TX-18: In Democratic runoff, Reps. Al Green and Christian Menefee clash over influence of big money in politics

WASHINGTON — With little ideological daylight between the two candidates, the runoff between Democratic Reps. Al Green and Christian Menefee has focused on a more symbolic debate: the influence of big money in politics.

Green has criticized the more than $4 million that a cryptocurrency super PAC spent on behalf of Menefee, a whopping total that has given Menefee the money edge and made the 18th Congressional District home to the most expensive House runoff in Texas. In the meantime, Menefee has called out Green for accepting contributions from corporate PACs, or groups that raise money from a company’s employees and donate it to political candidates.

The clash is emblematic of a broader wedge between Democrats, many of whom rely on large fundraising hauls to remain competitive, even as they denounce the outsized influence big money plays in the political arena.

“We’ve built incredible momentum without taking any corporate PAC dollars,” Menefee said in an interview. “At the same time, I believe Citizens United was a mistake and should be overturned, and not a single super PAC should exist.“




https://www.texastribune.org/2026/05/22/texas-18th-congressional-district-democratic-primary-corporate-super-pacs-crypto-christian-menefee-al-green/