Network’s publisher and owner Sonny Messiah Jiles will moderate the forum.
“This forum is not just about politics — it is about justice, accountability and ensuring that the voices of our community remain strong and unwavering,” stated Ravin-Anderson.
