Texas AFL-CIO COPE Endorses Labor Champion Christian Menefee for CD-18 Special Election
HOUSTON – Today, following the recommendation of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, the Texas AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education (COPE) announced their endorsement of Christian Menefee for the special election for Texas Congressional District 18.
Delegates to the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation COPE screened CD-18 candidates and voted to recommend Menefee for endorsement in the special election. Then, the Texas AFL-CIO Executive Board, made up of delegates from across the state, reviewed the race and voted to endorse Menefee through the COPE.
“Christian Menefee is the real deal,” said Hany Khalil, Executive Director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation. “As Harris County Attorney, Christian has fought side-by-side with Gulf Coast unions to deliver for working families. He has walked picket lines with striking workers and fought to give unions a seat at the table. He has worked like hell to clear legal hurdles to pass County policies that strengthen worker safety, give more workers a voice on the job, and provide opportunity through apprenticeships. And he has boldly sued Governor Abbott and the Trump administration to block actions that hurt workers. We know he’ll fight for working people in Congress because he has fought so hard alongside us here in Harris County.”
“We need fighters in DC who will help us build a bigger, bolder, and broader labor movement for Texas workers, and Christian Menefee is that fighter,” said Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy. “His entire career has been spent fighting for Texas families — winning actual results. After nearly a year without representation in CD-18, working families deserve a champion who will fight for all of us, and Christian is that leader. We’re honored to support him in this special election.”
Menefee was raised in Texas’s 18th Congressional District by two military parents who taught him the values of service, hard work, and standing up for what’s right. As Harris County Attorney, he’s fought side-by-side with working people to deliver for the community.
“I’m proud to have the support of the Texas labor in this runoff. I’ve always had the backs of working people, and it means a lot to know they have mine,” said Christian Menefee, candidate for Texas Congressional District 18. “Unions represent the best of our values. They fight for fair wages, safe workplaces, and economic justice. They lift up everyday people and make sure our communities have a fair shot. In Congress, I’ll keep standing with union members and their families, and I’ll keep fighting for a Houston where hard work is respected and rewarded.”
Early voting for the special election runoff will be Jan. 21 through Jan. 27, with Election Day on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026.
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The Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO unites the power of 95 unions and 60,000 union members to advocate for working families in 13 Houston-area counties. Learn more at gcaflcio.org
The Texas AFL-CIO is the state labor federation consisting of more than 250,000 affiliated union members and advocates for working people in Texas. Learn more at texasaflcio.org