After U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s death, Texas Democrats have to find a new candidate for November

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Since 1995, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee had been synonymous with Texas’ 18th Congressional District, where she won 15 U.S. House terms. But after the veteran congresswoman’s death Friday at the age of 74, the district will have a new member representing them in Washington.

The possibility and timing of a special election to fill Jackson Lee’s seat for the remainder of the current term, which concludes in January, remain uncertain.

Gov. Greg Abbott can call a special election to fill the congressional seat for the rest of the year. State law does not specify a deadline to call a special election, but if it is called the election is required to happen within two months of the announcement. The governor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

When U.S. Rep. Ron Wright, a Republican, died from COVID-19 in 2021, a special election was called within the month.

“The history of Texas is to call a special election and fill the unexpired term. So that's what we expect Governor Abbott to do,” said Chad Dunn, a Texas Democratic Party lawyer.

Jackson Lee died amid a battle with pancreatic cancer.

She was set to be on November’s general election ballot after defeating Amanda Edwards — a former intern for Jackson Lee — in the March Democratic primary. Democrats now have to decide on another candidate.

Texas law lays out the procedures for Democrats to nominate a new candidate to run against Lana Centonze, the Republican candidate, in the general election.

Dunn said that while “Sheila Jackson Lee can’t be replaced,” local officials will hold a meeting at least 10 days out to select a new candidate.

That meeting will include the Democratic Party’s 18th district executive committee, which by Texas law has until 5 p.m. on Aug. 26 to nominate someone. The committee is made of Harris County precinct chairs — elected officials representing chunks of the district. There are around 88 precinct chairs in the 18th district.

During the committee’s selection process, potential candidates will make their case to the precinct chairs, explaining their positions and priorities. Dunn said that while the decision is made by the precinct chairs, it is still a “very democratic process” as the meetings are public and precinct chairs are “the smallest unit of representative government we have.”

The committee is allowed to pick anyone for the nomination, even if they don’t live in the district.

If a selection isn’t made in time, the Texas Democratic Party gets an additional two days to make a choice, although this scenario is unlikely. The rule exists largely for bigger districts spanning multiple rural counties, where it can be hard to organize a meeting on time.

If the Texas Democratic Party fails to make a new nomination on time, Jackson Lee remains on the ballot. If she is then elected, the seat would be vacant and a new election would be called.

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