Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced that a special election will be held on November 5 to fill the vacant seat left by the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX). The winner of the election will serve out the remainder of Jackson Lee’s term, which is set to expire on January 3, 2025.
The special election will coincide with the general election, in which voters will also elect a new representative to serve a full two-year term in the House of Representatives. Candidates interested in running for the special election must file by August 22, according to Abbott’s proclamation.
Several candidates have already thrown their hats into the ring, including former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and former Houston City Councilwoman Amanda Edwards. Turner, who finished his second term as mayor earlier this year, has said that Jackson Lee’s passing prompted him to come out of retirement. “Only Sheila’s passing at this critical moment in the election cycle could bring me out of retirement,” Turner wrote on his campaign website.
Edwards, who challenged Jackson Lee in the Democratic primary earlier this year, has also announced her candidacy. “We must honor [Jackson Lee’s] strong legacy by continuing and building upon her efforts in addition to bringing forth new solutions, as well,” Edwards wrote in a post announcing her candidacy.
The 18th Congressional District, which includes parts of downtown Houston and some of its northern suburbs, has been a Democratic stronghold for over 50 years. Jackson Lee, who died last month at the age of 74, had represented the district since 1994. Vice President Kamala Harris, a fellow member of the Congressional Black Caucus, delivered the eulogy at Jackson Lee’s funeral this week.
