UT San Antonio alumnus — class of 2010 — Christian Menefee became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas’ 18th District. Previously serving as the County Attorney for Harris County, Menefee beat Amanda Edwards during the special election for Congress on Jan. 31 by 37%. He filled the congressional position vacancy created by the death of Sylvester Turner in 2025.
In an interview with The Paisano, Menefee discussed how his time at UT San Antonio prepared him for success after graduating.
“The Summer Law School Preparatory Academy was helpful in teaching me about how to get into law school, how to conduct myself in law school and how to succeed in law school,” he explained. “It was so impactful in my life that I ended up recreating it during my time as a Harris County Attorney with a program I called the Summer Law School Academy.
“The Student Government Association allowed me the opportunity to advocate for issues that were important to address when I was on campus.”
As a business administration student, Menefee took on leadership roles such as becoming the president of the Alpha Delta Lambda chapter at the Omega South African Incorporated group.
“I always tell people, ‘If you can lead a group of 19 to 20-year-old boys, then you can lead anybody at any Fortune 500 company,’” he said.
While reflecting on his ambition to run for Congress, Menefee explained his mission and goals regarding the role of Congressman for District 18.
“I just knew that we needed a fight up in Washington, D.C., seeing [President Donald Trump’s] administration restricting people’s rights, allowing federal police forces terrorize folks,” Menefee detailed. “I kept hearing from the communities that I served that they wanted someone to go up and take a real fight to the Trump administration and to Republicans in Congress.
“The good news is, during my time as county attorney, I gained experience and built my brand. Taking on the important fights in the courtroom and winning against the Trump administration, Governor [Greg] Abbott, Attorney General [Ken] Paxton. I was interested in taking that same fight to D.C.”
Menefee won the special election last year, guaranteeing his term as congressman to last throughout 2026. He recollected on how government assistance programs motivated him to run for Congress.
“I grew up in a household that benefited greatly from government programs like [Women, Infants & Children], free lunch in our public schools, down payment assistance from the government, military health insurance,” Menefee recalled. “I went to college on a Pell Grant. I went to law school on my dad’s Post 9/11 GI Bill. So I’ve seen the power of having a true social safety net, how it can be a catalyst that allows folks to push themselves forward and to be successful in this country.”
He reflected on UT San Antonio as being a school he enjoyed with exceptional professors. In closing, he provided guidance to those students attending UT San Antonio today.
“Learn all the stuff that you need to learn. Build all the relationships you can and then, once you get out, make the school proud. Go out there and do good work. Work hard, keep your head down, and the opportunities will be endless,” Menefee emphasized.
