Amanda Edwards halts campaign, stays on March 3 ballot

Former Houston Metropolis Council member Amanda Edwards has introduced she is suspending her marketing campaign for the March 3 main, despite the fact that her title will stay on the poll.

In a social media put up on Feb. 9, Edwards mentioned she is stepping again from lively campaigning however reaffirmed her dedication to neighborhood advocacy and voter registration.

She has not formally endorsed one other candidate within the race and didn’t element future electoral plans.

“Though my title will seem on the March 2026 Main poll, I’ve determined to droop my marketing campaign for Congress,” Edwards wrote. “My dedication to serving and advocating for the neighborhood stays unchanged…As everyone knows, an excessive amount of is at stake to disengage from the battle for healthcare, financial stability, and our democracy. That’s the reason I hope you’ll be part of me as I relaunch our Do One thing Houston Voter Registration Initiative, so we are able to win the midterm elections and ship for our neighborhood once more.”

Edwards had positioned her marketing campaign on increasing well being care entry and financial alternatives for Houstonians.

In her put up, she reiterated that these priorities stay on the core of her public work, even when she isn’t actively campaigning for the 18th Congressional District seat.

March 3 poll

Within the March 3 primaries, Edwards’ title will probably be positioned alongside Congressmen Al Inexperienced and Christian Menefee, and Gretchen Brown on the Democratic facet. On the Republican facet, voters will see Elizabeth Vences and Ronald Dwayne Whitfield on the poll.

These candidates are searching for a full two-year time period beginning in January 2027.

They are going to be working for the 18th Congressional District redrawn by Home Invoice 4 through the 89th legislative session.

Texas’ mid-decade redistricting plans have been signed into legislation in August 2025. The brand new maps have been challenged in court docket and upheld to be used within the 2026 elections.

Early voting for the March 3 elections begins Feb. 17.

What occurred earlier than this?

The 18th Congressional District had gone almost a yr with out illustration because the deaths of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee after which Congressman Sylvester Turner.

Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott didn’t schedule the primary spherical of voting till November 2025.

Within the November 2025 particular elections, Menefee, a former Harris County Lawyer, and Edwards have been the highest two finishers amongst 16 candidates.

Each fell wanting the 50% threshold. Edwards misplaced the particular election to Menefee, garnering 25.6% of the vote, whereas Menefee obtained 28.9%.

Each candidates then headed to a runoff.

Menefee gained the runoffs in January, receiving 68.4% of the vote in comparison with Edwards, who obtained 31.6% of the vote. He was sworn in on Feb. 2.

Since successful the Houston Metropolis Council At-large Place 4 in 2015, the place she served from 2016 to 2020, Edwards ran for the Democratic main for U.S. Senate in Texas in 2020 however misplaced.

She ran once more within the 2024 Congressional District 18 March primaries, however misplaced to Sheila Jackson Lee.

Edwards additionally briefly ran within the 2023 Houston mayoral election however withdrew her candidacy.

Now, a brand new marketing campaign spherical begins for the March 3 primaries underneath the brand new maps.

Because the March 3 main approaches, Edwards’ resolution provides one other surprising flip to a race already reshaped by redistricting and a yr of political upheaval within the 18th Congressional District.