Menefee Tops Green With 69 Percent in TX-18 Runoff

Christian Menefee defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Al Green with 69.4 percent of the vote to Green's 30.6 percent in the May 26 Democratic primary runoff for Texas's 18th congressional district. The outcome followed Republican redistricting that targeted several Democratic seats. Two incumbents lost in the runoffs held after the March 3 primaries failed to produce majority winners.

Republican Maps Target Five Democratic Seats

Texas Republicans passed new congressional maps in August 2025 during a special session that began in July. The lines aimed to create five additional Republican-leaning districts by altering seats held by Democrats including Marc Veasey, Vicente Gonzalez, Lloyd Doggett, Julie Johnson and Al Green. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the maps for 2026 use in December 2025 after lower court challenges.

Mid-decade redistricting remains uncommon. Lawmakers drew the lines outside the regular post-census cycle to shift the balance of power in the state's 38-member House delegation. The changes forced several Democratic incumbents into new territory or stronger challenges from within their party.

Menefee Wins Decisively in Houston District

Menefee secured a strong majority in the TX-18 runoff. The result ended Green's long tenure in the seat. Green had represented the district since 2005. The new map altered the district's composition enough to open the door for a challenger.

Voters in the reshaped district delivered a clear preference. Menefee's margin exceeded 38 points. The outcome marked one of the most lopsided results among the runoffs triggered by the redrawn lines.

Allred Edges Johnson in TX-33

Former Rep. Colin Allred defeated incumbent Rep. Julie Johnson with 54.9 percent to 45.1 percent in the TX-33 Democratic runoff. Allred previously held a neighboring seat before losing a Senate bid. The new map placed the two Democrats in the same district for the primary contest.

Johnson had won the seat in 2022. The runoff forced a direct matchup between the sitting member and the former congressman. Allred's narrow victory sets up a general election contest in a district altered by the 2025 lines.

Runoff Results at a Glance

The table above shows the final certified margins from the May 26 contests. Other targeted incumbents including Veasey, Gonzalez and Doggett faced primary challenges under the new maps, though specific runoff outcomes for those districts were not required in this cycle.

Democratic candidates now turn to the November general election. The redrawn districts will test whether the party can hold its remaining seats against Republican opponents in the altered landscape.