Democrat Christian Menefee’s swearing-in to a long-vacant Texas House seat tightens Republicans’ margin as Congress grapples with a partial government shutdown.
Rep. Christian Menefee (D-Texas) was sworn into the House on Monday after winning a special election runoff to fill the late Rep. Sylvester Turner’s seat, vacant since March last year. “It’s been more than 330 days since the people of the 18th Congressional District had representation,” Menefee said.
“When this body took on important votes… this district had no voice in Congress, so this one is for the 18th,” he added. His swearing-in narrows the House split to 218–214, leaving Speaker Mike Johnson able to lose only one Republican vote amid a partial government shutdown.