In his first 250 days, U.S. Representative Christian Menefee says he has addressed constituent case backlog, filed legislation, and focused on affordability and funding for the 18th Congressional District.
It has been eight months since Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, asked Menefee to raise his right hand and swear in. Prior to the ceremony, the 18th Congressional District went unrepresented for almost a year.
“We dove right in,” said the former Harris County Attorney, touting the closure of more than 500 constituent cases since he took office.
Those cases went unaddressed because Governor Greg Abbott delayed calling a special election, leaving the district unrepresented for 300+ days.
“To make a district go that long without representation, it meant that when the One Big Beautiful Bill [Act] came up for consideration, we had no debate, we had no vote from Texas-18,” Menefee said. “I felt a fire behind me pushing me to immediate action because of how long that vacancy had been.”
The law changed Medicaid policy, SNAP eligibility, and work requirements. Texas 18 had no sitting representative at the time of its passage.
According to Menefee, one of the keys to his success was hiring quality staff members, including district director Yuroba Harris, chief of staff Peter Hunter, press assistant Tatiana Battle, and communications director Claire Berry.
“We built out the Houston office with caseworkers who were in and of the community, including Spanish-speaking folks, so that we could really be in the best position to handle the constituent cases as soon as possible,” Menefee said.
Legislative actions
The Special Elections Timeliness Act, or the “SET Act,” filed in April, was one of Menefee’s first legislative moves and set a 180-day deadline for states to hold special elections and fill vacant House seats.
“It’s a nonpartisan proposition,” Menefee says. “I’ve heard folks complain about other states that have Democratic governors that have tried to play games with election timelines and delayed a special election.
“I don’t care if you’re Republican, Independent, Democratic…,” added Menefee. “If people in our communities are paying taxes, they should have a member of Congress to be their voice in Washington, D.C., to cast votes on their behalf, to help them get connected with government services.”
With Democrats in the minority, Menefee admits it would require Republican support to pass his legislation. He says he is slowly getting accustomed to the “frustrating” job of turning the authority of his congressional office into results, acknowledging that Congress demands more patience and compromise than his previous job as Harris County Attorney.
Simultaneously, he says he is counting on Democrats winning seats in November to flip the House, thereby allowing Menefee to secure the votes necessary to pass the bill.
When asked about any unusual bills he has voted on, Menefee mentioned the Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act (sponsored by a Republican Senator, James C. Justice), which expanded the list of eligible items for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) to include rotisserie chickens.
“If families in the 18th who were beneficiaries of SNAP who can now have the opportunity to get a rotisserie chicken, if that’s something that we can make law, I don’t care who drafted the bill,” Menefee said. “If a Republican or Democrat doesn’t matter to me, I’m voting yes on that.”
What’s next?
Focusing on the days ahead, Menefee wants to lower Houston families’ living costs by ending the war in Iran and addressing Trump’s tariffs.
“Gas prices have risen 40% since the war in Iran began. Not to mention that at one point, we were spending a billion dollars a day on this war…All of that is taxpayer money.”
Menefee added, “Only Congress has the power to declare war on another country. But Trump has completely disregarded that.”
The second affordability objective Menefee mentioned was Trump’s tariffs, which he said caused billions in damages to corporations and individuals.
“The president’s setting of tariffs unilaterally on other countries is setting tariffs on us,” he said. ”And that is increasing the cost of everything from groceries to utility bills.”
Limitations of the office
The transition from county attorney to being a member of Congress is vastly different for Menefee.
Describing his former office as having approximately 300 employees and a budget in the “tens of millions of dollars”, Menfee contrasted that with a congressional team of about 15 and a budget of “a few million”.
Menefee noted that when it came to decision-making power as county attorney, he could move quickly, but in Congress, progress depends on other members and leadership.
“When I can fight back against President Trump, that’s a good day in the office. But I also need to be able to get stuff done. That should be a nonpartisan thing.”
Christian Menefee, Congressman, 18th Congressional District
“Congress moves very slowly,” Menefee said. “It’s something that I’m getting used to, but I’m learning the importance of making friends before you need a friend, so that when the time comes where you can push stuff forward, you do that.”
Holding Menefee accountable
Asked what he should have accomplished if interviewed again next year, Menefee offered three standards, including community project funding, multiple town halls in the new district, and a meaningful role in holding the administration accountable.
“I should by that time have brought back several millions of dollars to the community,” said Menefee, identifying community project funding as the mechanism.
As the interview came to a close, Menefee stressed the importance of voting in the November midterms.
