WASHINGTON — Freshman Rep. Christian Menefee defeated veteran Rep. Al Green in a Democratic primary runoff Tuesday for a Houston-area congressional district, a generational contest forced by a Republican-led redistricting that pitted two sitting congressmen against each other.
The race was set in motion when Republicans redrew Texas’s electoral map, creating a new district that combined portions of Green’s and Menefee’s existing seats, according to the Associated Press. The unusual maneuver forced two longtime party allies into a direct competition for the nomination in a heavily Democratic area, guaranteeing that one career would end on primary night.
Green, 78, had represented Texas in Congress since 2005, becoming a progressive standard-bearer on racial justice legislation and an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump. He was removed from the House chamber in 2026 after disrupting Trump’s address to Congress — one of several high-profile protests that defined his final term and drew the ire of Republican leaders.
In his primary race, Green became a target of the cryptocurrency industry, which opposed his stance against emerging blockchain technologies. Outside groups aligned with the sector poured money into the runoff, amplifying Menefee’s message and contributing to the generational shift.
“I am so honored to have served for these many years, more than twenty. And I’m honored to have done some things that I’m very proud of,” Green told his supporters during an election night event. He added, “You probably see me smiling and it’s because this is not the end. This is the beginning of a new chapter.”
Menefee, a 34-year-old freshman who earned his House seat in 2024, will likely win the November general election in the solidly Democratic district, cementing a changing of the guard within the Texas delegation.