Last week, Houston Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee died after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
On Friday evening, her family released a statement saying, in part, “Today, with incredible grief for our loss yet deep gratitude for the life she shared with us, we announce the passing of United States Representative Sheila Jackson Lee of the 18th Congressional District of Texas.”
This will be the first time the 18th Congressional District will change hands since Jackson Lee ousted Craig Washington in 1995, leaving many wondering what will happen not only in the current election cycle, as Jackson Lee remains on the ballot for November, but what will happen for the rest of the current term.
Gov. Greg Abbott is permitted by state law to call a special election, which must be held within two months following the call, to fill the vacant seat through the end of the current term which ends in December. While his office has not yet indicated what he plans to do, state and local Democrats expect him to call for one.
For the upcoming November election, however, the local Democrat Party will choose Jackson Lee’s replacement to place on the ballot. However, state law prohibits them from doing so until at least 10 days following her death. The party has until 5 p.m. on August 26 to select a nominee. The Executive Committee of the Harris County Democratic Party, a body made up of the party’s precinct chairs, will convene, hear from candidates, and then vote to nominate someone as their party’s nominee to challenge Lana Centonze, the Republican nominee in the race.
If the Executive Committee fails to decide in time, the state party has until August 28 to select a nominee, and if that does not occur, she will remain on the ballot. If elected, the seat would be vacant and another special election would be called.
Although no Democrat has yet announced their intention to replace Jackson Lee, former Houston City Council Member Amanda Edwards, who lost to Jackson Lee in the most recent CD18 Democrat Primary, is expected to be one of many candidates to seek the nomination.
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