Democrat Christian Menefee wins special election for U.S. House in Texas
CBSN
Democrat Christian Menefee won a Texas U.S. House seat in a special election Saturday that will narrow Republicans' already-slim majority, telling President Trump that the Democratic district "topples corrupt presidencies." In:
Democrat Christian Menefee won a Texas U.S. House seat in a special election Saturday that will narrow Republicans' already-slim majority, telling President Trump that the Democratic district "topples corrupt presidencies."
Menefee, the Harris County attorney, prevailed in a runoff against Amanda Edwards, a former Houston City Council member. He will replace the late Rep. Sylvester Turner, a former Houston mayor, who died in March 2025.
The seat representing the heavily Democratic Houston-based district has been vacant for nearly a year.
Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott didn't schedule the first round of voting until November. Menefee and Edwards were the top vote-getters in a 16-candidate, all-parties primary. They advanced to a runoff because no candidate won a majority of the vote.
Speaking to supporters at his victory party, Menefee promised to fight for universal health insurance, seek to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations and "tear ICE up from the roots."
Democrat Christian Menefee won a Texas U.S. House seat in a special election Saturday that will narrow Republicans' already-slim majority, telling President Trump that the Democratic district "topples corrupt presidencies." In:
Crystal Sale: I walk into the hospital … saw my daughter there … And I watched them do CPR and … I'll never forget that. TINA HOPKINS (TikTok): … my niece was murdered. We don't have hardly any information. TINA HOPKINS (TikTok): There is an ongoing investigation … JACOB PIERCY (911 call): One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four. TINA HOPKINS (TikTok): He was actually sitting in the parking lot of her apartment, watching everything Katlyn was doing. CRYSTAL SALE (TikTok): I woke up this morning in sheer panic. CRYSTAL SALE (TikTok): I'll get a text message. And for an instant, I'll think that it's Katlyn. CRYSTAL SALE (TikTok) We now have a new court date. … This one should be it, and I pray to God that it is. LEILA MITCHELL | (TikTok): Today the jury will be told that they can either find Trenton Frye guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder. Or they can find him not guilty at all. SHERRY COX (TikTok): All of our nerves are on edge … So, wish us all luck today. It's gonna be rough. CRYSTAL SALE (TikTok): I think everyone that has lost their lives to domestic violence, their names need to be said. CRYSTAL SALE (TikTok): I don't want another mother, another family to go through what we're going through. I have to be my daughter's voice and I have to help save other women.
This story originally aired on Nov. 30, 2024. It was updated on Jan. 31, 2026. In:
One day before a planned naval drill by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, an explosion tore through an apartment building Saturday in the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, which sits on the strait. In:
Gregory Bovino, the controversial Border Patrol leader who helped oversee the immigration surge in Minnesota, allegedly used language offensive to the Jewish federal officials on a recent call, multiple sources familiar with the call told CBS News. In:
Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez on Friday announced an amnesty bill that could lead to the release of hundreds of prisoners, including opposition leaders, journalists and human rights activists detained for political reasons. Margaret Brennan contributed to this report. In:
A new government memo disclosed in federal court granted Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers more leeway to carry out warrantless arrests of those suspected of being in the U.S. illegally. In: