12 times lawmakers were replaced by their relatives in Congress

By Ryan Foley, Christian Post Reporter
Monday, August 03, 2026

11. Former Rep. Erica Lee Carter, D-Texas

After Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, died in 2024, weeks after announcing her cancer diagnosis, her daughter, Erica Lee Carter, won a special election to finish her term.

The election was held alongside the general election for a full term, for which Lee Carter was not a candidate. She served less than two months in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com

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