A look back at Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's biggest moments of 2022. 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. she shouted to roaring applause. 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. Come find out at a candidate forum hosted by LUPE and LUPE Votes this Friday, February 4th at 5 pm online. Campaign Finance Reports. "No one really knows what the county judge does. 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. March 2022 marks an unusually crowded primary season for Harris County politics, with three Harris County . 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. Power-hungry politicians use our home to scapegoat immigrants, divide citizens and enrich wealthy special interests. Hidalgo, meanwhile, raised about $2.4 million in . Marie D. De Jess/Staff photographer . 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. 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. Axios on linkedin. 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. Onward! No candidate in those two races had the majority needed to win outright on election night. Sort of. Published March 1, 2022. Daniel Marichalar (D) Hidalgo County Criminal District Attorney. Jen Rice is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle covering Harris County government. 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. "They do that to get you talking about everything but Harris County. 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. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Her opponent, incumbent county Judge Lina Hidalgo, told ABC13 at the time the numbers were looking better and that Harris County is not alone in battling crime. 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. Tax Rates. Hidalgo, Garcia cruise through primary, while incumbent judges struggle, Timeline: How battle between Houston ISD, TEA has reached the point of a looming takeover. [Tex. Del Moral Mealer is running in the Republican primary for Harris County Judge. "The math is clear, and one plus one equals two, but they're still trying to pin that on us," she said. Early voting in the March primary begins on Valentine's Day. 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. Monday, January 31, 2022. The Houston Chronicle's editorial board makes an endorsement for the Harris County judge that can be considered crucial in the tight race. 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. Lina Hidalgo (@LinaHidalgoTX) November 9, 2022. . Procedures for Candidates, 2019-2021. Republicans say violent crime is up, Dems say it's down. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo greets people in line outside West Grey Multi-Service Center, 1475 W Gray St., on Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, in Houston. Democratic incumbent Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Republican Alexandra del Moral Mealer addressed voters in Houston. She has said the GOP plan would create hundreds of new positions that may never be filled, while preventing raises for the current police officers and cutting critical funding for flood control, public health, and other areas.. Politics A new poll shows the Harris County Judge's race is neck-and-neck. 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. Vendor Portal . Houston still trails well behind other big cities around the country, many of which experienced a sharper rise in violent crime. 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. Candidate Information Texas Secretary of State. Democrats thought their 3-2 majority on the Court would make this an easy task and they . Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail (Received, not Postmarked) Friday, February 18, 2022. I want to thank each & every voter who showed up to make their voice heard this election. Among the big-money conservatives to throw money behind Mealer were Texas oil tycoons Tim Dunn, and Faris Wilks, who became some of Hidalgo's Republican challenger's top donors in October with a $100,000 donation from the Defend Texas Liberty PAC, which the two men fund. Democratic Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, left, is facing a challenge from Republican Alexandra Moral del Mealer. ", Thank you to all those who supported our campaign for good governance pic.twitter.com/ZnjLvtQVTO. Commissioner Jack and Janet Cagle, center, at his election night party at Maize's Restaurant in Houston. . Hidalgo cited the two Republicans blockade of a new tax rate as justification, saying they endangered vital county services. Hidalgo touts among her . Judges at the courthouse quickly encountered trouble in those unofficial returns. Welcome to Hidalgo County! (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. 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. 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. See also: Municipal elections in Harris County, Texas (2022) General election. 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 . 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. 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. LUPE is a nonprofit organization that helps the community organize for and win a better quality of life. This is a developing story. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is applauded as she arrives to a primaries election night party, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Houston. Incumbent Democrat Teneshia Hudspeth will face former County Clerk Stan Stanart in the November general election. 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. In April, three Hidalgo staff members, including her chief of staff, were indicted for misuse of official information and tampering with government evidence. But the ad could have said "Mealer refuses to oppose Abbott's extreme abortion ban," or even "Texas Republicans support Abbott's extreme abortion ban. . Hidalgo has maintained that the scandal was a politically motivated attack and has publicly defended her aides. 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. I want to thank each & every voter who showed up to make their voice heard this election. Chris Daniel, a former district clerk, ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Alexandra Mealer is a tenacious campaigner, said Jessica Coln, a Houston-based Republican strategist who is uninvolved in the race. Mar 2, 2022. 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. Are ticket costs pricing Houston Astros fans out of Opening Day? Brandon Waltens | October 4, 2022. WHAT: Candidate Forum for Hidalgo County Judge in the Democratic Party Primary, Candidates: Richard Cortez (incumbent), Norma Ramirez, Tania Ramirez, Sponsors: La Unin del Pueblo Entero and LUPE Votes. We pride ourselves on doing our best, being responsible with taxpayer . McGuinness previously covered the Rhode Island statehouse for the Associated Press and breaking news for the Boston Globe. And the total number of votes will far surpass the total in 2014, the last time Republicans won countywide seats. She assumed office on January 1, 2019. 10:46 AM CDT October 23, 2022 . Meanwhile, across town at the Kirby Ice House, Mealer said the close margins show voters are paying attention. 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. Ed Emmett (Republican Party) was the Harris County Judge in Texas. Candidate for Harris County Judge Alexandra del Moral Mealer poses for a photo Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, at the Houston Chronicle offices in Houston. Heres what you need to know. 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. Hidalgo's staffers being charged in 2022 with helping . Hidalgo also faced more specific challenges, including her fundraising disadvantage and a corruption probe. 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. Hidalgo reported having $2 million in her campaign account, giving her a slight edge over Mealers $1.7 million cash on hand. On Friday, Hidalgo County Judge Richard . We are a membership-based organization and our strength is found in the participation of our over eight thousand members. 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. 2022 Wave elections; Republican challenger Alexandra del Moral Mealer has conceded her bid to unseat Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, with unofficial results show her trailing by just shy of 16,000 votes. Another candidate for county judge is McAllen City Commissioner Tania Ramirez. Last Day to Register to Vote. HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's political future is on the line for 2022. STAY IN THE KNOW, by visiting our website in the next couple of days. That's because Harris County District Court Judge Dawn Rogers prompted by a lawsuit alleging that some people were denied election access because of poor planning that led to late opening times at some voting centers signed an order on Tuesday evening keeping all polling places open one hour later, until 8 p.m., only to have the Texas Supreme Court stay her order in the evening. 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. Lina Hidalgo ( Democratic Party) is the Harris County Judge in Texas. Texas Ethics Commission . "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." Our office stands ready to assist Harris County election officials, and all county election officials throughout the state, in complying with Texas Election Code requirements for accurately tabulating and reporting Primary Election results, Scott said. Search Texas Monthly Hidalgo has held the position since defeating then-incumbent and longtime County . 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 . Friday, November 4, 2022. Her reporting has aired nationally on NPR's Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Here & Now. In that race, Hidalgo a little-known challenger capitalized on Democratic enthusiasm in a midterm election under a drastically unpopular Republican president. Lin-Manuel Miranda appeared at a rally Tuesday supporting Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo . In this one, Mealer is hoping to achieve the same feat, only with the parties swapped. LUPE is a 501(c)3 organization Copyright 2023 1601 US-83 BUS, San Juan, TX 78589, Release: Hidalgo County Judge Candidates Will Tackle the Biggest Challenges Facing Colonia, RGV Residents at LUPE Candidate Forum. Like most other candidates, Mealer is accepting campaign donations from county contractors. Her opponent, Republican challenge . Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious TV interview, This is what Houston looks like from space. 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 . 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. The pressure grew even greater in September after Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey and Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle successfully delayed the county tax rate vote after skipping several meetings. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz attends Republican Harris County Judge candidate Alexandra del Moral Mealer watch party at Kirby Ice House on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022 in Houston. "Harris County is still trending blue," Campos said, "and I think with the Dobbs case, the whole abortion case, that's energizing female voters and I think that's going to help out Democrats up and down the ticket.". Judge Lina Hidalgo moved the COVID - 19 Threat to Level Orange at Houston Transtar Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Houston. 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. Hidalgo also addressed the millions in campaign contributions her opponent garnered from "far right, Trump mega-donors," while campaigning for office. 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. "Truth won over lies." 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. 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 . Const. Election Day is Tuesday, November 8, 2022. 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. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. 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. The result: Cagles Republican-leaning precinct became a Democratic-leaning one. ", Before closing out her speech, Hidalgo turned attention to any who don't believe she won her reelection fair and square. Hidalgo and other Democrats hoped that firewall would help them stave off challenges in a race where their contests appear in the latter pages of a drawn-out ballot. 2022 Candidate's Guide - Running for State, District or County Office; 2020 Candidate's Guide - Running for Federal, State, District or County offices. Her current term ends on December 31, 2026. Before coming to the Chronicle, Jen spent three years covering City Hall for Houston's NPR station. Mealer said. 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, a Republican, do not face election this year. 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. . Rest assured that I take, very seriously, the responsibility to serve all of Hidalgo County. The poll, which surveyed nearly 1,000 likely election voters, has Mealer leading 48 percent to Hidalgo's 44 percent. She had poured nearly $1.9 million of her campaign funds into TV ads as of last week, nearly a 3-to-1 advantage over Hidalgo, according to data from the media-tracking firm AdImpact. Mealer is trying to take full advantage, blanketing the airwaves with campaign ads and outspending the incumbent overall. As Hidalgo's woes multiplied in commissioners court, her political opponent continued to rack up high-dollar contributions from well-heeled conservative donors. Against the newcomer, Hidalgo's campaign appeared unworried about Mealer's prospects and trusted voters would secure her position again. The board praised her plans to combat violent crime in the county and promises to clear a backlog of criminal cases at the courthouse. In the first post-redistricting election members are divided into two classes; one class shall serve a 2-year term and the other class shall serve a 4-year term. 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, a Democrat, and Pct. Three county jurists County Court at Law Judges Franklin Bynum and David Singer, and Probate Judge Michael Newman also were behind in the early tallies. Harris County Commissioner Pct. November 8, 2022 General Election & Local Entities Elections. ", "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. Democratic County Judge Lina Hidalgo beat Republican Alexandra del Moral Mealer by more than 18,000 votes. Nov. 10, 2022. If you are running in the March 2022 primaries, we want to hear from you. Poll Watcher's Guide (PDF) Public Information Request (PDF) Election Forms "But we earned every vote and not with exaggerations or falsehoods. 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. Hidalgo also found herself at the center of controversy earlier this year after three of her top aides were indicted by a grand jury. LUPE was founded in 1989 by farmworker and civil rights leaders Cesar E. Chavez and Dolores Huerta. Harris County judge Lina Hidalgo is applauded as she arrives at a primaries election night party, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Houston. Hidalgo-Mealer county judge race is a showdown over Harris County budget and its role in voters' eyes, Timeline: How battle between Houston ISD, TEA has reached the point of a looming takeover. 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. 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 contract was ultimately rescinded, and Hidalgo has continuously defended her office and aides in relation to the indictment. They asked the federal government for additional vaccine doses due to rising, but still relatively small, numbers of cases. Don't elect their candidate for County Judge" or something and avoided a poor fact checking result. Dylan McGuinness covers City Hall and local politics for the Houston Chronicle. . Mealer, a combat veteran who served in Afghanistan, says she wants the county to go back to the basics and has said she will hire 1,000 additional law enforcement officers if elected and Republicans win a majority on Commissioners Court. 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. 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. The balance of the five-member court is at stake in this election, with three incumbents up for re-election in competitive races. VIDEO: Lina Hidalgo and Alexandra Mealer debate Harris County budget, crime and policy. 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. Their Republican opponents will need runoffs to determine winners. Texas 2022 Elections Texas' 2022 races coming into focus as candidate filings close. the Hidalgo County health authority, announced he was passing on a campaign for the seat, saying he could . (Jon Shapley, Staff photographer), Bun B, Badu, J.J. Watt celebrate RodeoHouston Southern Takeover, Exclusive: Abbott explains push against diversity hiring programs. What does the data say? ", Yesterday, the people of Harris County chose optimism over fear & people over politics. 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. 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. Many pundits have said these races are too close to call, and early vote returns reflect that these races are tight, Sims said. Kennedy is a reporter at Chron covering all things Houston. Climate damage has fueled storms that flood our region. He grew up in Connecticut, graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, and is a die-hard Red Sox fan. Corresponding demonstrations led by members of local law enforcement only added to the sentiment that the judge's control was under pressure, and opposition against the incumbent was capped by the court being forced to adopt a no-new budget stance due to ongoing Republican no-shows. Jack Cagle is running against Democrat Lesley Briones. 05/09/2022 01:51 PM EDT. She's challenging Democratic incumbent Lina Hidalgo to become the chief executive over county government and head of the Commissioners Court. . From attacks by Texas Republicans, charges filed . We earned them with hard work and with results over the past four years.". 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.
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