A fierce Democratic primary battle in Houston’s 18th Congressional District ended Tuesday with a major generational shakeup, as Congressman Christian Menefee defeated longtime incumbent Al Green in a hard-fought runoff election.

According to projections from Decision Desk HQ, the 37-year-old Menefee emerged victorious over Green, bringing an end to the veteran lawmaker’s decades-long dominance in the district.

Menefee first arrived in Congress earlier this year after winning a January special election to complete the unfinished term of the late Congressman Sylvester Turner.

With Tuesday’s runoff victory, Menefee is now heavily favored to secure a full congressional term in the general election later this year.

Al Green is removed pic.twitter.com/JP4DFfay0P

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 5, 2025

The unusual contest between two sitting Democratic lawmakers became necessary after neither candidate received the outright majority needed during the March 3 primary.

Green, now 78 years old, has served on Capitol Hill for more than two decades but found himself forced into a political collision with Menefee after Texas Republicans approved a dramatically redrawn congressional map.

The redistricting overhaul, crafted by Republicans in hopes of creating additional pickup opportunities ahead of the midterm elections, triggered a nationwide political battle over mid-cycle map changes.

In response, Democrats launched efforts in California aimed at offsetting potential Republican gains in Texas.

Over the course of his lengthy congressional career, Green became one of President Donald Trump’s fiercest and most outspoken critics in Congress.

His confrontational style repeatedly sparked clashes on the House floor, culminating last year in a formal censure after he repeatedly interrupted the president during an address to Congress.

The tensions escalated further this year when Green was escorted out by security personnel during Trump’s State of the Union speech.

Green also repeatedly pursued impeachment efforts against Trump following the president’s return to office.

In February 2025, Green announced plans to seek Trump’s impeachment after the president unveiled a proposal involving the relocation of Gazans and American control over the Gaza Strip.

Several months later, in June 2025, Green introduced another round of impeachment articles accusing Trump of bypassing Congress in military operations involving Iran, which he characterized as an abuse of executive authority.

The House ultimately voted to table the measure.

Throughout the impeachment battles, Green consistently portrayed Trump as a danger to the country, repeatedly describing the president as reckless, ruthless, lawless, and increasingly dictatorial.

{Matzav.com}