Nearly 800,000 Texans left without a voice—Hollins urges immediate action to restore representation
HOUSTON — Houston City Controller Chris Hollins is calling on Texas Governor Greg Abbott to stop silencing nearly 800,000 Houstonians and immediately set a date for the special election to fill the seat in Texas’s 18th Congressional District, left vacant by the passing of U.S. Representative Sylvester Turner.
“Every Texan deserves a voice in Washington—including the nearly 800,000 people in TX-18,” said Controller Hollins. “Delaying this election is a blatant political maneuver. It’s a disservice to Houstonians, their families, and their futures. Representation is not a political bargaining chip—it is a foundational right.”
Texas’s 18th Congressional District spans a wide cross-section of Houston, representing neighborhoods like downtown, the Heights, Spring Branch, and the Second, Third, and Fifth Wards. Without an elected representative in place, these communities risk being sidelined on urgent federal issues—from healthcare access and public education to infrastructure investment, disaster relief, and economic development.
It has been over a month since Turner’s passing. In four previous instances of a federal office vacancy, it has never taken Governor Abbott this long to set a date for a special election.
“This isn’t just a political slight—it’s a real harm,” Hollins said. “The Governor’s claim that Harris County can’t run an effective election simply isn’t true—and it cannot be used to justify silencing hundreds of thousands of Houstonians.”
Hollins oversaw the 2020 elections as Harris County Clerk in the nation’s third-largest county—a high-turnout, high-scrutiny cycle that drew national praise for its accessibility and security. His leadership during that moment has made him a leading voice in the fight for voting rights and democratic access.
“I know firsthand the power of the ballot box—and I know how dangerous it is when political leaders treat that power like a pawn,” he said. “I won’t stand by while our democracy is chipped away. The people of TX-18 deserve better—and I’ll fight every day to make sure their voices are heard.”
Controller Hollins is urging every resident of Texas’s 18th Congressional District to take action by contacting the Governor’s Office:
- Email: greg.abbott@gov.texas.gov
- Online:Submit your message to the Governor
“This is your district, your seat, and your voice. Don’t let politics steal it. Make your voice heard—today.”
