HOUSTON — Christian Menefee defeated Al Green in a Democratic primary runoff in May 2026 for Texas's 18th Congressional District. Protect Progress, a super PAC aligned with the cryptocurrency industry, spent over $5 million on advertisements supporting Menefee.
Texas Republicans initiated a mid-decade redistricting effort, which redrew congressional boundaries. This process combined two Houston-area districts into the newly established 18th Congressional District. Menefee, who is 38 years old, previously won a special election in January to complete the term of Representative Sylvester Turner, who died in March 2025. Green is 78 years old.
The paid advertisements supporting Menefee primarily focused on the age difference between him and Green. These ads did not mention cryptocurrency. Mark Jones, a professor of political science at Rice University, stated, "The ads the crypto industry was putting out, Green wasn't able to match. The financial support Menefee received really tilted the balance in his favor." He also said, "This was an interesting race as the voters liked both of them and would have preferred to send both of them back to Washington, but clearly made a choice toward someone who is younger."
Menefee will now face Ronald Dwayne Whitfield, the Republican nominee for the 18th Congressional District, in the general election. Menefee said, "Competitive primaries are a good thing, now we are battle-tested, but in November we will be united against the opposition." He said, "I think a lot of the people we are seeing emerge in the Democratic Party are millennials and Gen-Z, and we are seeing our generation step into those roles."
Green voted against the GENIUS Act in July 2025. This act established the first federal framework for regulating the cryptocurrency industry. Menefee served as Harris County attorney from 2021 to 2026.