Erica Lee Carter has succeeded her mother, Sheila Jackson Lee, a former member of Congress. She currently serves the 18th Congressional District of Texas and is the first woman to succeed her mother in the U.S. Congress.
Carter expressed her excitement in a statement: “Thank you to the voters of the 18th Congressional District of Texas for entrusting me with the remainder of the term for the 118th Congress,” according to Click2Houston.
She added, “I am honored to finish for you and in the memory of my mother, the late great Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. I am ready to stand up and work for you. I look forward to collaborating with Speaker Mike Johnson, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and all of my Congressional colleagues on the important issues facing the United States House of Representatives on behalf of the American people.”
After Jackson Lee’s death, Texas Governor Greg Abbott called for a special election to replace the seat, and she was sworn in.
“I want to finish for my mom!” she declared in a statement following the loss of her mother, according to Fox26.
Carter’s term will end on January 3, 2025, when former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will take office as the 18th Congressional District’s next representative after being elected on Election Day.
Months ago, the nation mourned the loss of Congresswoman Jackson Lee, who passed away at 74 in July after a courageous battle with cancer. Known for her tireless advocacy for Black Americans and a formidable presence in Congress, Jackson Lee’s passing marked the end of a distinguished career dedicated to justice, equality, and the betterment of her community.
She was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1995, representing Texas’s 18th congressional district. For nearly three decades in Congress, she was a fierce advocate for the rights and well-being of Black Americans and other marginalized communities. Her legislative efforts covered a wide range of issues, including criminal justice reform, healthcare access, voting rights, and economic equity.
