Texodus: At least 12 Texas members of Congress won’t be returning next year
Nearly one-third of the Texas congressional delegation won’t be returning next year.
By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor
Published: March 8, 2026 9:57pm
Twelve members of Texas’ congressional delegation elected in 2024 won’t be returning to office next year. Eleven are incumbents; one is deceased. The number is expected to grow depending on the outcome of upcoming elections.
They represent nearly one-third of the Texas congressional delegation. Texas has the second largest delegation in the country of 38, behind California’s 52.
The 12 members are from Republican or Democratic strongholds whose new seats under redistricting aren’t expected to flip. However, several Democrats ran in new districts because of redistricting, upending several races.
In 2024, Houston’s former Democratic mayor Sylvester Turner won CD 18, a Democratic stronghold, filling an open seat vacated by deceased U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee. Turner was sworn into office in January 2025 and died two months later. The seat remained vacant until a special election was held last November.
Former Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee won the seat in a crowded race and ran for reelection in the March primary. He won more votes than Al Green, who is seeking reelection in CD 18 after serving for years in CD 9, which was redistricted to a Republican stronghold. Menefee and Green are heading to a runoff. If Green loses, he will join Democratic Reps. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth, and Lloyd Doggett of Austin, who were the first casualties of redistricting.
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https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/texodus-least-12-texas-members-congress-wont-be-returning-next-year
