The American Solidarity Party and its Texas state affiliate have endorsed a candidate for the special election taking place later this year in Texas’ 18th Congressional District, a first for the party at that level in the state.
Earlier this month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott called a special election for the state’s 18th Congressional District following the death of Representative Sylvester Turner, a former Democratic mayor of Houston elected to Congress in 2024, who passed away early last month from health complications. Abbott’s decision to schedule the election seven months out has prompted some public consternation, as congressional Democrats have accused Abbott of doing so help maintain the Republican Party’s majority in the House.
Since the announcement, several candidates have entered the race or expressed interest, including multiple Democrats and one candidate officially backed by the American Solidarity Party. A full state-produced list of candidates is not yet available. As of this article, no major Republican figure has formally entered the race, though two candidates have filed paperwork declaring themselves as associated with the Republican Party.
The American Solidarity Party-backed candidate, Reyna Anderson, is particularly notable, as she is the party’s first U.S. House candidate in Texas. The national party has previously supported candidates for statewide office, including governor, U.S. Senate, and Railroad Commissioner, but has never fielded a candidate for the lower chamber of Congress in the state until now.
Anderson was formally endorsed by the Texas Solidarity Party in late March, following a vote by its executive committee. The national party later confirmed its endorsement of Anderson in a public social media statement.
While Anderson has not yet filed with the FEC, her campaign has hosted an in-person organizing meeting in Houston and is currently developing a campaign website. The national party states that Anderson is a first-generation American who holds degrees in environmental studies, faith and culture, and law. Her professional background includes advising the Holy See’s Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations and working with nonprofits on issues such as environmental justice, human trafficking, migration, parental rights, and religious freedom.
Had this been a typical election, Anderson would have likely needed to petition as an independent or run in another party’s primary, as Texas does not currently recognize the American Solidarity Party as a qualified political party. However, due to it being a special election, the process is truncated and no party primaries are held. All candidates filing for the general election will appear on a single ballot under the “party alignment” listed on the filing paperwork.
To qualify for the ballot, candidates must file the appropriate paperwork along with either paying a $3,125 filing fee or gathering at least 500 valid signatures from registered voters in the district. The deadline for candidate filings is set for September 3. In the event no majority is determined on general election day, a special runoff election will then be conducted between the top-two vote-getters.
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