2026 Elections: Watching Houston-area district races

All right, welcome back to our You Decide 2026 election coverage here for the midterms. And now we're going to take you guys to District 9, okay? District 9 was redrawn when the Republican Party here in Texas had control of the chambers, so they did some off-cycle redistricting, okay? So now Al Green, the former congressman for this district, he's out of the picture. We have two new candidates for you here today. We have the Republican Alex Mueller and Democrat Leticia Gutierrez. They're battling out for that seat. Let's go now to McKenna Earnhardt joining us live with that. McKenna? Anthony, I'm here outside of the High School of Law and Justice on Coyle Street, where some voters have been roaming in to cast their ballot. Because as you know, it's election day across Texas. And one of the most closely watched races in our area is for congressional district Number nine, where Republican Alex Mueller and Democrat Leticia Gutierrez are facing off for an open seat in the U.S. House. Now, this is not the District 9 that voters remember. Lawmakers redrew those congressional maps, and what was once a Democratic seat has shifted more right-leaning. So, Congressman Al Green, he opted to run in the neighboring District 18. And Mueller campaigns on things like energy, economic growth, Economic growth and border security and Gutierrez campaigns on public health, healthcare access, stricter environmental oversight. Now, President Donald Trump, he has been very vocal about this race on social media. He's been saying that he fully backs Mueller on his ex and called Gutierrez a left radical Democrat. And Gutierrez also kind of popped back on her social media with a screenshot of the president's ex post. Saying that I'm out here encouraging voters and clearly I've really gotten the president's attention here in District 9. And so we are going to be following this closely. The polls close tonight at 7 and we're going to be making our way to both of those watch parties. And of course, we'll keep you updated. Back to you. Yeah, and you know, the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs has that race, like you mentioned, McKenna. Solid Republican here and leaning towards Mueller. We'll see what the voters essentially have to say here when those polls close at 7 and we can add up some of those numbers. McKenna, thank you so much. Now we want to get to the historic District 18. The incumbent there is Christian Menefee. And as you just heard from McKenna talking about District 9, well, Al Green, when he left District 9, he ran in District 18 but lost to Menifee. Menifee And if he now looking to hold on to his seat, he has a Republican challenge. The challenger as well, Ronald Whitfield. Let's go to our Jillian Hartman now, joining us live with those details. Jillian. Yeah, Anthony. Congressman Christian Menefee is expected to visit this polling location here soon as we get closer to the polls closing at 7 p.m. Right now, we are outside the Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in Houston. I can tell you the rain has not kept voters away this afternoon. We've seen many folks with their umbrellas walking in and out of here to cast their ballot. Right now, Menifee is facing Republican Ronald Whitfield in the race for US representative in the newly configured District 18. The district includes much of inner city Houston and surrounding areas. Redistricting placed Menifee against Congressman Al Green, who he defeated in the Democratic primary back in May. Menifee currently represents the 18th district after winning a special election runoff against Amanda Edwards in January. That election Was held to fill the seat left vacant after Congressman Sylvester Turner died in March of 2025. So today I reached out to the chairman of Harris County Republican Party to learn more about Whitfield and his campaign. I'm still waiting to hear back. Now over the weekend, we spoke with Menifee during early voting. He said people are paying more at the gas pump and at the grocery store. And he says people are tired of the president Texas Governor and Attorney General, so he is looking for more change and accountability and tonight we'll be at his watch party and keep you posted on this race. Back to you. All right, Jillian, thank you so much for that report. By all accounts, looking at the polling that seems to be a comfortable seat there for Democrats in District 18.