Lone Star Left Endorses Christian Menefee For Congressional District 18
Raised in TX18, he knows healthcare is a human right, and he’s the only candidate taking on Republicans, polluters, and billionaires with a record of real justice.
“Healthcare isn’t a privilege, it’s a basic human right. Nobody should be denied care just because of their income or whether they have the right insurance. When my brother got life-saving cancer treatment at MD Anderson, covered by TRICARE thanks to my parents’ military service, I saw firsthand that government-sponsored healthcare can work.” -Christian Menefee
That was Menefee’s response to my question, “Do you support universal, publicly funded healthcare?” And the standout position that set him above all of the other contenders for the TX18 race. “Healthcare is a basic human right,” as laid out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, as it was promised under FDR’s Second Bill of Rights, and as it’s a core principle under the Texas Democratic Party platform. And Menefee is the only Texas congressional candidate for the 18th district making that declaration.
This is Lone Star Left’s official endorsement of Christian Menefee, and if you care about healthcare justice, climate justice, and racial justice in Texas, I hope you’ll read on.
Texas’ Congressional District 18.
TX18 is a historical Black congressional seat with ties to Sheila Jackson Lee, Mickey Leeland, and Barbara Jordan. Because of Republicans’ racism, they’ve been without congressional representation for going on a year now.
On top of that, Republicans are trying to screw Black Histonians over in their redistricting efforts, and if the newest gerrymandered maps stick, the shape of the map will change, and Congressman Al Green may throw his hat into next year’s race.
Listen to Menefee from last week’s debate and you’ll hear how desperately TX18 needs strong congressional representation. He points to the Fifth Ward, a community that has carried the burden of environmental racism for generations.
“Folks suffer from an environmental injustice area if there ever was one,” he said. “You have more cancer clusters. You have more concrete batch plants. You have lower life expectancies. You have higher issues with people’s lungs, with breathing, with their heart. And it’s because of the over-concentration of pollution in this area.”
Menefee connects those injustices to the failures after Hurricane Harvey. Billions in federal disaster relief were allocated, but Houston and Harris County initially received zero dollars of the more than $1 billion that HUD promised to impacted communities.
This is exactly why congressional representation matters. TX18 can’t afford another cycle of neglect, not when people are dying younger, breathing in toxic air, or still waiting for homes promised after a hurricane nearly a decade ago. Menefee is naming the cancer clusters. He’s naming the billions stolen away from Houston’s Black communities. He’s naming the fight to make sure those dollars finally reach the people who need them most.
Who is Christian Menefee?
Every Democrat in Texas already knows he’s the Harris County Attorney, but he’s also more than that. He’s a fighter and an advocate. Raised in TX18 by two military parents who taught him service and sacrifice, Menefee knows what it means to work hard and stand up for what’s right. He’s the first in his family to graduate from college, and he went on to law school before returning home to serve the community that raised him.
Since then, his record speaks louder than any campaign slogan. He’s beaten Republicans in court when they tried to suppress our votes. He’s taken on corporate polluters poisoning Black and Brown neighborhoods and made them pay. He has fought price-gougers who prey on families during hurricanes. And he’s stood up to Trump’s overreach in national legal battles, proving he has the backbone to defend democracy and the people of Houston.
Now, Christian Menefee is ready to take that fight to Washington. TX18 needs a proven fighter who will defend healthcare as a human right, protect our communities from corporate polluters, and make sure Black Houstonians finally get the representation they deserve. That’s who Christian Menefee is, and that’s why Lone Star Left is proud to stand with him.
Some of Christian Menefee’s top platform positions.
You’ll have to check his website for his full platform, because it’s extensive, but I wanted to highlight three of his top positions.
Lowering the Cost of Living
Most Americans just want to earn enough to take care of their family, set their kids up for a better future, and have a little left over to save and enjoy life. But today, the basics—like housing, healthcare, childcare, and college—cost far more than they should. Not because people are working less, but because there aren’t enough of the things families rely on.
In Congress, Christian will advocate for policies that actually help build affordable housing, expand public childcare and neighborhood health clinics, and grow job training and college programs that don’t leave people in debt. Life shouldn’t be this expensive—and Congress must do something about it.
Defending Democracy
Every American deserves a voice in our democracy, but Republican leaders are working to silence voters and rig the system for themselves. When Texas passed voter suppression laws and came after Harris County’s elections office, Christian sued Governor Greg Abbott and fought back in court.
In Congress, he’ll fight to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act to protect every voter. He’ll push for automatic and same-day registration, tougher campaign finance laws, and an end to gerrymandering that locks communities out of power. Democracy only works if it works for everyone—and Christian will fight to make sure every vote counts.
Fighting for Clean Air and Water
No one should worry that the air they breathe, the water they drink, or the land around them is making them sick. But in too many Black and Brown neighborhoods, industrial plants, illegal dumpers, and landfills are allowed to pollute with impunity—often in plain sight. As Harris County Attorney, Christian filed lawsuits against polluters and the government entities that enabled them, standing up for communities long targeted by environmental injustice.
In Congress, he’ll fight for tougher environmental protections, hold bad actors accountable, and push for federal funds to clean up contaminated sites. He’ll also work to stop Trump’s efforts to dismantle the EPA and defend progress made through the Inflation Reduction Act. Every community deserves a clean, healthy place to call home—no matter their zip code.
Where he stands. Menefee’s answers to the questions that matter.
Before endorsing anyone this cycle, I wanted to go beyond the stump speech. I’ll send the same questionnaire to every candidate, primarily the reader questions we polled on Lone Star Left. Here’s where he stands.
Q: Would you support major tax reform, including raising taxes on billionaires and large corporations?
I support making the ultra-wealthy and big corporations pay their fair share. That means closing loopholes, raising taxes on the top earners, and ending the sweetheart deals that let billionaires and large companies pay less in taxes than working families. This isn’t just about funding critical programs like Social Security or infrastructure—it’s about basic fairness.
Everyday people pay into our system with every paycheck. The richest Americans and corporate giants shouldn’t get a pass. And when corporations have taken advantage of people in Harris County, I’ve held them accountable. I sued JUUL for marketing vaping products to our kids, and I’ve taken on companies for their role in the opioid crisis. I don’t hesitate to stand up to corporate power—and I won’t in Congress either.
Q: Do you support federal student debt cancellation and tuition-free public college?
Every young person deserves a fair shot at a better future. I wouldn’t have made it through school without Pell Grants—they were a lifeline for me, just like they are for millions of students today. But right now, college is the only path we properly fund, while we ignore the huge demand for electricians, plumbers, mechanics, and other skilled trades. In Houston, with one of the largest populations of young people in the country, that means we’re missing the chance to connect them with high-paying, stable careers.
I’ll push to expand Pell Grants to cover apprenticeships and short-term training, invest in programs that connect students to jobs in construction, health care, energy, and the marine industry, and get federal dollars to local schools, community colleges, and unions to build real pipelines to good-paying work. And I’ve already shown I’ll fight for relief—leading Harris County in joining governments nationwide to back President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan at the Supreme Court. Too many people are drowning in debt just for trying to build a better life. That has to change.
Q: Should Congress codify the right to abortion nationwide and repeal the Hyde Amendment?
Yes, Congress should codify the right to abortion nationwide and repeal the Hyde Amendment. Reproductive healthcare is healthcare, and people, not politicians, should be making these decisions. Full stop.
I’ve been intentional about standing up for reproductive freedom, publicly opposing Texas’s extreme abortion bans and being quoted in national outlets like The New York Times making clear where I stand. As Harris County Attorney, I’ve signed onto multiple briefs to defend access to abortion and reproductive care—including in Danco v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, backing the FDA’s approval of mifepristone, and in Zurawski v. Texas, supporting women seeking clarity under the state’s dangerous “medical emergency” exception. I also joined the United States in United States v. Idaho, because no woman should have to wait until she’s near death to get emergency medical care.
In Congress, I’ll fight to restore Roe by passing the Women’s Health Protection Act, protect access to contraception and IVF, block extremist attorneys general from prosecuting doctors across state lines, and increase funding for maternal health and sex education. Everyone deserves the freedom to make their own choices about their bodies.
Q: Should the U.S. demilitarize the southern border and repeal harmful immigration policies?
My own family includes undocumented immigrants who’ve done everything right and still face an uncertain future. That’s why I believe our immigration system needs to be safe, humane, and rooted in dignity, not fear. Immigrants power our economy, care for our kids and elders, and make our communities stronger. They deserve a system that reflects those contributions.
If elected, I’ll fight for a clear path to citizenship for Dreamers, DAPA, and TPS recipients, protections for mixed-status families, and visa programs that reunite loved ones. I’ll push to end cruel policies like family separation, speed up asylum processing so people aren’t left waiting years, and make sure those fleeing violence and disaster are treated with compassion. America should be a place where people who contribute can live free from fear and build a future for their families.
Bonus Question: How will you engage and energize disillusioned or low-turnout voters, especially young people, communities of color, and the working class?
The way you reach people who’ve tuned out of politics is simple: you show up, you listen, and you fight for them. Too often, politicians only show up when it’s election season. I’ve taken a different approach as Harris County Attorney—whether it’s standing up to Greg Abbott, filing lawsuits to protect voting rights, or defending working families in court, I’ve shown I’m willing to take on the fights that matter.
Young people, communities of color, and working-class families aren’t “disengaged” because they don’t care, they’re frustrated because they don’t see leaders who reflect their struggles or deliver results. That’s why I talk openly about my own story: I grew up in a working-class family, I know what it’s like to need Pell Grants to get through school, and I know the impact when government either steps up—or lets you down.
In Congress, I’ll stay rooted in community. That means organizing with local leaders, making sure young people see a path to good jobs and a better future, and actually delivering on issues like healthcare, immigration reform, climate justice, and reproductive freedom. People get energized when they believe their voice matters. My job is to make sure it always does.
This election is very crowded, so what can you do to help?
Honestly, I lost track of how many people filed to run in this race… more than two dozen. However, for the sake of Houston and to split the vote even less, several progressive Democrats have recently dropped out and endorsed Christian Menefee, including Ebony Rain Eatmon and Corisha Rogers.
At a time when Republicans are working overtime to drag this country backward, we can’t afford half-measures. We need bold progressives who will not only stand up to that agenda but offer a vision for what comes next.
Christian Menefee is that candidate. He’s bringing a record of real fights and real wins for working people in Houston. He’s already shown he can take on Greg Abbott in court and win, that he won’t back down from corporate polluters poisoning Black neighborhoods, and that he knows how to get federal dollars flowing to communities long denied their fair share.
This race is crowded, but only one candidate combines bold progressive values with proven experience, and that’s Christian Menefee. He is the fighter TX18 deserves, and for all of these reasons, Lone Star Left is proud to endorse him for Congress.
If you can afford it, even $10 makes a difference. Click here to donate now.
Block walks, phone banks, and text teams will be critical. If you live in Houston (or can help virtually), sign up to volunteer on his website. Sign up to volunteer now.
Help Christian Menefee cut through the noise by sharing his message. You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
You can also learn more by visiting his website.
The special election is scheduled for November 4, which is also the date of the Constitutional Election. Early voting starts October 20.
November 4: Constitutional/TX18/SD09 Election
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🙏🏼 he wins! Show the GOP!
That's not a map of a Congressional district. It's a Rorschach test.