It’s been nearly a month since the sudden death of District 18th Congressman Sylvester Turner and there remains a great deal of uncertainty about when the seat will be filled.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott must call a special election to fill Turner’s critical seat in Congress. Texas Senator Borris L. Miles (D-District 13) is tired of waiting. He has penned a letter to Abbott demanding that he speed up the process for the special election, considering his response related to previous vacancies has been quicker.
Like Miles, members of the House of Representatives are also strongly urging Abbott to set a path to fill Turner’s seat. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies has accused Abbott of intentionally delaying the vote because it allows the Republicans to maintain their slim majority in the House of Representatives. Politically, the longer Abbott delays setting an election for the Democratic stronghold 18th Congressional District seat, the more of an advantage President Trump has in pushing through his budget.
Under Texas law, the governor is the only person with the authority to call a special election. Abbott could set the date during the November election cycle or schedule an emergency election. The next election is May 3, but the deadline to put a vote on the ballot for Turner’s seat has passed.
In the meantime, the district that includes urban Houston and Harris County has been without representation since Turner passed on March 5.
Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, former City Councilwoman Amanda Edwards and former senior advisor to Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee- Isaiah Martin have all announced their candidacy for the 18th Congressional seat whenever Abbott announces the election.
