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 . Early voting in the March primary begins on Valentine's Day. We earned them with hard work and with results over the past four years.". 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. . Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Show More Show Less 2 of 2. . Jan. 31, 2022 Updated: Feb. 1, 2022 7:58 a.m. Facebook Twitter Email Houston business owner Jim Mattress Mack McIngvale has endorsed GOP candidate Alexandra del Moral Mealer for Harris County Judge. 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. He grew up in Connecticut, graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, and is a die-hard Red Sox fan. 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. Code 7.104] 2 All State Senate seats are up for election in 2022 following redistricting in 2021. Mealer concedes to Hidalgo in Harris County judge race, Democrats likely to expand majority, Timeline: How battle between Houston ISD, TEA has reached the point of a looming takeover. Registered Voters as of February 27, 2023 Total 412,899. Lina Hidalgo (@LinaHidalgoTX) November 9, 2022. Members shall draw lots to determine who serves which terms. Staff writers Samantha Ketterer, Yilun Cheng and Elizabeth Trovall contributed to this report. ", "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. Onward! Particularly among the Democrats, she remains very popular.". Her biggest donor was Richard Weekley, a Houston-based developer and megadonor who contributed $400,000 to Mealers campaign. On Twitter Wednesday morning, Hidalgo celebrated her win, tweeting: "Yesterday, the people of Harris County chose optimism over fear & people over politics. Hidalgo, meanwhile, raised about $2.4 million in . Hidalgo also found herself at the center of controversy earlier this year after three of her top aides were indicted by a grand jury. Judge Lina Hidalgo moved the COVID - 19 Threat to Level Orange at Houston Transtar Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Houston. Dylan McGuinness covers City Hall and local politics for the Houston Chronicle. 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. Mealer said. A sixth criminal judge, Jason Luong of the 185th district court, also trailed in his election but appeared headed for a runoff. Campaign finance reports also showed Mealer outraised Hidalgo with $10 million in the campaign chest. Harris County Commissioner Pct. First Day to Apply for a Ballot by Mail. 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. 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. You can't just look the other way on so many issues.". 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. 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. 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. November 8, 2022 General Election & Local Entities Elections. Hidalgo County Courthouse 100 North Closner. ", 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. Friday, November 4, 2022. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office at (956)318-2570. Mealer, who keyed in on violent crime in Harris County, was also favored in donations, outraising Hidalgo by nearly $7 million in campaign contributions thanks in large part to a number of generous GOP donors. 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.. 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 . What does the data say? 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. McGuinness previously covered the Rhode Island statehouse for the Associated Press and breaking news for the Boston Globe. 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. 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. 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. Hidalgo's reelection campaign also suffered a blow following an unexpected endorsement from the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board co-signing Mealer. For the latest and best fromChron,sign up for our daily newsletter here. Is Whataburger healthy? Daniel Marichalar (D) Hidalgo County Criminal District Attorney. November 8, 2022 (General) Hidalgo. HARRIS COUNTY ELECTION UPDATES: Mealer concedes county judge race to Hidalgo. Members of her own party also tried to "preserve the status quo," Hidalgo said without naming anyone in particular. ), LIVE RESULTS TRACKER: Texas 2022 midterm elections: Live results from Abbott vs. Beto, Hidalgo vs. Mealer and more. She says her plan to hire 1,000 additional officers could be covered, at least in part, by cutting county administrative staff, though she has not revealed specific funding plans or committed to any cuts to core services. Democrats thought their 3-2 majority on the Court would make this an easy task and they . TEXAS VOTER GUIDE: The key state and local races that your vote will decide in the November 8 midterm election. "They do that to get you talking about everything but Harris County. They asked the federal government for additional vaccine doses due to rising, but still relatively small, numbers of cases. Hidalgo County Clerk. Hidalgo's staffers being charged in 2022 with helping . "Hidalgo continues to be the front-runner, primarily because of the makeup of Harris County in terms of partisanship," Cross said. 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. She assumed office on January 1, 2019. 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. . Another administrative incumbent, Harris County Treasurer Dylan Osborne, appeared headed for defeat as well, trailing challenger Carla Wyatt. 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. She has defended the staffers, who are accused of steering a vaccine outreach contract to a politically connected vendor. 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. WHEN: Friday, Feb 4th, 2022, at 5 pm ### LUPE is a nonprofit organization that helps the community organize for and win a better quality of life. But that hasn't stopped RGV residents from working together for the things we all need to thrive. March 2022 marks an unusually crowded primary season for Harris County politics, with three Harris County . Running for Local Offices; Notable Links . 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. He initially joined the paper through the Hearst Journalism Fellowship program after covering the same beats for the San Antonio Express-News. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo at a Commissioners Court meeting in February 2020. . Commissioner Jack and Janet Cagle, center, at his election night party at Maize's Restaurant in Houston. 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. Brioness lead over Cagle came in part by design. Ballotpedia's 2022 elections analysis. BY THE NUMBERS: Republicans say violent crime is up, Dems say it's down. From attacks by Texas Republicans, charges filed . Fifteen candidates are vying for the position of Harris County judge in the upcoming . In Precinct 2, former commissioner Jack Morman and Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton led three other candidates. Hidalgo drew support from 45%. If Hidalgo holds on to win, she will have overcome an aggressive re-election fight in a hostile political climate for Democrats. As many of you know, I am not a stranger to public service. Harris County judgeLina Hidalgotalks to her supporters at a primaries election night party, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Houston. Alexandra del Moral Mealer and attorney Vidal Martinez were leading the nine-candidate Republican field for the GOPs nomination for county judge. Elections Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo throws shade at Mattress Mack, local leaders during victory speech. 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. For any questions regarding your voter information please call the Hidalgo County's Elections Department at (956) 318-2570. . Published March 1, 2022. Saturday, January 1, 2022. Election Day is Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Austin, TX, October 4, 2022 A new poll out Tuesday shows voters prefer Republican Alexandra del Moral Mealer to incumbent Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo 48 to 44 percent, with 8 percent undecided.. On behalf of the conservative Defend Texas Liberty Political Action Committee (PAC), CWS Research conducted the survey of 900 likely voters in Harris County between September 24 and October 1. Lawyers for the aides have maintained their innocence. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. 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. 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. Poll Watcher's Guide (PDF) Public Information Request (PDF) Election Forms HIDALGO COUNTY, Texas (KVEO) Hidalgo County's judge will seek to keep his position for four more years in 2022. Dan Patrick, as well as her fellow commissioners Jack Cagle and Tom Ramsey. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo looks back at Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner before they gave a joint press conference about growing Monkeypox infections Monday, July 25, 2022, at Houston TranStar headquarters in Houston. This Houston rodeo food vendor wants you to eat his rattlesnake, Astros GM Dana Brown has more praise team's top prospect, Heres how you can watch 'Daisy Jones and the Six', Proposed Texas bill gives tax cuts to heterosexual families only, These bites won big at the Houston rodeo's foodie awards. said Judge Lina Hidalgo, the top elected official of Harris County, Texas, after news broke last week that 30 truckloads of contaminated firefighting water were arriving each day to Deer Park, a suburb of Houston. See also: Municipal elections in Harris County, Texas (2022) General election. . Hidalgos Republican opponent, Alexandra del Moral Mealer raised 4x the amount of fundraising money in her bid. Their Republican opponents will need runoffs to determine winners. McGuinness previously covered the Rhode Island statehouse for the Associated Press and breaking news for the Boston Globe. I want to thank each & every voter who showed up to make their voice heard this election. The trend began around the start of the pandemic in 2020, when murders surged by more than 40 percent in the county, including Houston and the other incorporated cities. HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Democrat Lina Hidalgo has won a second term for Harris County Judge in a close race for the top executive position in the county. Its rattlesnake season in Texas. Incumbents in more high-profile local posts, namely Hidalgo and Garcia, fared better. (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. 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. "With crime rising, is the focus increasing deputies or is it increasing social workers?" Don't elect their candidate for County Judge" or something and avoided a poor fact checking result. First Day of Early Voting. 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. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. 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. "Right now the county judge race is in a . 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. County Court at Law Judge Lesley Briones and former Harris County elections staffer Benjamin Chou were leading in that race. 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. Hidalgo took in $1.5 million during the same period, less than a third of Mealers sum, and she was outspent by more than $2 million. Hidalgo cited the two Republicans blockade of a new tax rate as justification, saying they endangered vital county services. Dylan McGuinness covers City Hall and local politics for the Houston Chronicle. She's responsible for emergency management, which means she's in charge when disasters strike, whether that comes in the form of chemical fires, floods, a pandemic or power grid failures during a historic winter storm . 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. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Commissioner Adrian Garcia were set to cruise through local primary elections Tuesday night, but a slew of incumbent judges faced bleaker outcomes at the district courthouse. Hidalgo County Elections Department administers the polling locations in the early voting period. 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. 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. For several election cycles, Houston-area voters have favored Democrats over Republicans. According to the County Administrator's office, the county has added 47 deputies and 12 social workers since 2020. Many pundits have said these races are too close to call, and early vote returns reflect that these races are tight, Sims said. 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. Sam Gonzlez Kelly is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle. Attendees of Republican Harris County Judge candidate Alexandra del Moral Mealer watch as the election results come in on the television during her watch party at Kirby Ice House on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022 in Houston. Jaime E. Galvan 11/8/2022. Hidalgo's camp announced that the Democratic judge will make her victory remarks at the office of the Harris County Democratic Party on Wednesday, though they did not confirm when. According to Harris County officials, Patrick told Hidalgo to sit down and shut up multiple times at the funeral. He initially joined the paper through the Hearst Journalism Fellowship program after covering the same beats for the San Antonio Express-News. Heres what you need to know. 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. Sort of. She was previously a political reporter with the Texas Signal. Brandon Waltens | October 4, 2022. Judges at the courthouse quickly encountered trouble in those unofficial returns. The board praised her plans to combat violent crime in the county and promises to clear a backlog of criminal cases at the courthouse. Join us on Facebook Live and YouTube Live tonight, Friday, February 4th at 5 pm. 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. Those two forces are clashing, according to Nancy Sims, a political analyst and lecturer of political science at the University of Houston. 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. This is due to Hidalgo facing scrutiny over allegations of not doing enough to combat a rise in crime and an ongoing lawsuit over an $11 million COVID-19 outreach .

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