Christian Menefee

Christian Dashaun Menefee is a Democratic U.S. Representative for Texas's 18th Congressional District, having assumed office on February 2, 2026. He was first elected to Congress in a special election held in early 2026 to fill the vacancy created by the death of Representative Sylvester Turner. Before his election to the U.S. House of Representatives, Menefee served as the Harris County Attorney from 2021 to 2026. He made history in that role as the youngest person and the first African American ever elected to serve as the chief civil legal officer for Texas's largest county. Born on April 18, 1988, Menefee was raised in the Houston area and was the first in his family to attend college. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2010 and a Juris Doctor from the Washington University School of Law in 2013. His early legal career involved practicing commercial litigation at international law firms Norton Rose Fulbright and Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He also performed extensive pro bono work, including advising the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and assisting immigrant families during travel restriction controversies. Throughout his time as Harris County Attorney, Menefee gained attention for his legal challenges against state policies on voting rights and environmental regulations. In Congress, he serves on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. His legislative work focuses on securing federal resources for Houston, advocating for environmental justice, and defending voting rights.

Christian Menefee supports 'Medicare for All' and the expansion of Medicare and Medicaid to cover dental, vision, and hearing services. He also advocates for federal initiatives to reduce maternal mortality rates among Black women. Regarding the economy and labor, he supports raising the federal minimum wage, expanding paid family leave, and strengthening labor unions. Menefee is a vocal proponent of environmental justice, having spent his career holding corporations accountable for pollution in marginalized communities and serving on the EPA's Local Government Advisory Committee. He advocates for the federal protection of reproductive rights, including abortion and IVF, and has a consistent record of opposing state-level voting restrictions and election audits.