State Rep. Jolanda Jones has thrown her hat into the ring for the vacant US congressional seat in Texas' 18th district, following the unexpected deaths of former Congresswoman Sheila Jackson and Congressman Sylvester Turner. As reported by KHOU, Jones' campaign comes on the heels of the conclusion of the Texas Legislature's 2025 regular session, which ended earlier this month.
According to The Texas Tribune, Jones will be joining other candidates such as Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards in a contest that has already seen endorsements from prominent figures on the Democratic side. A former national track and field champion and a longtime public servant, Jones brings a diverse portfolio to the table, including her recent work in legislation concerning pretrial detention.
Jones made it clear that her focus as a congresswoman would be to fiercely oppose any attempts to dismantle social security, public education, health care, and constitutional rights. "The simple fact is no one will fight harder to stop Republicans from taking away our social security, our public schools, our health care, our constitutional rights, and more," Jones said in an announcement covered by KHOU.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has slated the special election to replace Turner for November 4. A Democrat stronghold, the 18th district has been closely watched following Turner's death earlier this year. Jones deferred the decision to run, after the Texas legislative session, to make sure her constituents would not lack representation. In a statement she had previously shared with the public, "I promised my constituents I would fight for them every day through the end of the legislative session — and I did exactly that," Jones told The Texas Tribune.
Jones's bid for Congress is set against the backdrop of a city and a community grappling with political transitions and the loss of its long-serving representatives. The deadline for candidates to file for the special election is September 3, setting up a potentially crowded field vying for a chance to represent this pivotal Houston-area district.
