Heres what you need to know. Lin-Manuel Miranda appeared at a rally Tuesday supporting Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo . 2022 Candidate's Guide - Running for State, District or County Office; 2020 Candidate's Guide - Running for Federal, State, District or County offices. Const. Daniel Marichalar (D) Hidalgo County Criminal District Attorney. Editor's Note: Calling all Rio Grande Valley candidates. Republicans say violent crime is up, Dems say it's down. McGuinness previously covered the Rhode Island statehouse for the Associated Press and breaking news for the Boston Globe. 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. Those two forces are clashing, according to Nancy Sims, a political analyst and lecturer of political science at the University of Houston. Are ticket costs pricing Houston Astros fans out of Opening Day? 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. But for now, her two GOP challengers are busy slashing at each other before the May 24 runoff election. "Right now the county judge race is in a . Republican Harris County Judge candidate Alexandra del Moral Mealer talks to supporters during her watch party at Kirby Ice House on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022 in Houston. The race for county judge in Harris County is in a statistical dead heat, with Republican Alexandra del Moral Mealer leading Democrat Lina Hidalgo by 2% (47% to 45%, with 8% undecided). . 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, . 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. 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. Hidalgo has scoffed at Mealers police hiring pledge, pointing to the countys more than 400 unfilled law enforcement positions. Judge Lina Hidalgo moved the COVID - 19 Threat to Level Orange at Houston Transtar Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Houston. Updated: . Hidalgo's ethics argument also been blunted by the felony indictment of three current and former aides on charges of misuse of official information and tampering. Incumbent Cagle lost his bid for reelection as Harris County Precinct 4 commissioner against Democratic challenger Lesley Briones, a civil court judge. Hidalgo also found herself at the center of controversy earlier this year after three of her top aides were indicted by a grand jury. . The Houston Chronicle's editorial board makes an endorsement for the Harris County judge that can be considered crucial in the tight race. The poll released by the UH Hobby School of Public Affairs shows Democratic incumbent Lina Hidalgo at 48% among likely . ", Thank you to all those who supported our campaign for good governance pic.twitter.com/ZnjLvtQVTO. The vote totals confirmed just how hotly contested the local races were. Lawyers for the aides have maintained their innocence. 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. This is a developing story. Employees Only. "Truth won over lies." Turnout overall was down 10 percent, but de Leon noted it still marked the second-highest turnout for a midterm election here. Search Texas Monthly Welcome to Hidalgo County! Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo gives a speech at the Harris County Democratic Party headquarters after being reelected for a second term on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 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. 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. Incumbents in more high-profile local posts, namely Hidalgo and Garcia, fared better. In April, three Hidalgo staff members, including her chief of staff, were indicted for misuse of official information and tampering with government evidence. Fifteen candidates are vying for the position of Harris County judge in the upcoming . Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton challenged it after Rogers' ruling, prompting the intervention by the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court. Hidalgos Republican opponent, Alexandra del Moral Mealer raised 4x the amount of fundraising money in her bid. "We are just getting started.". The court last year redrew both precincts to favor Democrats. Mealer is trying to take full advantage, blanketing the airwaves with campaign ads and outspending the incumbent overall. See also: Municipal elections in Harris County, Texas (2022) General election. Texas 2022 Elections GOP Harris County judge candidate contesting her loss after . Where do the candidates for Hidalgo County Judge stand on the biggest challenges facing colonia residents and the Rio Grande Valley? This is a carousel. Ariana Garcia joined Chron in 2021. TEXAS VOTER GUIDE: The key state and local races that your vote will decide in the November 8 midterm election. 2022 Wave elections; Its rattlesnake season in Texas. Her biggest donor was Richard Weekley, a Houston-based developer and megadonor who contributed $400,000 to Mealers campaign. This is a carousel. Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo during a COVID-19 press conference in July 2021. 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. Ed Emmett (Republican Party) was the Harris County Judge in Texas. Emmett (Republican Party) . Campaign finance reports received by the Harris County Office of the Elections Administrator on July 15 show $2.88M in total contributions between Feb. 20-June 30 to the two candidates for Harris . 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. November 8, 2022 (General) Hidalgo. 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. She's facing challengers . she shouted to roaring applause. Jen Rice is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle covering Harris County government. Another administrative incumbent, Harris County Treasurer Dylan Osborne, appeared headed for defeat as well, trailing challenger Carla Wyatt. . I am committed to working hard every day . 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. Texas 2022 Elections Texas' 2022 races coming into focus as candidate filings close. 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. Hidalgo has held the position since defeating then-incumbent and longtime County . Lina Hidalgo, a rising Democratic star, faces a tough reelection race to lead Harris County. Texas Ethics Commission . We are a membership-based organization and our strength is found in the participation of our over eight thousand members. She has defended the staffers, who are accused of steering a vaccine outreach contract to a politically connected vendor. 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. Turnout in the top 10 majority Black ZIP codes was down 15 percent from 2018, for example. First Day to Apply for a Ballot by Mail. Democrats have won every countywide contest since 2016, including Hidalgos own upset win over popular incumbent Ed Emmett in 2018. If Hidalgo holds on to win, she will have overcome an aggressive re-election fight in a hostile political climate for Democrats. 2023 Commissioner's Court Meetings Calendar. 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, right, speaks about the expansion of the county's Jail-Based Competency Restoration program at the Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD on Feb. 9, 2023 . 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. "They do that to get you talking about everything but Harris County. 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. She won in the general election on November 8, 2022. The last-minute celebrity endorsements were one of Hidalgos last campaign moves before the Nov. 8 election. From attacks by Texas Republicans, charges filed against her staff, a well-funded campaign against her and Commissioner Court drama, Hidalgo still finished the year with a win to keep her seat as top county official for the next four years. Its rattlesnake season in Texas. Emmett assumed office in 2007. She pointed to a recent city-county gun buyback program and county spending aimed at addressing maternal mortality. . Lina Hidalgo (@LinaHidalgoTX) November 9, 2022. . As November's general election neared, polling showed Hidalgo was in a tighter race with Mealer than expected, and a startling endorsement from the Houston Chronicle editorial board in favor of her opponent surprised many in Houston. Judges at the courthouse quickly encountered trouble in those unofficial returns. STAY IN THE KNOW, by visiting our website in the next couple of days. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo at a Commissioners Court meeting in February 2020. Democratic incumbent Judge Lina Hidalgo will serve another term as county judge for Texas' most populous county after . (Steve Gonzales, Staff photographer) / Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner before they gave a joint press conference about growing Monkeypox infections in July 2022. Heres what you need to know. 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, a Democrat, and Pct. District Clerk Marilyn Burgess led her Democratic challenger in the early returns. Code 7.104] 2 All State Senate seats are up for election in 2022 following redistricting in 2021. Sort of. She has created a political base around her campaign to make her race one of the most important and contested races in the state.. Monday, February 14, 2022. Harris County judge candidates . 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. Lina Hidalgo throws shade at 'furniture salesman' Mattress Mack during victory speech, 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. What does the data say? Published March 1, 2022. 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. 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. "That is a key priority," Hidalgo said. And Mealer, 38, a retired Army veteran, ran a spirited campaign arguing that Hidalgo has forsaken public safety in the name of extracurricular goals. 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. Running for Local Offices; Notable Links . 10:46 AM CDT October 23, 2022 . Hidalgo County Clerk. Democratic County Judge Lina Hidalgo beat Republican Alexandra del Moral Mealer by more than 18,000 votes. For the first time, the two candidates for Harris County judge, incumbent Lina Hidalgo and challenger Alexandra Mealer, sat down face-to-face.