The residents of Texas’ 18th District have come a step closer to full representation in Congress, with a pair of Democrats emerging as the top two finishers in Tuesday’s nonpartisan special election to succeed the late Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner.

Christian Menefee, the acting Harris County attorney, was leading Amanda Edwards, a former Houston City Council member, 32 percent to 26 percent, when The Associated Press called the two spots at 12:51 a.m. Eastern time Wednesday. The crowded primary also featured state Rep. Jolanda Jones, who was trailing in third place with 18 percent.

Since no one took a majority of the primary vote, Menefee and Edwards will compete in a runoff, likely in February, to fill the remainder of Turner’s term. The Houston-area district has been vacant since

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