Its rattlesnake season in Texas. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo saw her most challenging year in politics in 2022. November 8, 2022 General Election & Local Entities Elections. Dylan McGuinness covers City Hall and local politics for the Houston Chronicle. "She does seem to evoke strong emotions in either party. 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. 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. Harris County judge Lina Hidalgo greets her supporters at an primaries election night party at Axelrad Beer Garden, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Houston. Lina Hidalgo ( Democratic Party) is the Harris County Judge in Texas. Like most other candidates, Mealer is accepting campaign donations from county contractors. Power-hungry politicians use our home to scapegoat immigrants, divide citizens and enrich wealthy special interests. Fifteen candidates are vying for the position of Harris County judge in the upcoming . First Day to Apply for a Ballot by Mail. You can't just look the other way on so many issues.". This 10 percentage point lead by . Hidalgo County residents and colonia residents in particular are on the frontlines of the biggest challenges facing the nation and the world. "I want to thank Alex Mealer for running a hard-fought campaign," Hidalgo began. In this one, Mealer is hoping to achieve the same feat, only with the parties swapped. 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, a Democrat, and Pct. Hidalgo has scoffed at Mealers police hiring pledge, pointing to the countys more than 400 unfilled law enforcement positions. Both candidates have highlighted their ethnicityin their campaigns: Hidalgo was born in Colombia and immigrated with her family to the U.S. in 2005, while Mealer's paternal grandfather immigrated from Spain. 10:46 AM CDT October 23, 2022 . I am extremely grateful to our supporters and all those who contributed to this campaign. Incumbents in more high-profile local posts, namely Hidalgo and Garcia, fared better. In that race, Hidalgo a little-known challenger capitalized on Democratic enthusiasm in a midterm election under a drastically unpopular Republican president. 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. Now, emboldened by a combination of factors the felony indictment of three Hidalgo aides, a sharp rise in homicides mirroring a trend across the country, and favorable national conditions Harris County Republicans have rallied behind Mealer as perhaps their best shot to reverse their recent struggles. So, I think it's actually harmful to spend a lot of time talking about issues that aren't in your control," Mealer said. she shouted to roaring applause. For the latest and best fromChron,sign up for our daily newsletter here. "The community has a position on these issues, and they want to know their leader's position. With 205 of 259 precincts reporting in the Democratic primary, Ruben Ramirez was leading in the race for U.S. Representative . . Hidalgos stature quickly skyrocketed after the 2018 election, as she developed a passionate following among liberals inspired to see a Colombian immigrant elected at age 27 go toe-to-toe with Republican state leaders and veteran county commissioners. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Hidalgo drew support from 45%. 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. Hidalgo has refused campaign contributions from county contractors since the start of her term, aiming to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest. Members of Commissioners Court historically have relied heavily on firms that do business with the county to stockpile huge campaign war chests. The Democratic incumbent has touted her response to the COVID-19 pandemicincluding supporting measures like drive-thru voting to help make it easier to voterecord investments in the county toward early childhood education, and creation of a legal defense fund for immigrants under her leadership. Friday, November 4, 2022. . He has also reported on local politics for both papers. She beat Emmett by just over 19,000 votes, out of 1.1 million cast in the race, and 86 percent of her votes came from Democrats who cast straight-ticket ballots, a practice the Texas Legislature since has ended. "Truth won over lies." A strong gender gap exists in the vote for county judge, with Hidalgo holding a 12% lead over del Moral Mealer among women (52% to 40%), while del Moral Mealer . Incumbent Democrat Teneshia Hudspeth will face former County Clerk Stan Stanart in the November general election. Heres what you need to know. Following Democrat Lesley Briones' election win against incumbent Jack Cagle for Harris County Precinct 4 commissioner, Hidalgo noted that the Commissioners Court now has three Hispanics and two women. According to Harris County officials, Patrick told Hidalgo to sit down and shut up multiple times at the funeral. In 2022, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo had the odds stacked against her in a challenging campaign year to keep her top position in the county. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo during a COVID-19 press conference in July 2021. Hidalgo also addressed the millions in campaign contributions her opponent garnered from "far right, Trump mega-donors," while campaigning for office. We need more vaccine, Turner said. 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. She was previously a political reporter with the Texas Signal. He initially joined the paper through the Hearst Journalism Fellowship program after covering the same beats for the San Antonio Express-News. We pride ourselves on doing our best, being responsible with taxpayer . Those voters had plenty of reasons for their own enthusiasm, including the implementation of a strict abortion ban by Republicans in Texas, and a relatively competitive gubernatorial contest. 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. On Twitter Wednesday morning, Hidalgo celebrated her win, tweeting: "Yesterday, the people of Harris County chose optimism over fear & people over politics. Oct 25, 2022 - News. In 2022, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo had the odds stacked against her in a challenging campaign year to keep her top position in the county. According to the County Administrator's office, the county has added 47 deputies and 12 social workers since 2020. HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's political future is on the line for 2022. Texas Ethics Commission . Democratic incumbent Judge Lina Hidalgo will serve another term as county judge for Texas' most populous county after . . "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." Since July, Republican donors have poured nearly $9 million into Mealer's bid to unseat Hidalgo a staggering haul for a county judge race. (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. Candidates Richard Cortez (incumbent), Norma Ramirez, and Tania Ramirez will each have 30 minutes to discuss their stance on the biggest challenges facing colonia residents and RGV residents. Incumbent Judge Lina Hidalgo is running for re-election after securing a historic - and surprising - win in 2018. Our goal is to provide voters with impeccable, transparent and timely service for a wide variety of county, city, school, state and federal constitutional elections. Ellie Torres (D) Hidalgo County Constable Precinct 5. 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. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office at (956)318-2570. Procedures for Candidates, 2019-2021. He said they were watching growing caseloads in other major American cities. Solis, who lives in Palmview, speculated that the lack of polling locations on the west side of Hidalgo County could have been designed to help a certain primary candidate. Harris County judgeLina Hidalgotalks to her supporters at a primaries election night party, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Houston. Those showed potentially ominous trends for strongholds in the traditional Democratic coalition. Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Show More Show Less 2 of 2. Harris County judge candidates . "No one really knows what the county judge does. Mar 2, 2022. 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. Poll Watcher's Guide (PDF) Public Information Request (PDF) Election Forms 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. He grew up in Connecticut, graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, and is a die-hard Red Sox fan. Lina Hidalgo, a progressive Democrat who leads the county that includes Houston, is facing an unexpectedly serious re-election challenge from a Republican first-time candidate, Alexandra del Moral . I also want to thank Ms. Mealer for a hard-fought campaign & her military service. Houston still trails well behind other big cities around the country, many of which experienced a sharper rise in violent crime. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke is leading . 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. 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. Come find out at a candidate forum hosted by LUPE and LUPE Votes this Friday, February 4th at 5 pm online. 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. Democrats thought their 3-2 majority on the Court would make this an easy task and they . Her current term ends on December 31, 2026. The board praised her plans to combat violent crime in the county and promises to clear a backlog of criminal cases at the courthouse. Daniel Marichalar (D) Hidalgo County Criminal District Attorney. But that hasn't stopped RGV residents from working together for the things we all need to thrive. Election mishaps and conflicting court rulings introduced a degree of uncertainty about when the results would become official. DIRECTORY. . Elections Lina Hidalgo reelected as Harris County judge . County Court at Law Judge Lesley Briones and former Harris County elections staffer Benjamin Chou were leading in that race. Hidalgo's 2018 win was fueled by a perfect storm of political factors: voters outraged by the Trump administration, high Democratic turnout for Beto O'Rourke's campaign against Sen. Ted Cruz and the popularity of straight-ticket voting. The vote intention in the race for Harris County judge is 52% for Democrat Lina Hidalgo and 42% for Republican Alexandra del Moral Mealer, with 6% undecided. 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. Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail (Received, not Postmarked) Friday, February 18, 2022. Republican Harris County Judge candidate Alexandra del Moral Mealer talks to the media as early election results come in at her watch party at Kirby Ice House on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022 in Houston. ", 'POLITICS OF PERCEPTION': Hidalgo, Harris County Dems hope for boost from abortion, national trends, but races still competitive over crime, economy. Particularly among the Democrats, she remains very popular.". Q&A with Harris County judge candidate Alexandra Mealer. For the first time, the two candidates for Harris County judge, incumbent Lina Hidalgo and challenger Alexandra Mealer, sat down face-to-face. 1 of 11 Harris County judge Lina Hidalgo greets her supporters at a primaries election night party at Axelrad Beer Garden, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Houston. Those two forces are clashing, according to Nancy Sims, a political analyst and lecturer of political science at the University of Houston. 2022 / 08:13 AM CST . 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. 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. Surrounded by fellow Democrats, Lina Hidalgo delivered victory remarks and passing jabs at her detractors during a Wednesday afternoon speech following herdefeat of Republican challenger Alex Mealer in Tuesday's Harris County judge election. I sincerely appreciate your vote of confidence in electing me. They attributed the delay to damaged ballot sheets that must be duplicated before they can be scanned by counting machines, according to Secretary of State John Scotts office. Welcome to Hidalgo County! Dylan McGuinness covers City Hall and local politics for the Houston Chronicle. 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. "They do that to get you talking about everything but Harris County. LIVE UPDATES: 2022 Texas Primary Election Results. ", Thank you to all those who supported our campaign for good governance pic.twitter.com/ZnjLvtQVTO. Emmett assumed office in 2007. She won in the general election on November 8, 2022. Another administrative incumbent, Harris County Treasurer Dylan Osborne, appeared headed for defeat as well, trailing challenger Carla Wyatt. Sort of. After briefly looking down and taking a pause, Hidalgo continued: "But y'all, didn't I say it would be a sweet victory?". Hidalgo County Clerk. HIDALGO COUNTY, Texas (ValleyCentral) - The race for Hidalgo County Judge has two candidates on the Republican ticket, something that is rare in the Rio Grande Valley. Dan Patrick, and Texas Comptroller Glen Hegar, particularly with accusations that she was "defunding" the police. Candidate for Harris County Judge Alexandra del Moral Mealer poses for a photo Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, at the Houston Chronicle offices in Houston. What does the data say? The Houston Chronicle's editorial board makes an endorsement for the Harris County judge that can be considered crucial in the tight race. Hidalgo's staffers being charged in 2022 with helping . 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.. This is a carousel. Martin trailed by a small margin, while the rest trailed by larger amounts. 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. Edinburg, Texas 78539. And there is something for us to do. Two family court judges, Tristan Longino of the 245th district court and Barbara Stalder of the 280th, also trailed in early results, along with Scot Dollinger of the 189th district civil court. Hidalgo enjoyed a small lead in the 2018 early vote, and she performed better on Election Day, growing her lead to secure a 50-to-48 percent victory. 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. Hidalgos Republican opponent, Alexandra del Moral Mealer raised 4x the amount of fundraising money in her bid. In the four years since her upset victory thrust her into office as a 27-year-old newcomer, Hidalgo has reimagined the boundaries of county government, reaching beyond its traditional focus on public safety and flood control to also address such issues as childhood development, immigration and environmental control. Politics A new poll shows the Harris County Judge's race is neck-and-neck. Shortly before 5 a.m., the early votes and less than half of the 375 voting centers had been reported. 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. With varying results coming from the few public polls conducted on the race, there is little consensus on where things stand heading into the final weeks of the campaign. That's why tonight we are hosting a forum with the candidates for Hidalgo County Judge in the Democratic Party Primary. 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. Heres what you need to know. 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. Del Moral Mealer is running in the Republican primary for Harris County Judge. The County Judge is the presiding officer of the county commissioners court and the head of emergency management. "Elections should not be about pitting one group against each other. A new study says yes. Elections Harris County election results 2022: County judge, commissioners, propositions. Throughout her reelection campaign, Hidalgo faced an onslaught of criticism from state Republicans, including Gov. I want to thank each & every voter who showed up to make their voice heard this election. Texas 2022 Elections Texas' 2022 races coming into focus as candidate filings close. ", "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. That means our county judge must be ready to lead our community through these challenges and toward a thriving future. Are insane ticket costs pricing Astros fans out of Opening Day? 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. A sixth criminal judge, Jason Luong of the 185th district court, also trailed in his election but appeared headed for a runoff. A runoff also will be necessary in the wide open Democratic primary for the Precinct 4 seat on Commissioners Court, newly drawn last year to improve the partys chances of defeating Republican incumbent Jack Cagle. 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. The court last year redrew both precincts to favor Democrats. The elections took place amid a series of hurdles at the ballot box, culminating Tuesday night with Harris County election officials asking the state for an extension on the 24-hour deadline, required by state law, to count all the votes. Registered Voters as of February 27, 2023 Total 412,899. ELECTION CALENDAR DATES. Early voting in the March primary begins on Valentine's Day. Vendor Portal . Cortez, Tania Ramirez, and Norma Ramirez are running in the Democratic Party primary. 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. Texas 2022 elections: Who won, who lost Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo won reelection after a close race against well-funded opponent Alexandra del Moral Mealer. Early voting will begin Monday, October 24, 2022 and will run through.