That is not guaranteed, though, given the narrow nature of their leads and the in-limbo status of the set-aside ballots. As County judge, she oversees an annual budget of $4.3 billion with four other County commissioners (who all happen to be men). 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. "Truth won over lies." LIVE UPDATES: 2022 Texas Primary Election Results. Hector de Leon, who works for the county clerk's office that used to oversee elections, analyzed early vote data to show some turnout trends among different demographic categories. In her victory speech, Hidalgo criticized local figures who contributed to her opponent, throwing shade at Mattress Mack, who notably did not take kindly to the judge referring to him as a "furniture salesman." 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. She enjoys binge-watching anime and films makeup tutorials in her spare time. Help us ask the candidates for Hidalgo County Judge the challenging questions. Hidalgo ( Democratic Party) ran for re-election for Harris County Judge in Texas. Ballotpedia's 2022 elections analysis. Sen. Ted Cruz, who endorsed Mealer showed up at Mealer's election watch party. Sort of. 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. 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. Taken on September 7, 2022. I want to thank each & every voter who showed up to make their voice heard this election. Before coming to the Chronicle, Jen spent three years covering City Hall for Houston's NPR station. She has been on the ground to cover natural disasters, disease outbreaks, elections and protests, delivering stories to both . Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo tries to win re-election but faces a challenge from Republican Alexandra . Marc Campos, a longtime Houston Democratic consultant who is not involved in the race, said Hidalgo likely will benefit from low propensity voters who feel motivated to turn out because of abortion rights. 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! They answered questions from the . Hidalgo has scoffed at Mealers police hiring pledge, pointing to the countys more than 400 unfilled law enforcement positions. 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 board praised her plans to combat violent crime in the county and promises to clear a backlog of criminal cases at the courthouse. Incumbents in more high-profile local posts, namely Hidalgo and Garcia, fared better. Moreover, Patrick confronted Hidalgo at the event and accused her of defunding the police despite increasing the law enforcement budget since 2019. Democratic incumbent Judge Lina Hidalgo will serve another term as county judge for Texas' most populous county after . Republican challenger Alexandra del Moral Mealer has conceded her bid to unseat Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, with unofficial results show her trailing by . 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 . Come find out at a candidate forum hosted by LUPE and LUPE Votes this Friday, February 4th at 5 pm online. Mayor: HISD has two optionsclose school or be taken over, Rare photos show 2 ocelots crossing South Texas road, Eric Gordon trade looking better and better for Houston Rockets, Willie Nelson pays lovely tribute to another country legend, Hiker takes 'once-in-a-lifetime' photo at Brazos Bend State Park, This Texas Hill Country town is the new, cooler Fredericksburg. Tax Rates. Axios on linkedin. Meanwhile, across town at the Kirby Ice House, Mealer said the close margins show voters are paying attention. And the pandemic is deepened inequality and exacerbated existing divisions. Updated: . EXPLAINER: What you need to know about Lina Hidalgo and Alex Mealer in the race for Harris County judge. For several election cycles, Houston-area voters have favored Democrats over Republicans. Throughout her reelection campaign, Hidalgo faced an onslaught of criticism from state Republicans, including Gov. Both partys candidates for county clerk the office that ran elections in Harris County until Commissioners Court gave that duty to an independent administrator ran unopposed. . 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. Brandon Waltens | October 4, 2022. I am extremely grateful to our supporters and all those who contributed to this campaign. Members shall draw lots to determine who serves which terms. That means all votes cast between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. are being set aside until the high court decides whether they're legitimate and can be counted. Eight district court judges and two county court-at-law judges trailed opponents in early returns for the Democratic primary elections, results that figure to introduce a significant amount of turnover on local benches. 05/09/2022 01:51 PM EDT. The judge congratulated other candidates who . Hidalgo, Garcia cruise through primary, while incumbent judges struggle, Timeline: How battle between Houston ISD, TEA has reached the point of a looming takeover. This is a carousel. I want to thank each & every voter who showed up to make their voice heard this election. Another candidate for county judge is McAllen City Commissioner Tania Ramirez. Harris County Commissioner Pct. Sort of. For the last couple months, Hidalgo has assailed Mealer for not taking a stance on Texas abortion ban, including through a TV ad that says Mealer is staying silent while womens lives are in danger. In an effort to paint Mealer as a far-right extremist, Hidalgo has accused her of sowing doubt in the election results and being blindly loyal to former president Donald Trump. "With crime rising, is the focus increasing deputies or is it increasing social workers?" 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. The result could be a 4-1 Democratic powerhouse, the same 3-2 divide or a shift back to a Republican-controlled court. Mealer is hoping to kneecap Hidalgos rising political career just four years after the Democrat unseated Republican Ed Emmett in her first-ever run for political office, completing a Democratic takeover of the nations third-largest county. The balance of the five-member court is at stake in this election, with three incumbents up for re-election in competitive races. Its rattlesnake season in Texas. "The community has a position on these issues, and they want to know their leader's position. Campaign Finance Reports. Employees Only. Hidalgo also addressed the millions in campaign contributions her opponent garnered from "far right, Trump mega-donors," while campaigning for office. She has evolved into a savvy, hard-nosed, driven candidate, and she has been incredibly successful in raising the funds necessary to compete with Lina Hidalgo. I sincerely appreciate your vote of confidence in electing me. 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. Harris County Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria said some paper ballots got wrinkled and jammed, but most votes would be counted on time. 3 . DIRECTORY. She said both local parties, following the secretary of states advice, agreed to seek a court order adjusting the deadline. A poll from the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston, released Monday on the first day of early voting, found 47% of likely Harris County voters say they will support Mealer, a political newcomer running for Harris County judge. 2022 Election. Marie D. De Jess/Staff photographer . Lina Hidalgo defeated incumbent Ed Emmett and Eric Gatlin in the general election for Harris County Judge on November 6, . 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. 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. Staff members faced charges of misuse of official information and tampering with a government record in connection to a county contract awarded by Hidalgo's office to a local public relations firm to create a county COVID-19 outreach program. Lina Hidalgo (@LinaHidalgoTX) November 9, 2022. . 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. Friday, November 4, 2022. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is applauded as she arrives to a primaries election night party, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Houston. Coln, the GOP strategist, said Hidalgo is looking to infuse other cultural issues into the campaign to draw attention away from the fact that she's made Harris County a more dangerous place.. The request to keep the polling sites open late was made by the Texas Organizing Project, Texas Civil Rights Project and the ACLU of Texas. ", Before closing out her speech, Hidalgo turned attention to any who don't believe she won her reelection fair and square. According to election results from 2016 and 2020, Democrats hold a 12-point advantage in Precinct 4. Jay R. Jordan; Axios on facebook. Running for Local Offices; Notable Links . Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Harris County judge Lina Hidalgo greets her supporters at an primaries election night party at Axelrad Beer Garden, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Houston. Mar 2, 2022. "We believe and we stick to our values and that's what we brought to county government," Hidalgo told supporters at the Sam Houston Hotel late Tuesday, appearing with fellow Democrats Garcia and Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis. He grew up in Connecticut, graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, and is a die-hard Red Sox fan. LUPE was founded in 1989 by farmworker and civil rights leaders Cesar E. Chavez and Dolores Huerta. Across race and background, we are uniting to demand those who govern in our name to provide the things all working people need: Education that teaches us about our past while preparing us for the future. 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. We need more vaccine, Turner said. Chris Daniel, a former district clerk, ran unopposed in the Republican primary. In her first term in office, Hidalgo has expanded the traditional responsibilities of county government beyond infrastructure, law enforcement and flood control, imagining a broader, more holistic role for the county that includes such things as child care, housing stability and reform-minded criminal justice. The contract was ultimately rescinded, and Hidalgo has continuously defended her office and aides in relation to the indictment. Jaime E. Galvan 11/8/2022. 2022 / 08:13 AM CST . "No one really knows what the county judge does. Edinburg, Texas 78539. While Hidalgo has raised millions from small-dollar donors, she has struggled to keep pace with Mealer, who reported a fundraising haul of $4.9 million from July 1 through Sept. 29, the latest period covered by public campaign finance reports. Alexandra del Moral Mealer and attorney Vidal Martinez were leading the nine-candidate Republican field for the GOPs nomination for county judge. Hidalgo argues the county judge still can play a role on issues on which the county lacks direct oversight, such as gun control and abortion. the Hidalgo County health authority, announced he was passing on a campaign for the seat, saying he could . Instead, the ad makes a specific claim about Mealer and a specific policy. Former Army Capt. More often, though, her campaign rhetoric has focused on fending off attacks from Mealer and throwing her own punches at the GOP nominee. Last Day to Register to Vote. Martin trailed by a small margin, while the rest trailed by larger amounts. This is a developing story. While Commissioners Court and the county judge have little practical authority over abortion policy, Hidalgo has argued the court plays a role through its oversight of the county hospital system, which provides reproductive care to residents. The poll released by the UH Hobby School of Public Affairs shows Democratic incumbent Lina Hidalgo at 48% among likely . During a hotly contested primary, she won endorsements from key members of the Harris County Republican establishment, including Precinct 5 Constable Ted Heap, former commissioner Steve Radackand popular furniture magnate Jim Mattress Mack McIngvale. Oct. 12, 2022. "The math is clear, and one plus one equals two, but they're still trying to pin that on us," she said. Ed Emmett (Republican Party) was the Harris County Judge in Texas. "They do that to get you talking about everything but Harris County. You can't just look the other way on so many issues.". Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo during a COVID-19 press conference in July 2021. This is a carousel. On Twitter Wednesday morning, Hidalgo celebrated her win, tweeting: "Yesterday, the people of Harris County chose optimism over fear & people over politics. For the first time, the two candidates for Harris County judge, incumbent Lina Hidalgo and challenger Alexandra Mealer, sat down face-to-face. Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious TV interview, This is what Houston looks like from space, Turner: TEA is giving Houston ISD two optionsclose school or be taken over, Two ocelots were photographed crossing a road in rare South Texas sighting, Houston Rockets poised to reap benefits from Eric Gordon trade, Willie Nelson's new album is a lovely tribute to a fellow country legend, Hiker captures 'once-in-a-lifetime' photo of wildlife at Brazos Bend State Park, Why Johnson City in Texas Hill Country is the new, cooler Fredericksburg. At first, there was little sign she would face a serious re-election threat, with Harris County appearing to solidify as a Democratic stronghold by 2020. Violent crime in Harris County has become a key issue in the race for County Judge, with one of the candidates unveiling a law enforcement plan in an effort to curb . Release: Hidalgo County Judge Candidates Will Tackle the Biggest Challenges Facing Colonia, RGV Residents at LUPE Candidate Forum. ", The Republican newcomer continued: "This campaign was always about good government and I am hopeful that we have played a role encouraging that going forward. The County Judge is the presiding officer of the county commissioners court and the head of emergency management. 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. A new study says yes. "I want to thank Alex Mealer for running a hard-fought campaign," Hidalgo began. 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. A new study says yes. A sixth criminal judge, Jason Luong of the 185th district court, also trailed in his election but appeared headed for a runoff. While Mealer and other GOP candidates running for seats on Commissioners Court have maintained an intense focus on crime and public safety, those issues are far from the only challenges facing Harris County government, which also is responsible for planning out billions of dollars in flood control projects, overseeing development in unincorporated areas and running public health institutions that provide treatment for a large share of the county's uninsured, low-income residents. The judge also referenced endorsements of her opponent made by Jim Mattress "Mack McIngvale" and the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board, as well as others she characterized as belonging to a "political establishment that frankly has held onto power for just a little too long. Democrat Lina Hidalgo has secured a second term as Harris County Judge, defeating her Republican challenger Alex Mealer in a highly contested race for the head of the county's governing body. Climate damage has fueled storms that flood our region. Democratic incumbent Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Republican Alexandra del Moral Mealer addressed voters in Houston. Dylan McGuinness covers City Hall and local politics for the Houston Chronicle. She enjoys traveling and reading romance novels. The court last year redrew both precincts to favor Democrats. another GOP candidate for county judge, called Hidalgo a "formidable campaigner," adding that progressives see her as a key component to flipping Texas blue. We pride ourselves on doing our best, being responsible with taxpayer . 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 . Code 7.104] 2 All State Senate seats are up for election in 2022 following redistricting in 2021. Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious TV interview, This is what Houston looks like from space. 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. 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. pic.twitter.com/WBczbAdXiT, Mealer issued a statement conceding victory on Twitter earlier Wednesday morning, writing: "While we did not accomplish our goal of changing leadership in Harris County, we were successful in elevating the profile of critical issues like the need to appropriately resource our law enforcement and criminal justice system as well as the desire to eliminate corruption and increase transparency in local government. Incumbent Democrat Teneshia Hudspeth will face former County Clerk Stan Stanart in the November general election. Please type your name EXACTLY as it appears on your VOTER REGISTRATION RECORD. I am committed to working hard every day . The Houston Chronicle's editorial board makes an endorsement for the Harris County judge that can be considered crucial in the tight race. 2022 Updated: 5:24 PM CST November 9, 2022 . "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." This 10 percentage point lead by . Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Show More Show Less 2 of 2. Republican Harris County Judge candidate Alexandra del Moral Mealer gets ready to talk to the media as early election results come in at her watch party at Kirby Ice House on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022 in Houston. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo high-fives a woman in the front row during an abortion rights rally organized by Beto O'Rourke at Discovery Green on Saturday, May 7, 2022 in Houston. . 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. 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. She has created a political base around her campaign to make her race one of the most important and contested races in the state.. Cortez, Tania Ramirez, and Norma Ramirez are running in the Democratic Party primary. defeat of Republican challenger Alex Mealer in Tuesday's Harris County judge election. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Early voting in the March primary begins on Valentine's Day. Adrian Garcia is in a rematch with Republican Jack Morman, Lina Hidalgo and Alexandra Mealer debate Harris County budget, crime and policy, appeared to gain some breathing room over the summer, What you need to know about Lina Hidalgo and Alex Mealer in the race for Harris County judge, refused campaign contributions from county contractors, have relied heavily on firms that do business with the county, has raised millions from small-dollar donors, Hidalgo, Harris County Dems hope for boost from abortion, national trends, but races still competitive over crime, economy. She's facing challengers . ", 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. Democrats appear headed for victory in the unofficial results of two commissioner contests as well, showings that could expand their majority on Commissioners Court to a 4-1 split. Hidalgo has held the position since defeating then-incumbent and longtime County . Hidalgo also faced more specific challenges, including her fundraising disadvantage and a corruption probe. 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, a Democrat, and Pct. Editor's note: This article has been updated to include responses submitted by Alexandra del Moral Mealer. Following a challenging Election Night in Harris County plagued by delays and closings of multiple polling locations, voting tallies showed Hidalgo holding onto an unofficial lead of less than two points over Mealer, a West Point graduate and ex-Army captain. Two candidates are vying for the position of Harris County judge in the upcoming Nov. 8 election with Republican candidate Alexandra del Moral Mealer challenging the incumbent Democratic judge . 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. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Monday, February 14, 2022. With all voting centers reporting, Hidalgo had 546,745 votes (50.74 percent) to Mealer's 530,788 (49.25 percent. "That is a key priority," Hidalgo said.

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