Latest news with #SylvesterTurner
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
State Rep. Jolanda Jones to campaign for seat left vacant by congressman's death
AUSTIN (KXAN)– Texas State Rep. Jolanda Jones announced Monday her campaign for Congress, seeking to fill the seat left vacant by Rep. Sylvester Turner's death earlier this year. The Houston Democrat becomes the latest candidate to enter what has become a competitive race for the 18th Congressional District, joining Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards, energy executive Zoe Cadore, realtor Peter Filler, community advocate Robert Slater and independent candidates Reyna Anderson and Chance Davis. Jones emphasized her commitment to protecting federal programs and constitutional freedoms in her campaign launch, positioning herself as an experienced advocate ready to confront Republican policy initiatives in Washington. The Nov. 4 special election will determine Turner's replacement in a district considered safely Democratic. Turner died in March after serving just two months of his first term. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee previously held the seat before her death in 2024. Gov. Greg Abbott sets Nov. 4 special election to fill U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner's seat Gov. Greg Abbott faced criticism from Democrats for waiting to schedule the special election until the November uniform election date, leaving the district without representation for nine months. However the extended timeline allowed Jones to complete the legislative session before launching her congressional campaign, as she had pledged to focus on her state house duties until the session concluded. Menefee criticized the governor's decision, stating it was 'unconscionable to leave nearly 800,000 people in this district without representation in Congress for most of the year.' Abbott defended the timeline, citing concerns about Harris County's election administration capabilities, though county officials disputed his characterization of their election operations. Jones brings diverse government experience to the congressional race. She has represented House District 147 at the State Capitol since winning the election in 2022, where she worked on criminal justice, health policy and redistricting issues. Before her legislative service, Jones spent four years on Houston City Council representing an at-large position from 2008-2012. She also served on the Houston Independent School District school board. The veteran attorney waited until the end of the legislative session to announce her congressional campaign, citing her responsibility to current constituents in the state house. Her legal practice spans more than two decades, during which she worked on high-profile cases including efforts to reform Houston's police crime laboratory following evidence handling problems. In Congress, Jones said she would prioritize defending social programs, including Social Security and Medicare from potential reductions. She also plans to advocate for expanded healthcare access and reproductive rights restoration. The candidate emphasized her long-standing advocacy for women's healthcare autonomy and pledged to work toward reversing federal abortion restrictions. Veterans' benefits protection and education funding would also receive focus under her congressional agenda, along with infrastructure investments for the Houston region. Several Democrats have already launched campaigns for the seat: Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee entered the race first, securing support from former congressional candidates Colin Allred and Beto O'Rourke. Lee's daughter, Erica Lee Carter, chairs his campaign organization. Former city council member Amanda Edwards brings municipal government experience and private sector leadership as head of a community solutions consulting firm. She spearheaded Houston's technology innovation initiatives during her council tenure and maintains extensive nonprofit board involvement. Energy industry executive Zoe Cadore is running after serving as a federal affairs director for Calpine Corporation. Her background includes policy work with the American Petroleum Institute and involvement in Turner's mayoral administration. Peter Filler, a real estate professional with environmental science training, offers urban forestry expertise and Texas teaching credentials to the race. Robert Slater campaigns on economic revitalization and public safety improvements, drawing from personal experiences growing up in underserved Houston communities. Independent candidates Chance Davis and Reyna Anderson, running under the 'Other' party designation, round out the field. The 18th District encompasses some of Houston's most politically active communities and serves as a crucial Democratic stronghold in Texas. With Republicans holding a narrow House majority, maintaining the seat remains important for Democratic legislative priorities. The extended vacancy has left constituents without representation during key congressional debates over federal spending and policy initiatives. Jones' candidacy adds state-level legislative experience to a field dominated by local government veterans and private sector professionals, potentially appealing to voters seeking Austin connections for federal advocacy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Abbott said Harris County needs more time before calling special election to fill vacant U.S. House seat
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — When asked why he has not called for a special election to fill the vacant seat left by the passing of former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Governor Greg Abbott said Harris County will need 'adequate time' to conduct the election after 'repeated failures' in the past. But Democratic lawmakers at the state and federal level say the Governor is playing politics as U.S. House Republicans hold a slim majority. 'Had I called that very quickly, it could have led to a failure in that election, just like Harris County has failed in other elections, they need to have adequate time to operate a fair and accurate election, not a crazy election, like what they've conducted in the past,' Gov. Abbott said during a live newscast to Nexstar. Harris County elections have drawn scrutiny in the past from lawmakers. An audit of the elections in the county between 2021 and 2022 found 'systemic failures by the Harris County Elections Administrator to properly distribute election supplies, including ballots, train election workers, and maintain the voter roll have contributed to a breakdown in public trust in the Harris County election system.' In 2023, the Texas legislature passed Senate Bill 1750, which abolished the role of elections administrator in Harris County and returned the election duties back to the county clerk. Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth said in a statement to Nexstar that since resuming election duties in September 2023, her office has successfully conducted eight elections. 'We remain fully prepared to conduct the Congressional District 18 election as soon as the Governor issues the order,' Hudspeth's statement read. The governor said he will call for the election 'sometime soon,' but Houston-area lawmakers at a news conference at the state Capitol Thursday demanded the governor call for the election now. 'Please call a special election today and let the people vote,' State Rep. Jolanda Jones, D – Houston, said. CD 18 encompasses parts of Houston. A Democrat has represented that area for decades and now Democratic members believe the governor is not calling for a special election because he knows a Democrat will win the seat and chip away at the seven-seat majority the Republicans currently hold in the U.S. House. State Representatives Christina Morales, D – Houston, Charlene Ward Johnson, D – Houston, Lauren Ashley Simmons, D – Houston, and State Senator Molly Cook, D – Houston, were all at the news conference Thursday in solidarity to raise concerns for the people living in CD 18. 'People not only deserve fair representation in these policies that are affecting them, they need constituent services, and right now they are being denied the person who can run point for that district to make sure that folks are drawing down the federal dollars that they need,' Cook said. Ward Johnson added, 'We're losing out on funding and an important vote that impacts our district. We need someone in congressional district 18 that's going to be our voice.' House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D – New York, told reporters this week that House Democrats would likely sue if the governor does not call for a special election. Gov. Abbott is the only person who can call for the election and has no formal deadline to do so. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
City of Houston on pace to go $72 million past overtime budget
The Brief The City of Houston is expected to go $72 million past the overtime budget this fiscal year. Several city services are understaffed, forcing many employees to work overtime. City councilmembers call the report "bleak." HOUSTON - The massive cost of overtime paid to vital municipal workers is deepening the City of Houston's $300 million financial deficit, according to Controller Chris Hollins' Office. Police, firefighters and solid waste provide what are considered critical core services and yet, in the nation's fourth-largest city, all are departments which remain chronically understaffed. By the numbers According to the Controller's office, the City is on pace to bust the budget for overtime by $72 million this fiscal year, an all-time record. The 8-year labor dispute between former Mayor Sylvester Turner and the firefighters' union decimated the ranks, leaving HFD 800 first responders short. Filling the gap necessitated overtime pay, with the average firefighter picking up an extra $750 per week. With HPD short on fresh recruits and ravaged by retirements, Houston Police officers picked up an extra $500 per week in OT, on average. Also exacerbating the City's overtime issue were multiple weather disasters and a three-year crime wave which triggered public demands for more policing. The Controller's report included a "Top Ten" list of overtime earners. One rank-and-file firefighter with a salary of $80,000 racked up an additional $218,000 in overtime pay. An HPD an officer with a base pay of $91,000 earned an additional $140,000 in wages working additional shifts. What they're saying With little relief expected in the near term, Councilmembers called the Controller's revelation "bleak". "We really can't just continue to throw money at it. We need to figure out how these departments are running, how they could be more efficient," said Councilmember Joaquin Martinez. Councilmember Sally Alcorn was even more blunt. "There's nobody who can look at this presentation and not know we better change the way we are doing things," said Alcorn. Firefighter Union President Marty Lancton issued a scathing rebuttal to the Controller's report. "The reality is that years of neglect under the previous administration left the Houston Fire Department (HFD) dangerously understaffed by about 800 firefighters. Excessive overtime has been necessary just to maintain emergency response levels and keep Houstonians safe," said Lancton. The Source Information in this article comes from a report from Controller Chris Hollins' Office, comments from Houston city council and the firefighters' union.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Candidates frustrated with Gov. Greg Abbott as TX-18 election date still hasn't been set
The Brief No election date has been scheduled to fill Sylvester Turner's seat in Texas' 18th Congressional district. Gov. Greg Abbott must set the election date. The district which represents much of inner-city Houston and surrounding areas. HOUSTON - Several candidates have declared their candidacy for late Congressman Sylvester Turner's open seat, but, at this time, no date has been set for the special election to replace him. Governor Greg Abbott must schedule the special election to replace Turner, but with every vote counting in Congress, some are accusing the governor of intentionally dragging out the process to fill a seat in the heavily Democratic 18th District. The special election is typically held to coincide with a regularly scheduled election date. The next regularly scheduled election is Saturday, May 3, 2025, but the deadline to put a vote for Texas' 18th District on the ballot was missed. The next election after that will be held on November 4, 2025. What they're saying Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, who is running for the seat representing Texas' 18th Congressional District, called on Gov. Abbott to put the special election on the calendar. He held a news conference on Monday. "It's no secret that Gov. Abbott and I don't agree on many policies. I've pushed back against him many times. But the one thing we should both be able to agree on is that all Texans deserve representation," said Menefee. "Governor Abbott is fully aware of his legal obligation to call a special election when a vacancy occurs, as he has acknowledged under both the U.S. Constitution and Texas law. In the past, he has called special elections just days after vacancies in other districts, including as few as 4 days after a vacancy in Texas's 34th District in 2022. Yet, despite the urgency of the situation in the 18th District—especially as hurricane season looms—Abbott has remained silent." Former Houston City Council Member Amanda Edwards also posted on social media last week called for the special election. Local perspective Until the election, Texas' 18th Congressional District will not have a vote in the House of Representatives. The district's offices will continue to represent the people of TX-18 by offering constituent services. Big picture view Republicans currently hold 218 seats in the US House. Democrats hold 213. There are currently four seats that are vacant in Congress, including TX-18. Last week, President Donald Trump announced that he was pulling Rep. Elise Stefanik's nomination to the United Nations over concerns that it could threaten Republicans' tight majority in the House, posting on Truth Social that it was "essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress." The announcement shows a growing concern among some in the GOP that the majority will narrow and risk their control of the chamber. The backstory Congressman Sylvester Turner died on March 5, 2025. Turner was elected to represent Texas' 18th Congressional District in the November 2024 election. The district includes much of inner-city Houston and the surrounding areas. Before Turner, the seat was held for a short time by Erica Lee Carter, the daughter of late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Lee represented the district from 1995 until July 2024, when she died of pancreatic cancer. Abbott called the special election to fill Lee's seat about two weeks after her death. Several candidates have already filed FEC paperwork to run for Texas' 18th District. Democrats: Christian Menefee Amanda Edwards Laverne Crump Earnest Clayton Kivan Polimis Robert Slater Selena Samuel Isaiah Martin James Joseph Republicans: Deshon Porter Cyrus Sajna Independents: Derrell Turner Chance Davis Khristopher Beal Tejas Tuppera The Source Information in this article comes from Christian Menefee, the Federal Election Commission and the Associated Press.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
No timetable from Texas governor on filling late Democratic congressman's vacant seat
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The race to fill a Texas congressional seat has candidates but no election date more than three weeks after Rep. Sylvester Turner's death left a vacancy in a stronghold for Democrats, who are eager to cut into Republicans' narrow U.S. House majority. Turner, a former Houston mayor, died March 5 just weeks into his first term in Congress. Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has the sole authority to call a special election but has not said when he might do so, drawing criticism from some Democrats who have accused him of trying to help protect the GOP's margins. The seat is one of four vacancies in Congress, including two in Florida, where voters next week will choose successors in special elections for a pair of GOP-held districts. Republicans currently hold 218 seats, while Democrats hold 213 seats. 'An announcement on a special election will be made at a later date,' Abbott spokesman Andrew Mahaleris said in an email, in response to whether the House majority is factoring into the governor's decision-making. Texas holds dates for local, state and special elections twice a year in May and November. In 2021, Abbott called for a special election two weeks after Republican Rep. Ron Wright became the first member of Congress to die after contracting COVID-19 during the pandemic. Last year, Abbott called a special election for the vacant seat of Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee about two weeks after her death in July. 'This is very clearly playing political games. They know the U.S. majority in the House is on razor-thin margins,' said Democratic state Rep. Gene Wu of Houston, leader of the state House Democratic Caucus. On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced that he was pulling Rep. Elise Stefanik's nomination to the United Nations over concerns that it could threaten Republicans' tight majority in the House, posting on his Truth Social platform that it was 'essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress.' His announcement reflects a growing concern among House Republicans who are fearful that the margins of their five-seat majority will tighten. Losing a few seats could jeopardize their control of the chamber and ability to carry out Trump's sweeping agenda. Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee and former Houston City Council Member Amanda Edwards are two of the top candidates vying for the Texas seat. Menefee quickly acquired endorsements from former Democratic Reps. Colin Allred and Beto O'Rourke. Edwards, an attorney, ran for the sweat twice last year. In Arizona, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs called for a special election days after Rep. Raul Grijalva died on March 13. ___ Lathan is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
