A unique scenario is playing out today in Texas's 18th congressional district, where voters are replacing longtime Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who died in July. Those voters are choosing not one, but two different people to fill Jackson Lee's seat. First, there is a special election to fill the remainder of Jackson Lee's current term, which is essentially the rest of this year. Then, there is a general election for the new two-year term that begins in early January.
In the special election, there are three candidates: Erica Lee Carter (D), who is Jackson Lee's daughter; Maria Dunn (R) and Kevin Dural (R). Under special election rules, multiple candidates from either party are allowed with the winner needing to receive at least 50 percent of the vote. "If there were two Democrats instead of two Republican candidates, it quite possibly could have gone to a runoff," says Mark Jones, Rice University political science professor. "But since Erica Lee Carter is the only Democrat, she is going to clear 50 percent without much difficulty."
In the general election race, former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner (D) faces Lana Centonze (R). "Turner opted not to run (in the special election) to allow Jackson Lee's daughter to symbolically serve in Congress for a little more than a month," says Jones.
Despite the confusion surrounding the circumstances of the elections, Jones predicts the outcomes are all but assured in this heavily-Democrat district. "Sylvester Turner will win the regular election and represent the district for a two-year term beginning in January, and Erica Lee Carter will win the special election and represent the district for the remainder of Sheila Jackson Lee's term," he tells KTRH.