Early voting begins January 21 for Texas 18th District runoff election in Houston-area congressional seat
Early voting schedule set for Jan. 31 runoff
Early voting is set to begin Wednesday, Jan. 21, for the special election runoff to fill the unexpired term in Texas’ 18th Congressional District, a Houston-based seat that has been vacant since March 2025. Election Day for the runoff is Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026.
Voting will be conducted through Harris County vote centers. Early vote centers are scheduled to operate from Jan. 21 through Jan. 27, with weekday and Saturday hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday hours of 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. On Election Day, vote centers are scheduled to be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The deadline for an application to vote by mail is Tuesday, Jan. 20, under the county’s posted election schedule for the runoff.
Why the seat is on the ballot
The runoff follows a special election held on Nov. 4, 2025, when no candidate won the majority required to claim the seat outright. The 18th District includes parts of central and north Houston, and the contest has drawn attention because it will determine who represents the district in Washington for the remainder of the current term.
Gov. Greg Abbott previously set Jan. 31 as the runoff date and Jan. 21 as the first day of early voting for the contest.
Runoff matchup: Christian Menefee vs. Amanda Edwards
The Jan. 31 ballot will feature the top two finishers from the November special election:
- Christian Menefee, Harris County Attorney
- Amanda Edwards, former Houston City Council member
In the Nov. 4 special election, Menefee led the field with 22,022 votes (about 29%), while Edwards finished second with 19,467 votes (about 26%). The race drew a large field, reflecting the district’s prominence in Houston politics and the compressed timetable typical of special elections.
What voters should know before heading to the polls
Harris County’s vote center model allows eligible voters in the district to cast ballots at any open vote center location in the county during the election period, rather than being limited to a single precinct polling place. Voters can also use the county’s ballot information tools to confirm eligibility for the specific contest and review what will appear on their ballot.
Key dates: Early voting runs Jan. 21–27; the mail-ballot application deadline is Jan. 20; Election Day is Jan. 31, 2026.
The winner of the Jan. 31 runoff will take office after results are canvassed and certified, filling the seat for the remainder of the term.