Rep. Christian Menefee defeated Rep. Al Green in Tuesday's Democratic primary runoff for Houston's newly redrawn 18th Congressional District, according to the Associated Press. The AP called the race roughly 30 minutes after polls closed. Menefee secured 68.6% of the vote (21,678 ballots) to Green's 31.4% (9,930 ballots), with 61% of precincts reporting.
Menefee's victory effectively ends Green's 20-year career in the House. The two had emerged as top vote-getters in the March primary but failed to clear the threshold needed to avoid a runoff. Texas lawmakers redrew Green's old 9th District to favor Republicans, prompting him to run in the reconfigured 18th.
Menefee previously won a special election earlier this year to fill the seat vacated by the late Rep. Sylvester Turner. Tuesday's runoff was necessary for Menefee to retain the seat for the term beginning in 2027. The Associated Press provided the vote tally.
The contest turned contentious after the March primary. Green accused Menefee of making a "deal with the devil" by accepting contributions from a crypto super PAC. Menefee dismissed the remark as "desperate."
Menefee now heads to the general election as the heavy favorite in the heavily Democratic district. His win signals a generational shift in Houston's congressional delegation.