Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, center, surrounded by other Democratic members of Congress and Texas House Democrats, speaks during a press conference at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill.

One of the biggest rising stars in Texas Democratic politics is trying her

best to get Houston’s Christian Menefee to join her in Congress.

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, on Tuesday forcefully endorsed

Menefee in a special election battle to see who will replace the late U.S.

Rep. Sylvester Turner in Congress. The former Houston mayor died in

March, prompting the Nov. 4 special election for the 18th Congressional

District.

“Christian Menefee fights like I fight,” Crockett said in a statement. “He’s

strategic, fearless and doesn’t back down, especially when our rights,

our votes, or our communities are on the line.”

Crockett is only in her second term in Congress but has garnered

national attention for her sharp responses to Republicans during

hearings in Congress and on cable news programs. That made her one

of just a few Texas Democrats invited to speak in prime time during last

year’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago and has made her one

of the best fundraisers in the U.S. House.

“I’ve admired her voice, her fight and her impact,” Menefee said.

Her support for Menefee comes as he battles 15 other candidates vying

for the 18th District. In-person early voting starts in less than two weeks.

Former city council member Amanda Edwards, state Rep. Jolanda Jones

and George Foreman IV, one of the famous Houston boxer’s sons, are

also in the race.

Menefee isn’t the only one getting help from those already on Capitol

Hill. Edwards has rolled out endorsements from U.S. Reps. Lateefah

Simon, D-Calif., and Jennifer McClellan, D-Va., in addition to backing

from Emily’s List, an influential abortion rights group.

Jones, meanwhile, has touted support from U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson

Coleman, D-N.J. and closer to home, former U.S. Rep. Craig Washington,

D-Houston.

If none of the 16 candidates on the ballot wins 50% of the vote on Nov.

4, the top two recipients would face off in a runoff election, which has

yet to be set by the Texas Secretary of State’s office.

The winner of the seat would serve out the remainder of Turner’s

original term through the end of 2026.

The delay in filling the seat has benefited Republicans in Congress. By

setting the special election for November, Gov. Greg Abbott assured that

Democrats would have one less seat in the U.S. House to vote against

President Donald Trump’s programs. In May, the House passed Trump’s

massive spending and tax-cut bill by one vote.