Gov. Greg Abbott has set Nov. 4 as the special election date to fill the congressional seat left vacant by former Rep. Sylvester Turner’s death — a timeline that leaves the solidly Democratic seat vacant for at least seven months as Republicans look to drive President Donald Trump’s agenda through a narrowly divided Congress.

Texas' 18th Congressional District has been without a representative since the March 5 death of U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner. A special election for the vacant seat has been scheduled for Nov. 4.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Tuesday set the date for a Nov. 4 special election to fill the late Rep. Sylvester Turner’s (D-Texas) House seat, which has been vacant since early March.  A