Al Green Ousted in Houston's Democratic House Runoff

Christian Menefee just ended Al Green's long run in Congress. The 38-year-old freshman Democrat has defeated the 78-year-old Green in a tightly fought primary runoff in Texas' 18th Congressional District, a deep-blue, Houston-based seat reshaped by GOP-led redistricting, reports NBC News. The rare incumbent-versus-incumbent matchup followed a March 3 primary in which Menefee edged Green 46% to 44%, forcing a runoff after neither cleared 50%.

Menefee, sworn in earlier this year after winning a special election to replace the late Rep. Sylvester Turner, previously served as Harris County attorney and highlighted his office's lawsuits against the Trump administration as proof of his opposition to the president—a theme both candidates leaned on. Menefee was also boosted by more than $5 million in outside spending from Protect Progress, a crypto-aligned super PAC that Green sharply criticized. That spending turned the race for the 18th District into the most expensive House runoff this year, notes Politico. Green, seeking a 12th term after his old district was redrawn to favor Republicans, has been a prominent Trump antagonist in Congress.