How will US Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s seat be filled?

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Since 1995, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee has been synonymous with Texas’ 18th Congressional District, where she won 15 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. But after the veteran congresswoman’s death on Friday at age 74, the district will have a new member to represent it in Washington.

The possibility and timing of a special election to fill Jackson Lee’s seat for the remainder of the current term, which ends in January, remains uncertain.

Gov. Greg Abbott can call a special election to fill the congressional seat for the remainder of the year. State law does not specify a deadline for calling a special election, but if one is called, the election must be held within two months of the announcement. The governor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

When U.S. Rep. Ron Wright, a Republican, died of COVID-19 in 2021, a special election was called within a month.

“The history of Texas is to call a special election and fill the remaining term. So that’s what we expect Governor Abbott to do,” said Chad Dunn, an attorney for the Democratic Party of Texas.

Jackson Lee died during his battle with pancreatic cancer.

She was set to be on the ballot for the November general election after defeating Amanda Edwards — a former Jackson Lee intern — in the March Democratic primary. Democrats must now choose another candidate.

Texas law establishes the procedures for Democrats to nominate a new candidate to run against Republican nominee Lana Centonze in the general election.

Dunn said that while “Sheila Jackson Lee cannot be replaced,” the county will hold a meeting at least 10 days in advance to select a new candidate.

That meeting will include the Harris County Democratic Party Executive Committee, which, under Texas law, has until 5 p.m. on Aug. 26 to nominate someone. The committee is made up of Harris County precinct chairs — elected officials who represent districts within the county. There are currently about 130 precinct chairs in Harris County.

During the commission’s selection process, potential candidates will plead their case to the precinct chairs, explaining their positions and priorities. Dunn said that while the decision is made by the precinct chairs, it is still a “very democratic process” since the meetings are open to the public and precinct chairs are “the smallest unit of representative government that we have.”

The committee may nominate anyone for nomination, even if that person does not live in the district.

If a selection is not made in time, the Texas Democratic Party will have two additional days to make a choice, although this scenario is unlikely. The rule applies especially to larger districts that cover multiple rural counties, where it can be difficult to call a meeting in time.

If the Texas Democratic Party fails to re-nominate in time, Jackson Lee will remain on the ballot. If she is elected, the seat will be vacant and a new election will be called.

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