A voter looks at a map at San Jacinto College to understand how redistricting impacted US House districts in the region. (Photo by Moises Avila/AFP via Getty Images)
16 candidates are vying for the 18th Congressional District seat in Houston. But Republican redistricting won’t impact the November race.
As Houston area voters prepare to head to the polls for a Nov. 4 special election in the 18th Congressional District, election officials want them to know that the district’s boundaries haven’t changed—yet.
That’s despite a Republican effort that redrew the state’s congressional maps and targeted two US House districts in Houston, including the 18th District, in August. The new maps—called racial gerrymandering by critics—packed more Black voters into the 18th District while redrawing the 9th Congressional District to flip it to Republican control.
The new maps weren’t created in time to be used in the November special election, according to Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth, who oversees elections in the county. The new district boundaries will be in place for 2026 elections, unless a court blocks them.
“We’re preparing for this election based on the current maps,” said Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth. “Until we receive official certification from the state, nothing changes.”
Voters will choose from among 16 candidates in the November election. The winner will serve the remainder of the term for US Rep. Sylvester Turner, who died in March. Another election will be held in 2026 for the full, two-year term that starts in January 2027.
The November ballot also includes 17 state constitutional amendments, and a special election for the At-Large Position 4 seat on the Houston City Council.
“Our priority is to provide clarity and ensure voters understand what’s on the ballot now,” Hudspeth noted.
“I know we’re hyperfocused on that special election. There are so many other important races that voters need to pay attention to,” she added.
William Coffey, a resident of the 18th District, emphasized the importance of the November election. Coffey will be able to vote in the special election, but redistricting pushed him out of the district for the 2026 election.
“Even though I’m being drawn out, I’m doing this for the people still in CD-18,” Coffey said. “What we need is fighters down there. We need people who won’t just sit in an office and play it safe. The community deserves leaders who will challenge broken systems and stand up for working-class families.”
Marina Coryat, a resident of the 18th District, wasn’t impacted by the redistricting. But she said waiting eight months to fill the seat, along with the redistricting process, created problems.
“Redistricting in the middle of the decade is a waste of time and taxpayer money. It’s a tactic to frustrate and discourage voters, especially when it’s not truly accounting for the people,” Coryat said. “We need to be focusing on the issues at hand—jobs, the economy, and public health—not political maneuvering.”
The voter registration deadline is Oct. 6. Early voting runs from Oct. 20 to Oct. 31. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, a runoff between the two top vote-getters will take place in January.
