Former Houston councilmember launches House bid to succeed late Sylvester Turner

Former Houston Councilmember Amanda Edwards announced her bid for Congress on Wednesday to fill the seat vacated after the death of Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Houston), saying the Democratic Party needs a different approach that is “responsive to the moment.”

“We need the next generation of new leaders in Washington to combat Trump’s attacks on jobs, healthcare, and education,” Edwards, who will run for Texas's 18th congressional district, said in her campaign announcement.

The party should “assess where to apply pressure,” she said. “We must collaborate effectively with partner organizations to achieve our goals.”

She added that Rep. Al Green's (D-Texas) protest during President Trump's recent joint address to Congress was meaningful, and the Democratic Party should engage more in similar actions.

“When Congressman Green stood up and said there is no mandate against Medicaid, it put a clear focus on the fact that Medicaid is on the chopping block,” she said, adding that people are overwhelmed because “there are so many issues on the chopping block.”

“This sense of chaos is resulting in people becoming disengaged, which means the administration is free to push its agendas forward.”

When asked if she agreed with Sen. Chuck Schumer's (D-N.Y.) decision last week to support the GOP-backed stopgap bill that averted a government shutdown, Edwards said Schumer was in a “difficult position in terms of making that call.”

Schumer has had a long legacy of strong service, she said, but the party needs to have a conversation about whether or not the present leadership is “meeting the moment.”

“We gotta allow new voices and new ideologies to appear, especially when circumstances shift and when we have a president who does not respect the rule of law.”

Edwards further said that having a conversation about the party's strategy in Congress and its messaging “does not mean that you are kicking someone out.”

“It just means as times change, our needs evolve. Are we being responsive to the current moment is the question we need to ask,” she said.

Edwards also said the way the administration is approaching the issue of immigration “is a true disservice to the American public.”

“If we were to be serious about immigration reforms, we really would be taking a very different approach, which would not just be to create sensational headlines and displacing and removing people who have been hardworking and are not harming our country,” she said.

Edwards said immigration reforms should be made from a policy perspective, and the impact of these “harsh immigration policies” creates a climate of fear that prevents families from seeking help or accessing the resources they need.

“Many people hesitate to engage in basic activities, like attending school, out of fear that their family members may be targeted,” she said. “Even if an individual is documented, the risk facing a parent or sibling can create a ripple effect throughout the family.”

Edwards made two unsuccessful attempts to secure the seat last year, competing in the 2024 Democratic primary against Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who served as the district's representative from 1995 until her death last year.

Though Jackson Lee won, she passed away before the general election, reopening the party's nomination process. Edwards finished second in that contest to Turner, the former mayor of Houston.

After Turner's death earlier this month, the seat is vacant yet again. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has the authority to call a special election to fill the seat.

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