Rep. Al Green lost the Democratic primary runoff for Texas' 18th Congressional District to Rep. Christian Menefee on May 26 by a 69.4 percent to 30.6 percent margin, or 33,957 votes to 15,001. The defeat ended the 78-year-old incumbent's 11-term career and marked the first time an incumbent Democrat lost a primary in 2026. Republican-led redistricting that merged two Democratic districts created the matchup.
Redistricting Pits Two Incumbents Against Each Other
The new district lines forced Green into a runoff against Menefee after the pair finished first and second in the March primary. Green had represented the old 9th District for more than two decades. Menefee, a former Harris County attorney, held the old 18th District seat. The combined territory includes large portions of Houston and surrounding areas with strong Democratic majorities.
Green's long tenure did not shield him from the new boundaries. Voters in the combined district delivered a decisive verdict. Menefee carried every major precinct cluster in the runoff according to unofficial tallies reported by the Texas Tribune.
Green's State of the Union Protests Fuel Trump's Reaction
President Trump posted on Truth Social the day after the election. He wrote: "Congratulations to the Dumocrat Party! Al Green, one of the most mentally deficient Congressmen in the history of our Country, has lost, in a landslide, his seat in Congress – But I will miss that lunatic not screaming and violently waving his cane at me during my next State of the Union Speech." The message referenced Green's repeated disruptions during Trump's joint addresses to Congress.
Green has a documented pattern of protesting during those speeches. Capitol police have escorted him from the House chamber on multiple occasions for interrupting proceedings. His vocal opposition to Trump policies often included physical gestures with his cane that drew attention on the floor. Those episodes became a recurring point of friction between the two men over the past decade.
The primary result removes Green from future opportunities to confront Trump in that setting. Menefee will take the seat in January 2027 and has not signaled plans to continue the same style of floor protests.
