Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, right, speaks about the expansion of the county's Jail-Based Competency Restoration program at the Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD on Feb. 9, 2023 . "We are just getting started.". Ballotpedia's 2022 elections analysis. ", Yesterday, the people of Harris County chose optimism over fear & people over politics. 'This Week In Texas' puts spotlight on Harris County Judge's race Mealer has focused her campaign on crime and public safety spending, arguing Hidalgo has failed to devote enough funding to county law enforcement amid a rise in violent crime. The impending takeover of HISD by the TEA dates back to 2019, when Wheatley High School triggered a state law by failing to meet accountability standards for seven consecutive years. The Democratic majority tried to draw Cagle, a Republican who has represented Precinct 4 since 2011, out of office when it passed new precinct maps last year. . His statement went on to layout the penalty a class B misdemeanor for failing to meet the deadline. The redistricting also cost him familiarity with voters, essentially switching the areas covered by Precincts 3 and 4. So, I think it's actually harmful to spend a lot of time talking about issues that aren't in your control," Mealer said. Democrats also have a 12-point historic edge in Precinct 2, where Garcia's lead over his challenger and predecessor, Morman, had grown to 5 percentage points by 4 a.m. Pct. In Precinct 2, former commissioner Jack Morman and Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton led three other candidates. On Friday, Hidalgo County Judge Richard . Democrats on Tuesday generally faced a hostile climate, with President Joe Bidens lagging approval numbers, the uptick in crime and rising inflation all dragging on their enthusiasm. Chris Daniel, a former district clerk, ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Elections Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo throws shade at Mattress Mack, local leaders during victory speech. IN THIS EPISODE: Alexandra Del Moral Mealer, the GOP Candidate running for Harris County Judge, talks about what led to her jump on the campaign trail with a goal to unseat incumbent candidate . "They do that to get you talking about everything but Harris County. Astros GM Dana Brown the antithesis of his predecessors, Texas wants to ban delta-8, but veterans are pushing back, UH, Texas A&M removing DEI statements from hiring practices, Houston is the most stressful city to work in, says new study, The Breakfast Klub sues prominent City Hall consultant for fraud, Lauren Daigle at Houston Rodeo: 'God always has your number', Galveston gets fourth Carnival Cruise Line, Texas 2022 midterm elections: Live results from Abbott vs. Beto, Hidalgo vs. Mealer and more, retain and expand control of the county government, Mealer concedes county judge race to Hidalgo, ran a spirited campaign arguing that Hidalgo has forsaken public safety. With all voting centers reporting, Hidalgo had 546,745 votes (50.74 percent) to Mealer's 530,788 (49.25 percent. Lina Hidalgo (@LinaHidalgoTX) November 9, 2022. . Oct. 12, 2022 Updated: Oct. 14, 2022 1:37 p.m. For the first time, the two candidates for Harris County judge, incumbent Lina Hidalgo and challenger Alexandra Mealer, sat down . Please type your name EXACTLY as it appears on your VOTER REGISTRATION RECORD. The board praised her plans to combat violent crime in the county and promises to clear a backlog of criminal cases at the courthouse. He joined the Hearst Austin bureau in 2021 after nearly three years as a City Hall reporter for the Chronicle and a prior stint covering Bexar County for the Express-News. "No one really knows what the county judge does. LUPE is a nonprofit organization that helps the community organize for and win a better quality of life. 05/09/2022 01:51 PM EDT. Tensions ran high as the court's two Republican members skipped the meeting, blocking the three Democrats from passing their proposed tax rate unless they agreed to specific terms for funding law enforcement. Texas GOP may censure Tony Gonzales over gay marriage, gun votes, Rep. Joaquin Castro's health plan points to a new Texas trend, Rep. Joaquin Castro diagnosed with cancer, undergoes surgery, Texas House Speaker appoints committee for gun legislation, Santa Fe families still denied video, records from 2018 shooting. 'Mattress Mack' endorses GOP opponent of Lina Hidalgo for county judge Austin, TX, February 8, 2022 With increasingly heated discussions over public safety and rising homicide rates, and a grand jury investigation over an $11 million vaccine outreach contract looming, multiple Democratic and Republican candidates have filed for a chance to challenge Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo in 2022.. Hidalgo faces five challengers in the Democratic primary, most . McGuinness previously covered the Rhode Island statehouse for the Associated Press and breaking news for the Boston Globe. Its rattlesnake season in Texas. Politics A new poll shows the Harris County Judge's race is neck-and-neck. The Early Voting results were reported shortly after the polls closed, Election Day results will be reported, and the remainder of the reconciliation process will continue over the next few days, as we prioritize accuracy over speed, Longorias office said in a statement. Since July, Republican donors have poured nearly $9 million into Mealer's bid to unseat Hidalgo a staggering haul for a county judge race. Heres what you need to know. MLB legend makes surprise appearance at Astros' Spring Training, Houston is ugly, and I've never felt more at home, Texas A&M upset win clears path for UH to snag top overall seed, Oops! 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, a Democrat, and Pct. The national environment a key factor in the outcome of the county judge race, political experts say now appears to be shifting back in favor of Republicans. She's facing challengers . In February, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick criticized Hidalgo for where she decided to stand at the memorial service of slain Harris County Pct. Her leadership has been recognized through several awards and national awards, especially for her response to the COVID-19 pandemic and received recognition for protecting voting rights. Harris County Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria said some paper ballots got wrinkled and jammed, but most votes would be counted on time. Hobby School Poll: Harris County Judge's Race Too Close to Call Lina Hidalgo - Ballotpedia Lina Hidalgo defeated incumbent Ed Emmett and Eric Gatlin in the general election for Harris County Judge on November 6, . . On Twitter Wednesday morning, Hidalgo celebrated her win, tweeting: "Yesterday, the people of Harris County chose optimism over fear & people over politics. Shortly before 5 a.m., the early votes and less than half of the 375 voting centers had been reported. Hidalgo's victory helped secure a 4-1 Democratic majority on the court that was sealed after former civil court judge Lesley Briones beat incumbent Republican commissioner Jack Cagle for the Precinct 4 seat. Hidalgo has been forced to play defense on the issue, with Mealer and other Republicans pointing to a rise in homicides and overall violent crime in Harris County. She enjoys traveling and reading romance novels. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Hidalgo took . The last-minute celebrity endorsements were one of Hidalgos last campaign moves before the Nov. 8 election. Candidate for Harris County Judge Alexandra del Moral Mealer poses for a photo Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, at the Houston Chronicle offices in Houston. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is being challenged within the More often, though, her campaign rhetoric has focused on fending off attacks from Mealer and throwing her own punches at the GOP nominee. As County judge, she oversees an annual budget of $4.3 billion with four other County commissioners (who all happen to be men). Hidalgo's staffers being charged in 2022 with helping . . A native of San Francisco, he graduated from Northwestern University in 2017 with degrees in journalism and political science, and has interned for the Tampa Bay Times, Washington Post and Fortune magazine. As many of you know, I am not a stranger to public service. piling up against Hidalgo as Election Day approached, campaign contributions thanks in large part to a number of generous GOP donors, three of her top aides were indicted by a grand jury. Race for Harris County judge still too close to call Alexandra Mealer is a tenacious campaigner, said Jessica Coln, a Houston-based Republican strategist who is uninvolved in the race. Alexandra del Moral Mealer, the Republican candidate for Harris County Judge, chats with attendees and other candidates running for difference offices during a meet and greet hosted by Magic Circle Republican Women, Log Cabin Republicans of Houston and the Houston Young Republicans in the Heights on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. Hidalgo argued Republicans are forcing the county to scale back other essential services, and as she commented on the impacts to various departments, Mealer supporters rolled their eyes, laser-focused on their candidates goal of hiring more patrol officers. Democratic Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, left, is facing a challenge from Republican Alexandra Moral del Mealer. Her opponent, Republican challenge . Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo hugs U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia after being reelected for a second term on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022 in Houston. Lina Hidalgo wins reelection bid for Harris County judge against 2022 Updated: 5:24 PM CST November 9, 2022 . Const. Dozens of supporters for Alexandra del Moral Mealer, the Republican candidate challenging Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, packed the room at the Sept. 13 meeting of Commissioners Court, each wearing "Alex's Army" T-shirts and loudly scoffing when Hidalgo spoke. By the time candidates began announcing for the 2022 Texas primaries in mid-November, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, chief executive of the county that includes Houston, seemed to have safely . Unofficial results for county, state and federal primary races have been released in Hidalgo County, with voters casting ballots in races, including county judge, criminal district attorney and governor. ", Thank you to all those who supported our campaign for good governance pic.twitter.com/ZnjLvtQVTO. (Photo: Lina Hidalgo campaign) HOUSTON - Less than an hour after the polls closed for the 2022 Texas Primary Election Tuesday, Democratic incumbent Lina Hidalgo took the lead ahead of all other candidates for Harris County Judge. One of the first priorities for newly elected County Judge Lina Hidalgo was to push through an historic 8% property tax increase - the maximum property tax increase allowed. Here is a look at some of her most significant moments of 2022. Three of her staffers have been indicted by District Attorney Kim Ogg over a controversial COVID-19 outreach contract, an investigation that Hidalgo has decried as a witch-hunt. 2022 Candidate's Guide - Running for State, District or County Office; 2020 Candidate's Guide - Running for Federal, State, District or County offices. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo waits to speak to the media after the Harris County Commissioners Court went into executive session Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, in Houston. Q&A with Harris County judge candidate Alexandra Mealer. ), LIVE RESULTS TRACKER: Texas 2022 midterm elections: Live results from Abbott vs. Beto, Hidalgo vs. Mealer and more. Austin, TX, April 22, 2022 Republicans Vidal Martinez and Alexandra del Moral Mealer have hit the campaign trail in what has become a heated runoff race for a chance to replace Democratic incumbent Lina Hidalgo as Harris County judge.. Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez will seek re-election in 2022 They asked the federal government for additional vaccine doses due to rising, but still relatively small, numbers of cases. The county judge race is expected to be close, though Hidalgo still has an edge over her opponent due to the countys leftward tilt, according to Rene Cross, the executive director of the University of Houstons Hobby School of Public Affairs. Hidalgo repeatedly has said the countys main public safety departments the sheriff, constables and district attorney have received funding boosts in each county budget since Democrats took control of Commissioners Court in 2018. But that hasn't stopped RGV residents from working together for the things we all need to thrive. County Judge | Hidalgo County, TX - Official Website If Hidalgo holds on to win, she will have overcome an aggressive re-election fight in a hostile political climate for Democrats. "We've worked for a commissioners court that looks like our county and we've worked to make sure that diversity is represented throughout the leadership of county government," she said. Mealers bid focused on the rise in crime Harris County has seen since the COVID-19 pandemic, seeking to lay blame for that uptick at Hidalgos feet, although similar or larger increases have occurred across the country. Turnout in the top 10 majority Black ZIP codes was down 15 percent from 2018, for example. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo at a Commissioners Court meeting in February 2020. Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Show More Show Less 2 of 2. Republican challenger Alexandra del Moral Mealer has conceded her bid to unseat Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, with unofficial results show her trailing by . Attendees reacts as they watch televised election returns from the bar at the Election Night Watch Party hosted by the Harris Co. Democratic Party held at Chapman and Kirby Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022 in Houston, TX. The spotlight also fueled speculation she could someday run for larger office, both of which made her a primary target for both local and statewide conservatives. The County Judge is the presiding officer of the county commissioners court and the head of emergency management. Election Day is Tuesday, November 8, 2022. March 2022 marks an unusually crowded primary season for Harris County politics, with three Harris County . Norma Ramirez resigns as Hidalgo County Democratic Party chair "Because Lina has funded more full-time social workers than she has sheriff deputies.". Sam Gonzlez Kelly is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle. Instead, the ad makes a specific claim about Mealer and a specific policy. First Day to Apply for a Ballot by Mail. First elected to the position in 2018 after narrowly defeating her Republican opponent and former Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, Hidalgo is the first woman and Latina to hold the office. He said they were watching growing caseloads in other major American cities. 2022 Election. "I want to thank Alex Mealer for running a hard-fought campaign," Hidalgo began. In the process, she became a champion to progressives who said that focus helped struggling households that the countys previously limited government left behind. Lina Hidalgo faces tough reelection race for Harris County Judge | The Taken on September 7, 2022. Terry Palacios wins Democratic nomination in Hidalgo County district attorney race, unofficial election results show 1 year 13 hours 11 minutes ago Tuesday, March 01 2022 Mar 1, 2022 March 01 . Its rattlesnake season in Texas. The poll, which surveyed nearly 1,000 likely election voters, has Mealer leading 48 percent to Hidalgo's 44 percent. Controversial Harris County Judge Hidalgo Draws Multiple Challengers in Hidalgo's reelection campaign also suffered a blow following an unexpected endorsement from the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board co-signing Mealer. Harris County commissioner candidate Lesley Briones introduces gubernatorial candidate Beto ORourke during a rally outside of the West Gray Recreational Area on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022 in Houston. Republicans and prominent business leaders in Harris County made unseating Hidalgo a priority. Candidate Information Texas Secretary of State. Emmett (Republican Party) . It all started with a viral video by the National Fraternal Order of Police denouncing where Hidalgo stood on the stage particularly close to the family and their elected officials to honor the fallen officer. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo tries to win re-election but faces a challenge from Republican Alexandra . The indictment, filed by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, centered around the awarding of an $11 million county contract to Elevate Strategies, a local Houston company whose founder Felicity Pereyra had previously worked on Democratic campaigns. Its rattlesnake season in Texas. People are looking beyond party lines and looking to the person, and thats the way local politics really should be, Mealer told reporters following the initial results. (Steve Gonzales, Staff photographer) / Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner before they gave a joint press conference about growing Monkeypox infections in July 2022. See also: Municipal elections in Harris County, Texas (2022) General election. If the unofficial results stand, Democrats would retain and expand control of the county government four years after they won a majority for the first time in decades. Q&A: Get to know the Republican candidates for Harris County judge This 10 percentage point lead by . Updated: . He has also reported on local politics for both papers. According to Harris County officials, Patrick told Hidalgo to sit down and shut up multiple times at the funeral. Elections 2022 Election Guide: Harris County and Texas races to watch . Edinburg, Texas 78539. For the latest and best fromChron,sign up for our daily newsletter here. Terry Palacios wins Democratic nomination in Hidalgo County district Monday, February 14, 2022. HIDALGO COUNTY, Texas (KVEO) Hidalgo County's judge will seek to keep his position for four more years in 2022. HOUSTON Lina Hidalgo, the progressive Democrat who leads Texas's largest county, which includes Houston, narrowly won re-election despite a well-funded effort by a Republican . Rest assured that I take, very seriously, the responsibility to serve all of Hidalgo County. Hidalgo has held the position since defeating then-incumbent and longtime County . The court last year redrew both precincts to favor Democrats. Participation among voters with Spanish surnames was down 18 percent. Lina Hidalgo reelected as Harris County judge | khou.com Editor's Note: Calling all Rio Grande Valley candidates. Mealer said. Espaol / English. New poll shows heated race for Harris County judge is too close to call Hidalgo has touted her record steering the county through several major emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic and last years winter storm, and establishing programs focused on early childhood education, pandemic recovery and environmental health and monitoring. She pointed to a recent city-county gun buyback program and county spending aimed at addressing maternal mortality. Nov. 10, 2022. Incumbents in more high-profile local posts, namely Hidalgo and Garcia, fared better. Hidalgo drew support from 45%. Saturday, January 1, 2022. ", "Sure she had almost $10 million in the bank, a U.S. senator, a furniture salesman, unscrupulous folks who were willing to tell lies, and a baffling editorial board endorsement representing the establishment," Hidalgo said. ", 'POLITICS OF PERCEPTION': Hidalgo, Harris County Dems hope for boost from abortion, national trends, but races still competitive over crime, economy. That message helped Mealer rake in millions in campaign cash, with six-figure support in the last month from the likes of Gallery Furniture owner Jim Mattress Mack McIngvale and energy executive David Modesett, among others. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo made passing reference to Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale and other prominent endorsers of her political opponent Alex Mealer during a Wednesday victory speech. Candidates for Harris County judge campaign in Houston Along her campaign trail, Hidalgo amassed the support of celebrities like Hamilton playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda, Chicago rapper and actor Common, and actress Jane Fonda, who block-walked with her in Houston last month. "I want to thank her for her concession and I want to thank her again for her service to our country so let's give her a round of applause." Hidalgos Republican opponent, Alexandra del Moral Mealer raised 4x the amount of fundraising money in her bid. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer, Gary Fountain/Contributor. And the pandemic is deepened inequality and exacerbated existing divisions. Incumbent Judge Lina Hidalgo is running for re-election after securing a historic - and surprising - win in 2018. Her reporting has aired nationally on NPR's Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Here & Now. LUPE was founded in 1989 by farmworker and civil rights leaders . 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Hidalgo appeared to gain some breathing room over the summer, when public backlash to the Supreme Courts scrapping of Roe v Wade provided a boost to Democrats around the country.