HOUSTON — Congressman Christian Menefee has secured the endorsement of 25 Houston-area pastors in his May 26 re-election campaign for the newly configured 18th Congressional District, as he continues to build a broad coalition of community, labor and civic support.

Menefee, who has represented Texas’s 18th Congressional District since February 2026, won a special election to fill the seat earlier this year. However, he was required to run again after Republican-led redistricting reshaped the district boundaries, triggering a new election cycle. The redrawn map also set up a competitive race against longtime U.S. Rep. Al Green, who was drawn out of his previous district and is now seeking election in the new 18th District.

The group of endorsing pastors reflects a wide cross-section of Houston’s faith community, spanning congregations both within Menefee’s current district and areas newly included after redistricting.

The endorsers include Rev. Dr. Marcus D. Cosby and Rev. Dr. Alexander E.M. Johnson of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, Rev. Terry K. Anderson of Lilly Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Lamon L. Atkins, Sr. of Progressive New Hope Baptist Church, Bishop Shelton Bady of Harvest Time Church, Rev. Delwin E. Benton of Lyons Unity Missionary Baptist Church, Dr. Robert E. Childress of Covenant Glen Church, Dr. D.Z. Cofield of Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church, J. Michael Elmore of Forest Lawn Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Dennis C. Jones of Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. James A. Jones, Jr. of Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church, Dr. Andre J. Lewis of New Faith Church, Rev. Derrick Lott of Lighthouse Missionary Baptist Church, Dr. T. Grant Malone of The Historic St. John Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Isaac Matthews of God’s Grace Community Church, Bishop John D. Ogletree, Jr. of First Metropolitan Church, Dr. Rudy Rasmus and Juanita Rasmus of St. John’s Downtown Church, Dr. Timothy W. Sloan of The Luke Church, Rev. Dr. Samuel D. Smith, Sr. of Mt. Horeb Missionary Baptist Church, Tiffany Tarrant of St. John’s Downtown Church, Dr. Charles E. Turner of New Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. John F. White of Wesley A.M.E. Church, Rev. Dr. Stephanie T. Wilkins of St. John’s Downtown Church, and Rev. Theodore Roosevelt Williams of New Faith Church.

The pastors join a broader coalition supporting Menefee’s campaign that includes the Houston Black American Democrats, the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus, Teamsters Local 988, the Houston Federation of Teachers, the Seafarers International Union, and the Transport Workers Union Local 260.

The endorsements underscore Menefee’s growing support among community and labor groups as he heads into the May 26 Democratic primary in a district reshaped by redistricting and defined by a competitive race for representation.