The death of U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee has opened up questions about the future of her Congressional seat, with a special election to fill the remainder of her term and a decision to be made about her replacement for the November ballot. As one of the longest-serving members of Congress and a staple of Houston politics, her passing has triggered a series of electoral procedures laid out under state law.
According to the Houston Chronicle, the Harris County Democratic Party has until August 26 to nominate a candidate for the November 5 general election. Should they fail to nominate in time, the Texas Democratic Party has an extra two days to select a nominee. Legal counsel for the Texas Democratic Party, Chad Dunn, remarked that party rules recommend at least a ten-day period before a meeting is called to decide on a candidate following the creation of a vacancy.
With regard to who will occupy Jackson Lee's seat until the end of her term in January, Governor Greg Abbott has the authority to call a special election. As of yet, however, his office has not indicated when, or even if, a special election will be called. This detail carries weight, given the current razor-thin GOP margin in Congress, which could render any vacancy politically significant, as noted by Southern Methodist University political science professor Cal Jillson, in a statement obtained by the Houston Chronicle.
In contrast to the Senate, where governors can appoint replacements, the process for a vacant House seat in Texas necessitates a public vote. "The governor can kind of delay things so that it is the case that Republicans have a bit easier time in terms of getting a majority after, that this happens," University of Houston political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus told KHOU 11. The same KHOU 11 interview with Rottinghaus suggested that Amanda Edwards, who ran against Jackson Lee in the primary, could potentially be chosen to fill the November ballot slot, further noting the unlikelihood of a Republican claiming the 18th Congressinal District given its demographic and political makeup.
While the upcoming decisions hold significance for local politics, they equally play into the larger national landscape, especially considering the tight balances of power in Congress. The timing of these decisions, as Rottinghaus pointed out, will coincide with the governor's deadline to call for a special election, although the actual election may lag by a couple of months. This critical timing will ultimately affect both the local and national political spheres as leadership transitions loom in the wake of Rep. Jackson Lee's passing.
