Beyond the stress and angst people feel about the presidential election, there is serious nervousness in some corners about one Texas “down-ballot” race in particular—the District 18 race.
Why?
There are two elections regarding that one seat, most recently filled by the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. The fear is that because many voters aren’t clear on the two races, they will vote for one of them and ignore the other.
THE TWO DISTRICT 18 RACES
Unexpired Term
When Jackson Lee passed away, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called a Special Election to choose the person who would complete Jackson Lee’s term. That race is listed on the ballot as “United States Representative, District 18, Unexpired Term.” That election will take place on Nov. 5.
The candidates for the “Unexpired Term” include Jackson Lee’s daughter, Erica Lee Carter (Democrat), Maria Dunn (Republican), and Kevin O. Dural (Republican).
Think of it this way: a marathon race already in progress has a runner who goes down with the finish line in sight but can no longer compete. But the race is still going on, and in need of a runner to finish the last 40 yards. That’s what the winner of the “Unexpired Term” will do—that person will run to finish the race already in progress, which is now just a short sprint.
Full Term
On that same day, (Election Day, Nov. 5), voters will also choose who will represent District 18 on a full-term basis beginning Jan. 2, 2025; a race listed on the ballot as “United States Representative, District 18.”
The candidates for the “Full Term” are former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner (Democrat) and Lana Centonze (Republican).
Turner and Centonze are competing for the right to be District 18’s runner (representative) in another race that won’t start until Jan. 2025. That race needs a marathon runner who is willing to go the distance—from Jan. 2025 to Jan. 2027 at the very least.
WHY VOTERS NEED TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
Though both seats, the “Unexpired Term” and the “Full Term,” are important, many voters have misconceptions about them.
Some people think Lee Carter was appointed to the “Unexpired Term” and is already in office finishing out her late mother’s term. That is not true. No one is currently in that seat, which is why there is an election to choose who will represent historic District 18 for that “Unexpired Term.”
“I am running to fill the unexpired term of my mother, the late great Sheila Jackson Lee,” said Lee Carter. “Congressional House District terms are two years, and so we are still within that two-year period. She was elected by the voters of the 18th, and she began service in 2022. The term expires Jan. 1, 2025. So, Governor Abbott put this election on the same ballot, the Nov. 5 election day, as the District 18 race for the next two-year term (the “Full Term”) that will begin around Jan. 2, 2025.”
Another misconception is that there is only one race and that Lee Carter is running against Turner. That is not true. Lee Carter and Turner are running in separate races. The confusion comes in because they both seek to represent District 18—Lee Carter from Nov. 5, 2024 to Jan. 2, 2025 (the “Unexpired Term”) and Turner from Jan. 3, 2025 to Jan. 3, 2027 (the “Full Term”).
THE FEAR
One fear is that voters will vote in one District 18 race and ignore the other.
To that, Lee Carter offered clarifying words: “You are allowed to vote in both because it is not the same term. It’s the same constituent voter base, but not the same term.”
“My fear is that votes that should go to Erica won’t take place either because people think she’s already elected and therefore isn’t on the ballot, and therefore, might not win,” said University of Houston administrator Dr. Elwyn Lee, the widower of Jackson Lee and father of Lee Carter. “Or they might not vote for her in the ‘Unexpired Term’ race because they will vote for Sylvester Turner thinking that they’re running against each other. And then she might not win the seat for the unexpired term of Sheila Jackson Lee.”
CLEARING UP CONFUSION
Lee believes the state’s Democratic Party has dropped the ball, not investing enough in messaging that will inform voters about what has already proven to be a confusing set of races involving District 18.
“What the candidates need to do, and particularly what the Democratic Party needs to do, is to find out the exact location on the ballot where their candidate for the ‘Unexpired Term’ is, where, and publicize that there is a race for the last 12 weeks of Sheila Jackson Lee’s term and it’s on page so-and-so of the ballot. I think if people aren’t going in there with the mindset that they have to look for Erica Lee Carter specifically when they go in, it’s very easy for them to miss it,” said Lee.
IMPORTANCE OF THE UNEXPIRED TERM
One reason clarity on these two races is critical is that serious business needs to be addressed and handled during the “Unexpired Term.” This business includes securing much-needed disaster relief funds and extending the Federal budget.
“Congressional colleagues from Texas just sent another letter asking President Biden to expand the resources and recovery for the derecho and Hurricane Beryl. I will join in that effort if those funds have not been extended and received. We have so many in our community still needing that support,” said Lee Carter.
Recognizing that whenever there’s a budget bill, lawmakers can add in unique items. Lee Carter looks to do that in order to bring more resources to District 18, while also helping the U.S. avoid another government shutdown.
She has her eye on something else, as well.
“Something important to my mother and hopefully the African American community is her HR 40 reparations commission. It will be too late to do a full bill through the House, but I have spoken to many and we will at least submit a letter to request Biden to do a commission by executive order.”
