{"id":2576013,"date":"2026-03-04T12:27:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T17:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/green-and-menefee-head-to-runoff-in-texas-democratic-primary\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T12:28:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T17:28:27","slug":"green-and-menefee-head-to-runoff-in-texas-democratic-primary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/green-and-menefee-head-to-runoff-in-texas-democratic-primary\/","title":{"rendered":"Green and Menefee head to runoff in Texas Democratic primary"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgreen-and-menefee-head-to-runoff-in-texas-democratic-primary%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2576013&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>&#8211; In Texas, Rep.Al Green and Rep. Christian Menefee are headed to a runoff after neither won a majority in their Democratic congressional primary, in a race hampered by redistricting forcing the two into the same district.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Early results from the Associated Press show Menefee leading Green, about 46% to 44.2% with roughly 96% of ballots counted, triggering the runoff.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Menefee, 37, had won a special election last month to replace the late Rep. Sylvester Turner, and redistricting kept him competing against Green in the same district.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The contest illustrates a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >broader generational shift<\/a> in the Democratic Party, with younger progressive challengers pressing established incumbents, amid a backdrop of notable retirements and ongoing changes in Congress.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Al Green and Christian Menefee head to runoff in competitive Texas House primary<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2522725\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"h-\">Rep. Al Green (D-TX) is being forced into a runoff with Rep. Christian Menefee (D-TX) after neither candidate was able to secure a majority of the vote in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"253\">Texas&rsquo;s<\/a> primary elections on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p id=\"h-\">Menefee, 37, is the first <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/david-perdue-announces-run-for-georgia-governor-over-my-dead-body-will-stacey-abrams-control-our-elections\/\" title=\"David Perdue Announces Run for Georgia Governor: \u2018Over My Dead Body\u2019 Will Stacey Abrams Control Our Elections\">competitive primary<\/a> the 78-year-old congressman has faced in years. The <em>Associated Press <\/em>called the race at 11:19 a.m. on Wednesday. Green lags slightly behind his challenger, holding 44.2% of the vote compared to Menefee&rsquo;s 46% with 96% of ballots counted. <\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4479775\/four-takeaways-first-primary-election-2026\/\">Four takeaways from the first primary election of 2026<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4479701\/james-talarico-bests-jasmine-crockett-texas-senate-primary\/\">James Talarico bests Jasmine Crockett in Texas Senate primary<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4478740\/tony-gonzales-brandon-herrera-gop-primary-texas\/\">Scandal-plagued Tony Gonzales forced into GOP primary run-off for House seat<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Menefee won a special election last month to replace the late Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner, but Texas <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/redistricting\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"241\">redistricting<\/a> forced the congressman to run against Green in the same district.<\/p>\n<p>Green gained national attention last week during President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump&rsquo;s<\/a> State of the Union, when he stood up and held a sign that said &ldquo;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/live-blog-posts\/al-green-state-of-the-union-sign\/\" type=\"live-blog-posts\" id=\"4470537\">black people are not apes<\/a>.&rdquo; He was forced to leave the chamber, less than a year after he was asked to leave Trump&rsquo;s address before Congress for waving his cane and yelling at the president.<\/p>\n<p>Green, though a staunch progressive, is among several older establishment Democrats facing competitive primary challenges in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11675\">2026 cycle<\/a>, as younger Democrats and progressive candidates demand new blood in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congress\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"31\">Congress<\/a>. The 78-year-old has served in the House since 2009.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4479775\/four-takeaways-first-primary-election-2026\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4479775\/four-takeaways-first-primary-election-2026\/\"><strong>FOUR TAKEAWAYS FROM THE FIRST PRIMARY ELECTION OF 2026<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Menefee&rsquo;s performance in the race is a sign that several Democratic incumbents may have trouble this cycle, as they, too, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/key-congressional-races-define-minnesota-primary\/\" title=\"Key Congressional ...s Define Minnesota Primary\">face challengers<\/a> from their progressive flank or from a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4474940\/democrat-age-debate-al-green-texas-house-primary\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4474940\">much younger candidate<\/a>. Some lawmakers, including Speaker Emerita <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nancy-pelosi\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"454\">Nancy Pelosi<\/a> (D-CA) or <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jan-schakowsky\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2315\">Jan Schakowsky<\/a> (D-IL), have opted to retire instead of going through a battle for generational change.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) was set to face Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX), chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, due to redistricting, as well. But Doggett, who has served since 1995, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3909289\/lloyd-doggett-retirement-supreme-court-hands-texas-gop-redistricting-win\/\">opted to retire<\/a> after this term instead of entering into a competitive primary.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Green, Menefee head to runoff in Texas House race<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2648,"featured_media":2576014,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/al-green-christian-menefee-texas-primary-2026-e1772579289263.jpg?1772625213&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[5812,75068,3694],"class_list":["post-2576013","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-green","tag-menefee","tag-texas"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/al-green-christian-menefee-texas-primary-2026-e1772579289263.jpg?1772625213&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576013","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2648"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2576013"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576013\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2576017,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576013\/revisions\/2576017"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2576014"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2576013"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2576013"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2576013"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}