The Harris County Elections Department closed all early vote centers for the CD-18 special runoff election on Sunday and Monday, citing hazardous winter weather.

The two candidates are competing to fill Houston’s long-vacant congressional seat.

A court order extended early voting in the runoff election after polling locations were closed Sunday and Monday due to a winter storm. The early voting period for the Jan. 31 election was originally set to end Tuesday but was extended to include Wednesday and Thursday, when 17 polling locations in Harris County will be open from noon-7 p.m.

Voters in Texas’s 18th Congressional District are encouraged to cast ballots in the runoff. Early voting hours adjusted due to an approaching winter storm.

Lynda Sanchez and Mike Wolfe are competing March 3 for the Republican nomination in the race against Democratic incumbent Teneshia Hudspeth.

Former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards and former Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee are competing in a Jan. 31 special election runoff as they seek to fill the vacancy in the 18th Congressional District.

Former Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee defeated Houston City Councilmember Amanda Edwards to fill this seat that’s been vacant for nearly 11 months since the death of Rep. Sylvester Turner. Both are planning to run for a full term in March’s primary, where they’ll also face current Democratic Rep. Al Green due to redistricting.

Harris County residents have yet to receive updated information about FEMA flood maps, leaving communities and the governing bodies who oversee infrastructure decisions at a standstill. If FEMA flood map updates continue to lag, what local measures in emergency preparedness would you support to guide flood-risk planning in the meantime?