Chronic SOTU Disrupter Crushed In Primary

A Democrat known for his State of the Union stunts will be exiting Congress after more than two decades following a crushing primary defeat on Tuesday. 

Longtime Democratic Rep. Al Green (D-TX) was crushed by Rep. Christian Menefee (D-TX) in a runoff election for Texas’ 18th Congressional District, which represents parts of Houston. Menefee earned nearly 70% of the vote to Green’s 30%. Both ended up in the same district after Texas redrew its election maps last year. 

In his concession speech, Green, 78, rambled on about how he would continue to support abortion. 

“I’d like to indicate to you that this effort has been one that was sincere. It’s something that I have done as a labor of love. I have enjoyed all of my time as a member of the Congress of the United States of America,” he said. “And I want to assure you that when I go back to Congress next week, I still plan to take up the cause of women in this country. I still will fight to make sure a woman has a right to choose. This is something that we cannot allow men to deprive women of.”

Green, who was first elected to Congress in 2004, has become known for his opposition to President Donald Trump, introducing articles of impeachment just two weeks after Inauguration Day in 2025. 

During Trump’s State of the Union in March 2025, House Speaker Mike Johnson removed Green from the House chamber after he started yelling during the speech and refused to remain quiet. Green was later censured by the House for his protests. 

Green was again kicked out of the State of the Union in February 2026 after he disrupted Trump’s speech while holding up a sign reading “Black People Aren’t Apes.” 

Menefee, 38, received about $5 million from Protect Progress, a pro-cryptocurrency political action committee that supports Democratic candidates. The PAC ran one pro-Menefee ad featuring failed Texas Democrat Senate candidate and outgoing Rep. Jasmine Crockett. 

“We need a new generation of fighters who are ready to throw down for what’s right,” Crockett said in the ad. “My friend Christian Menefee is that fighter. Christian Menefee took on MAGA in Texas and won.”

Green has been a skeptic of crypto during his time in Congress. 

Menefee, facing off against Republican Ronald Whitfield in November, is expected to win in the heavily Democratic district.