Many political pundits believe that former Councilwoman Amanda Edwards could be the answer for the people of the 18th Congressional District. However, based on Edward's performance last year in the 2024 Democratic Party Primary, only 14,668 of the more than 417,430 registered voters turned out to support Amanda Edwards when she challenged Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. If Governor Greg Abbott and "THE GOP" get behind one Republican candidate in the upcoming "SPECIAL ELECTION," a loaded field of (15) or (20) Democratic candidates could easily get split by a quality "GOP CANDIDATE" like Lana Centonze (top third from right), Dr. Richard Johnson, III, (top second from right) Maria Dunn (top right), Wendell Champion (second row second from left), Lori Bartley (bottom second from left), and State Rep. Shawn Thiery, pictured with Governor Greg Abbott, who has fully embraced her since she joined the GOP, last year.
Whenever Governor Greg Abbott calls the "SPECIAL ELECTION" for the 18th Congressional District, you will see a low voter turnout like what you would see in a primary race. And if there are (10) or (15) Democratic candidates running in the race, you will see a situation where the Democratic vote will be splintered. If you look at the "TOTAL" above, what you see is that only 23,629 Democrats turned out to vote for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, and only 14,668 Democrats turned out for Amanda Edwards last year when they faced off.
66,810 votes were received by Lana Centonze (Republican) in the 2024 Presidential Election race for the 18th Congressional District, running against Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s successor, Sylvester Turner.
58,033 votes were received by Wendell Champion (Republican) in the 2020 Presidential Election for the 18th Congressional District, running against Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
48,306 votes were received by Lori Bartley (Republican) in the 2016 presidential election for the 18th Congressional District, which was run against Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
47,835 votes were received by Maria Dunn (Republican) in the 2024 “UNEXPIRED TERM” Presidential Election for the 18th Congressional District, running against Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s daughter Erica Lee.
44,015 votes were received by Sean Seibert (Republican) in the 2012 presidential election for the 18th Congressional District, which was run against Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
40,941 votes were received by Carmen Maria Montiel (Republican) in the 2022 Midterm Election for the 18th Congressional District, running against Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
38,368 votes were received by Ava Pate (Republican) in the 2018 Midterm Election for the 18th Congressional District, running against Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
21,257 votes were received by Kevin O. Dural (Republican) in the 2024 “UNEXPIRED TERM” Presidential Election for the 18th Congressional District, running against Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s daughter Erica Lee.
I’m Aubrey R. Taylor, the publisher of Houston Business Connections Newspaper, one of Texas's most formidable politically-focused publications. With the help of my chief investigator, Charles Marler, a former FBI Investigative Specialist, my investigative team is second to none. NOTE: My thoughts, opinions, and reports are published under my First Amendment-protected rights afforded to me under the “FREEDOM OF SPEECH” and “FREEDOM OF THE PRESS” clauses in the U.S. Constitution.
Amanda Edwards Doesn't Have the Numbers Some GOP Candidates Have in the 18th Congressional District of Texas
AUBREY R. TAYLOR REPORTS©
The people of the 18th Congressional District don’t like former Councilwoman Amanda Edwards enough for Edwards to turn out to vote specifically for her in the “SPECIAL ELECTION” for the vacant congressional seat. How can I make this claim?
Amanda Edwards faced off against Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in the Democratic Party Primary in the predominantly African American district where, at the time, 417,430 people were registered to vote in the district.
How many people turned out to vote for Amanda Edwards?
On Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in the Democratic Party Primary, only 14,668 of the registered 417,430 voters turned out to vote for Amanda Edwards – that is a fact.
Before you talk about how powerful Congresswoman Shiela Jackson Lee was, only 23,629 of the registered 417,430 voters turned out to vote for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
We can argue that the contest between Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and former Councilwoman Amanda Edwards was a Democratic Party Primary and not a general election, but that’s beside the point.
If you look at past Midterm and Presidential elections, the number of people who voted for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee versus the number of registered voters in the 18th Congressional District was dismal.
Sure, a handful of people loved Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Still, most 18th Congressional District voters tolerated her and did not flock to the polls to cast their votes for her.
DEMOCRATS MUST BE CAREFUL…
Dr. Richard Johnson, III, and former State Rep. Shawn Thierry have already been vetted and approved by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
It is unclear when Governor Greg Abbott is going to set a date for the upcoming “SPECIAL ELECTION” to fill the void left after the untimely death of Congressman Sylvester Turner. However, nothing in the U.S. Constitution requires Gov. Abbott to be in a hurry to call the “SPECIAL ELECTION” to fill the vacancy.
Things would be much easier for Gov. Abbott if he could appoint one of his favorite African American conservatives (Dr. Richard Johnson or Attorney Shawn Thierry) to finish the remainder of Congressman Turner’s term, which expires in January 2027.
VETTED ALREADY BY THE GOVERNOR…
On Monday, February 6, 2023, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Richard A. Johnson, III, Ed.D., to the Texas Southern University Board of Regents for a term expiring on February 1, 2029.
According to the Governor’s website, “Richard A. Johnson, III, Ed.D. of Houston is the director of the Booker T. Washington Initiative at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. During the 85th and 86th Texas Legislatures, he served as a chief of staff and a senior policy analyst for a Texas House of Representatives member. Johnson was an educator for over 20 years and has extensive experience in teaching and research. He is a former member and vice president of the Houston Chapter of the Texas Association of Black Psychologists, a former member of the American Psychological Association, Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education, Texas Association of Black School Educators, National Academic Advising Association, and the Houston Business and Professional Men’s Club. He is a member of the Wiley College and Texas Southern University Alumni associations and a life member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Additionally, he is a former president of 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston and the Louisiana Prison Chapel Foundation and former Chair of the NAACP Higher Education Committee. Johnson received a Bachelor of Arts in History and Government from Wiley College, a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, and a Doctor of Education in Education Administration from Texas Southern University. Additionally, he served in the U.S. Army after college, obtaining the rank of sergeant.”
On Monday, January 13, 2025, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Shawn Thierry to the Texas Juvenile Justice Board for a term that will expire on February 1, 2029.
In case you don’t remember, former State Rep. Shawn Thierry fled from the Democratic Party after she was allegedly sexually harassed, bullied, and tormented by a Harris County Democratic Party Precinct Chair named Kay Shepard, who represents Precinct 30 in Harris County, Texas.
According to Governor Abbott’s website, “The Board is charged with developing and implementing rules to govern the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.”
“Shawn Thierry of Houston is an attorney and a four-term Texas Legislator serving House District 146. During her time in the Texas Legislature, she served on several committees, including the Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas and Houston Bar Association and a volunteer for the Houston Food Bank. Thierry received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Howard University and a Juris Doctor from Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law,” said Governor Abbott.
On Tuesday, February 11, 2025, attorney and former State Rep. Shawn Thierry was named Executive Director for Policy and Counsel at the prestigious Texas Southern University.
“The newly established role will serve in the Office of Board Relations alongside the Executive Director for Board Relations,” stated their website.
According to TSU’s website, “In this role, Thierry will advise the Board of Regents on federal, state, and local policy issues, coordinate special projects, and provide strategic and legal counsel. Thierry is the second veteran state legislator hired by TSU this academic year, joining her former Texas House of Representatives colleague, Dr. James White, who serves as Vice President for Governmental Affairs and Civic Engagement.”
GAMESMANSHIP OF THE GOVERNOR…
The 119th Congress began on January 3, 2025, and will not end until January 2027. That said, House Speaker Mike Johnson and President Donald J. Trump would likely be the vast benefactors if Governor Greg Abbott drags his feet on the matter unfolding with the current vacancy in the 18th Congressional District of Texas.
President Donald J. Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson are running into issues with a couple of “GOP MEMBERS” of the United States Congress.
Currently, there are (218) Republican Members serving in the United States Congress. And there are (214) Democratic Members serving in the United States Congress, which is a razor-thin margin for passing legislation.
There are (3) Open Congressional seats in the United States Congress. However, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, two of the “OPEN SEATS” in Congress will be filled.
The 1st Congressional District of Florida, which Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz held, will be filled with the holding of a “SPECIAL ELECTION” to fill the seat. The 6th Congressional District that Republican Congressman Mike Waltz held will also be filled by having a “SPECIAL ELECTION” on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
The third and remaining “OPEN SEAT” in the United States Congress is the 18th Congressional District seat, which became vacant after the untimely death of the late Congressman Sylvester Turner, who passed away on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
So, of the three “OPEN SEATS” in the United States Congress, only one of the seats is a lean Democrat, which means that to hold the seat, Democrats had better be smart.
Can a Republican flip the 18th Congressional District from “BLUE” to “RED” in the upcoming “SPECIAL ELECTION” when Governor Greg Abbott calls it?
If Democrats load up the “SPECIAL ELECTION” field with (15) Democratic candidates or (20) Democratic candidates, a lone “GOP CANDIDATE” could split the group.
Once in a “RUNOFF ELECTION,” it is likely that the right kind of African American “GOP CANDIDATE” with cross-over appeal could galvanize, mobilize, and unite MAGA “Make American Great Again” voters with disgruntled, fed up, African American voters thirsty for change.
A candidate like Dr. Richard Johnson, III, or former state Rep. Shawn Thierry would be ideal because they’ve already been vetted and approved by Governor Greg Abbott and appointed to coveted positions of authority.
I’ve identified a few conservatives who could run an extremely competitive race as a lone “GOP CANDIDATE” in a field of (15) to (20) Democratic Candidates in the upcoming “SPECIAL ELECTION” for the 18th Congressional District of Texas.
66,810 votes were received by Lana Centonze (Republican) in the 2024 presidential election race for the 18th Congressional District, which was run against Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s successor, Sylvester Turner.
58,033 votes were received by Wendell Champion (Republican) in the 2020 Presidential Election for the 18th Congressional District, running against Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
48,306 votes were received by Lori Bartley (Republican) in the 2016 presidential election for the 18th Congressional District, which was run against Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
47,835 votes were received by Maria Dunn (Republican) in the 2024 “UNEXPIRED TERM” Presidential Election for the 18th Congressional District, running against Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s daughter Erica Lee.
40,941 votes were received by Carmen Maria Montiel (Republican) in the 2022 Midterm Election for the 18th Congressional District, running against Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
44,015 votes were received by Sean Seibert (Republican) in the 2012 presidential election for the 18th Congressional District, which was run against Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
38,368 votes were received by Ava Pate (Republican) in the 2018 Midterm Election for the 18th Congressional District, running against Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
21,257 votes were received by Kevin O. Dural (Republican) in the 2024 “UNEXPIRED TERM” Presidential Election for the 18th Congressional District, running against Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s daughter Erica Lee.
14,688 votes were received by Amanda Edwards (Democrat) in the 2024 Democratic Party Primary for the 18th Congressional District, running against Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT…
Many local political consultants and community “STAKEHOLDERS” believe that former Houston City Councilwoman Amanda Edwards could emerge victorious against a potential field of Democrats like Jarvis Johnson, Shawn Thierry, Erica Lee Carter, Jolanda Jones, Christina Morales, Amanda Edwards, Angeanette “Angie” Thibodeaux, Bishop James Dixon, Travis McGee, Deric Muhammad, Ronald E. Reynolds, Letitia Plummer, Eric Carr, Dr. Richard Johnson, III, and Christian Menefee – but I beg to differ.
All we know about former Councilwoman Amanda Edwards is that in a race for the 18th Congressional District during the Tuesday, March 5, 2024, Democratic Party Primary, only 14,668 voters from the 18th Congressional District supported her candidacy.
What you have to remember is that there are over 417,430 registered voters who live in the 18th Congressional District of Texas. What does this mean?
What I’m trying to get you to understand is that only 402,762 of the 417,430 registered voters who live in the 18th Congressional District did not get excited about going to the polls to cast their vote for Amanda Edwards during the Tuesday, March 5, 2024, which means that, if she doesn’t develop a better strategy this time around she could finish in the bottom of the pack when the “SPECIAL ELECTION” rolls around.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONS
EMAIL: aubreyrtaylor@gmail.com
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