Erica Lee Carter is a Democratic politician who briefly served as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 18th congressional district from November 12, 2024, to January 3, 2025, succeeding her late mother, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. She won a special election on November 5, 2024, with 67.94% of the vote and served on the House Committee on the Judiciary during the 118th Congress. A dedicated advocate for children, community empowerment, and equity, she has worked across government and non-profit sectors, including key roles in policy development like the CROWN Act resolution for Harris County employees and an $18 million Revolving Loan Program for minority- and women-owned businesses.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; earned a Master's of Public Policy from Duke University’s Terry Sanford School of Public Policy.
• Early Career: Began as a First Grade teacher in the Houston Independent School District; served as Budget Analyst for the Governor of New York, focusing on education equity; worked in the Governor’s federal advocacy office on tax policy.
• Texas Roles: Elected Trustee for the Harris County Department of Education ; advocated for expanding the Nurse-Family Partnership through state funding.
• Recent Positions: Contributed to policy initiatives in Houston's Greater Third Ward area, where she resides with her husband, Dr. Roy L. Carter, Jr., and their twins. Now retired from Congress, she continues her family's legacy of public service.