Christian Menefee Wins Texas 18th District Runoff by 37 Points
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 27
Christian Menefee Wins Texas 18th District Runoff by 37 Points
18 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 27
AP called the Houston-area Democratic runoff for Christian Menefee after he opened a 69%-31% lead over Al Green with 61% of the vote reported.
Menefee, 38, defeated Green, 78, in a rare incumbent-versus-incumbent contest created by Texas Republicans’ redrawing of congressional lines.
Crypto-backed super PAC Fairshake and allies spent more than $5.7 million against Green, a longtime industry critic, and reporters said the group viewed the runoff as its path to elect Menefee.
The result unseats an 11-term congressman and underscores both a generational shift inside Texas Democrats and the growing clout of outside money in House primaries.
When redistricting forces a choice between two strong leaders, how can a community prevent the loss of its political influence?
With federal voting protections weakened, what power do state courts and constitutions have to prevent future gerrymandering?
How is massive spending from new sources like crypto PACs changing the nature of local primary campaigns?