The Texas Tribune reports:
Three weeks after U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner’s death and just over a month before the state’s next uniform election, Gov. Greg Abbott has not yet called a special election to fill the seat representing parts of Houston, a Democratic stronghold, in Congress. Turner, who previously served in the Texas House for nearly three decades before becoming mayor of Houston, died March 5, two months into his first term representing Texas’ 18th Congressional District.
Abbott has the sole authority to call a special election to fill Turner’s seat for the rest of the two-year term. State law does not specify a deadline for the governor to order a special election. If called, the election must happen within two months of the announcement. Turner’s death — in addition to the death this month of an Arizona Democrat, U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva — comes at a critical moment for Republicans, who hold a razor-thin majority in the House.
Read the full article.
Congressman Sylvester Turner sadly passed away on Wednesday, March 5.
His home-going service took place on Saturday, March 15.
Why hasn’t the Texas Governor called a special election to fill this vacant seat? pic.twitter.com/ID0xZO5djh
— Hakeem Jeffries (@hakeemjeffries) March 25, 2025