Democrat Christian Menefee won a Texas special election for the U.S. House of Representatives on Saturday, the Associated Press reported, a result that will narrow Republicans’ already slender majority in the chamber.
Democrats Menefee, 37, a former Harris County attorney, and Amanda Edwards, 44, a former Houston city council member, were vying in a runoff to represent Texas’ 18th Congressional District, a solidly Democratic area encompassing much of the inner city of Houston and the surrounding region.
In the U.S. House, Republicans hold a 218-213 majority. Democrats will insist upon a prompt swearing-in for Menefee, tightening the Republican lead to 218-214. Three House vacancies in Georgia, New Jersey and California are scheduled to be filled by special elections in March, April and August, respectively.
