HOUSTON – A heated Democratic primary in Texas’ newly redrawn 18th Congressional District is headed to a runoff between longtime incumbent Al Green and freshman Congressman Christian Menefee, setting up a high-stakes showdown in May.
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Neither candidate cleared the 50% +1 threshold required under Texas law to avoid a runoff, despite both campaigns declaring momentum coming out of Tuesday night.
Menefee’s campaign said in a Wednesday morning release that he “finished first in the Democratic primary election for Texas’ 18th Congressional District,” marking what it described as a string of first-place finishes dating back to last year’s special election and subsequent runoff.
Green: ‘He needs to come to work’
Green, who has represented the Houston-area district for two decades, did not mince words when asked about the runoff and his opponent’s record.
“And in the runoff, we’re gonna talk about things that are truthful,” Green said.
The congressman repeatedly accused Menefee of missing work, including a classified briefing.
“He missed a classified briefing yesterday (Tuesday). A classified briefing on the war,” Green said. “He was eager to be there to celebrate a victory that was illusory based on a fake poll. At some point, reality has set in. He’s got to come work.”
According to GovTrack.us, a non-governmental website that tracks Congress, Menefee has missed 9 out of 29 roll call votes between February 2 to February 25. On Election night, Menefee’s team said he was heading to Washington Wednesday morning.
KPRC 2 News reached out to the Menefee campaign for comment on missing votes.
Green also pushed back on claims that he is running a negative campaign.
“How can I be desperate if I’m in a dead heat? That means that he must be desperate, too. Our numbers are about the same,” Green said. “If it is desperate to say the truth, to speak the truth, then I guess I’m desperate because the truth is what I have said — he didn’t come to work for a week.”
Green argued that while Menefee talks about what he plans to do, he is already delivering.
“He’s always talking about what he’s going to do in the future. And I’m doing everything that he’s saying he will do right now,” Green said. “He’s been sworn in. He’s a member of Congress. Somebody tell him the way to Washington D.C.”
The veteran lawmaker also dismissed Menefee’s political rise as fueled by outside spending.
“He does not have a reputation that he’s earned. He bought it with money. It’s a store-bought reputation. They spent millions of dollars against me to build a reputation for him. My reputation is over 20 years,” Green said.
Looking ahead, Green said he is ready to continue the fight and to debate.
“We’re going to win this,” he said. “I’m ready to debate whenever he is.”
Menefee: ‘We’re building a coalition’
Menefee, who was sworn into office just weeks ago, was forced to run again after Texas Republicans redrew the state’s congressional maps. His campaign blamed GOP leaders for triggering the unusual back-to-back contests.
“After Texas Republicans gerrymandered congressional maps in the state, Congressman Menefee had to run again in a newly drawn district just weeks after being sworn into office,” the campaign said, adding that voter confusion did not prevent him from emerging as the top vote-getter.
In a statement, Menefee pointed to national and state Republican leaders.
“I didn’t ask for these new maps, Congressman Green didn’t ask for this, and the voters of this district certainly didn’t ask for this,” Menefee said. “But I want to be clear about one thing: we are not going to let Donald Trump and Greg Abbott use this gerrymandering scheme as a distraction from the real issues facing the people of this country.”
Menefee also framed the race as a contrast in tone and leadership.
“I’m standing firm, I’m doing the right thing, and I’m serving my communities. So, Al Green, you can tear us down, but I’m gonna build us up,” he said Tuesday night.
In another swipe at the 20-year incumbent, Menefee added, “this race is going to be about the integrity that we have for the future. Not about tearing other people down because you don’t want to go get another job.”
The campaign also touted what it called a surge in Democratic enthusiasm statewide, saying turnout reached its highest levels in 20 years.
“In each stage of this race, voters have put their trust in me, and I don’t take that lightly,” Menefee said in the release. “We are building a coalition that can win in May, and we are ready to win this runoff.”
A defining runoff ahead
The May runoff will decide the Democratic nominee in a district that has long been a Democratic stronghold but is now navigating new political boundaries.
With both candidates’ claiming momentum, the contest is poised to test whether Democratic primary voters prefer the experience of a long-serving incumbent or the energy of a newly elected lawmaker who says he represents the future of the district.