HOUSTON — Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will fill Texas' 18th Congressional District seat, the Associated Press projects.
It’s the seat held by the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee.
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Turner's victory is for the two-year term that begins in January. Turner ran against Republican Lana Centonze.
Following his projected win, Turner spoke to KHOU 11's Stephen Goin.
"I look forward to representing people in the 18th over the next few years. Look, you can't replace Sheila Jackson Lee, but in her memory, you can continue to serve the people in the 18th. You can give them a sort of representation that they rightfully deserve," Turner said. "You can fight to bring back federal resources. You can fight for affordable healthcare, affordable housing, economic, workforce job opportunities, and infrastructure dollars. Those are the things that they need."
The other 18th Congressional District race on the ballot is for a special election to finish Jackson Lee's current term, which runs into January. In that race, Jackson Lee’s daughter, Democrat Erica Lee Carter, is running against two Republicans, Maria Dunn and Kevin O. Dural.
Rep. Jackson Lee died on July 19 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. She served the public for more than 30 years. That includes her time in the U.S. House that began in 1994 and continued through her death this year. Before that, Jackson Lee served on the Houston City Council and as a municipal court judge.
Jackson Lee won in the primary this year over former Houston council member Amanda Edwards. In August, a month after she died, Turner was selected by Democratic precinct chairs to replace her in the general election.
As for the special election, it was open to candidates who filed to finish Jackson Lee’s term.