Fifteen candidates are vying for the position of Harris County judge in the upcoming . Emmett left office in 2019. 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. County Court at Law Judge Lesley Briones and former Harris County elections staffer Benjamin Chou were leading in that race. 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. New survey looks at voting trends in Harris County Judge race Lina Hidalgo - Ballotpedia 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, a Republican, do not face election this year. Democrats have won every countywide contest since 2016, including Hidalgos own upset win over popular incumbent Ed Emmett in 2018. Controversial Harris County Judge Hidalgo Draws Multiple Challengers in Dan Patrick, and Texas Comptroller Glen Hegar, particularly with accusations that she was "defunding" the police. 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. 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. 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 . Mealer has focused her campaign on crime and public safety spending, arguing Hidalgo has failed to devote enough funding to county law enforcement amid a rise in violent crime. Texas 2022 elections: Who won, who lost, what's undecided The Editorial Board. Republicans Have Their Knives Out for Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo On Twitter Wednesday morning, Hidalgo celebrated her win, tweeting: "Yesterday, the people of Harris County chose optimism over fear & people over politics. 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. 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 . What does the data say? He initially joined the paper through the Hearst Journalism Fellowship program after covering the same beats for the San Antonio Express-News. Its rattlesnake season in Texas. Cortez, Tania Ramirez, and Norma Ramirez are running in the Democratic Party primary. And Mealer, 38, a retired Army veteran, ran a spirited campaign arguing that Hidalgo has forsaken public safety in the name of extracurricular goals. 3 . From attacks by Texas Republicans, charges filed . Is Whataburger healthy? Rising Democratic Star Survives Close Call in Houston 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. 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. Oct. 12, 2022. Houston still trails well behind other big cities around the country, many of which experienced a sharper rise in violent crime. The County Judge is the presiding officer of the county commissioners court and the head of emergency management. 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. After briefly looking down and taking a pause, Hidalgo continued: "But y'all, didn't I say it would be a sweet victory?". 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 . Harris County Judge candidate says she would fund more law enforcement 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. 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. Ellie Torres (D) Hidalgo County Constable Precinct 5. Hidalgo also found herself at the center of controversy earlier this year after three of her top aides were indicted by a grand jury. Republican Challengers to Lina Hidalgo Spar in Heated Runoff for Harris "Truth won over lies." I am committed to working hard every day . Its rattlesnake season in Texas. We need more vaccine, Turner said. DIRECTORY. She has created a political base around her campaign to make her race one of the most important and contested races in the state.. Mealer's tough-on-crime campaign also spotlighted these accusations, framing the 31-year-old incumbent as an adversary of local law enforcement. Hidalgo County Judge Candidates Will Tackle the Biggest - LUPE For several election cycles, Houston-area voters have favored Democrats over Republicans. 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 . The court last year redrew both precincts to favor Democrats. It doesn't need to be that way. Lin-Manuel Miranda appeared at a rally Tuesday supporting Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo for reelection. 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 request to keep the polling sites open late was made by the Texas Organizing Project, Texas Civil Rights Project and the ACLU of Texas. 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. He initially joined the paper through the Hearst Journalism Fellowship program after covering the same beats for the San Antonio Express-News. Lina Hidalgo (@LinaHidalgoTX) November 9, 2022. . We pride ourselves on doing our best, being responsible with taxpayer . 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. For any questions regarding your voter information please call the Hidalgo County's Elections Department at (956) 318-2570. . 'This Week In Texas' puts spotlight on Harris County Judge's race First Day of Early Voting. Ariana Garcia joined Chron in 2021. ELECTION CALENDAR DATES. "Hidalgo continues to be the front-runner, primarily because of the makeup of Harris County in terms of partisanship," Cross said. Search Texas Monthly Republican Alexandra del Moral Mealer concedes, Harris County Judge "No one really knows what the county judge does. 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. Despite the odds seemingly piling up against Hidalgo as Election Day approached, the 31-year-old Democrat still managed to come out on top. 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. "But we earned every vote and not with exaggerations or falsehoods. Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia, a Democrat, held a wider lead: 105,653 votes (52.56 percent) to Republican Jack Morman's 95,363 (47.44 percent), according to the unofficial vote count. Campaign finance reports also showed Mealer outraised Hidalgo with $10 million in the campaign chest. The contract was ultimately rescinded, and Hidalgo has continuously defended her office and aides in relation to the indictment. Candidate for Harris County Judge Alexandra del Moral Mealer poses for a photo Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, at the Houston Chronicle offices in Houston. Instead, the ad makes a specific claim about Mealer and a specific policy. 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. Lina Hidalgo reelected as Harris County judge | khou.com Hidalgo drew support from 45%. Solis: Redo the primary election in Hidalgo County; tens of thousands More than 80 percent of Mealer's contributions were spent on advertising, while Hidalgo spent more than 87 percent, according to a report from Community Impact. Republicans say violent crime is up, Dems say it's down. Hidalgo has scoffed at Mealers police hiring pledge, pointing to the countys more than 400 unfilled law enforcement positions. . See also: Municipal elections in Harris County, Texas (2022) General election. Kennedy is a reporter at Chron covering all things Houston. 2022 Primary Election | Hidalgo County, TX - Official Website He has also reported on local politics for both papers. 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. Former Army captain Alexandra Del Moral Mealer won her primary in May, securing her as the Republican candidate for Harris County judge against Hidalgo in November. A native Houstonian, Jen graduated from Barnard College at Columbia University and earned a master's degree from University of Texas at Austin's LBJ School of Public Affairs. The two emerged as victors in a nine-person primary election last month, with Mealer capturing 29 percent to Martinez's 26 percent. Commissioner Jack and Janet Cagle, center, at his election night party at Maize's Restaurant in Houston. 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. art. That fundraising ability allowed Mealer to distribute TV ads hammering home her message that crime is out of control and Hidalgo is to blame. 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. 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. 2022 Wave elections; 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. And the total number of votes will far surpass the total in 2014, the last time Republicans won countywide seats. Harris County Judge candidates: Lina Hidalgo vs Alexandra del Moral Mealer Lina Hidalgo, Basking in National Praise, Faces a Potential Scandal at Harris County leaders face a slew of challengers this election season 05/09/2022 01:51 PM EDT. In Precinct 2, former commissioner Jack Morman and Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton led three other candidates. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Hidalgo has held the position since defeating then-incumbent and longtime County . 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. He grew up in Connecticut, graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, and is a die-hard Red Sox fan. Elections Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo throws shade at Mattress Mack, local leaders during victory speech. We are a membership-based organization and our strength is found in the participation of our over eight thousand members. 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. Sam Gonzlez Kelly is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle. Heres what you need to know. The local Democratic Party administers the polling locations on Election Day. Against the newcomer, Hidalgo's campaign appeared unworried about Mealer's prospects and trusted voters would secure her position again. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Brioness lead over Cagle came in part by design. Jen Rice is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle covering Harris County government. 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. Monday, February 14, 2022. Cagle was unopposed on the Republican side. VIDEO: Lina Hidalgo and Alexandra Mealer debate Harris County budget, crime and policy. 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. New Poll Shows Republican Mealer Up Four Over Democratic Harris County Lina Hidalgo and Alexandra Mealer debate Harris County issues Hidalgo argued Republicans are forcing the county to scale back other essential services, and as she commented on the impacts to various departments, Mealer supporters rolled their eyes, laser-focused on their candidates goal of hiring more patrol officers. A first-time political candidate, Mealer ran a tough on crime campaign against the Democratic incumbent, criticizing Hidalgo for the countys crime rate and stumping on issues of public safety. She enjoys binge-watching anime and films makeup tutorials in her spare time. Hidalgo's reelection campaign also suffered a blow following an unexpected endorsement from the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board co-signing Mealer. Our nation is too divided right now and it's been divided for too many years," Hidalgo said. 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. 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 . Hidalgo County Elections Department 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. 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. Judge Lina Hidalgo moved the COVID - 19 Threat to Level Orange at Houston Transtar Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Houston. Vidal Martinez - Ballotpedia 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, a Democrat, and Pct. Hidalgo-Mealer judge election is a showdown over Harris County He said they were watching growing caseloads in other major American cities. November 8, 2022 General Election & Local Entities Elections. Alexandra del Moral Mealer, the Republican nominee for Harris County judge, speaking at the press conference at the Harris County DeputiesOrganization in Houston. another GOP candidate for county judge, called Hidalgo a "formidable campaigner," adding that progressives see her as a key component to flipping Texas blue. She said both local parties, following the secretary of states advice, agreed to seek a court order adjusting the deadline. Updated: Jun 18, 2021 / 01:46 PM CDT. EXPLAINER: What you need to know about Lina Hidalgo and Alex Mealer in the race for Harris County judge. 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 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. HARRIS COUNTY ELECTION UPDATES: Mealer concedes county judge race to Hidalgo. Harris County election results 2022: County judge, commissioners Axios on twitter. 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. November 8, 2022 (General) Hidalgo. Meanwhile, across town at the Kirby Ice House, Mealer said the close margins show voters are paying attention. 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. Jay R. Jordan; Axios on facebook. On Friday, Hidalgo County Judge Richard . "Elections should not be about pitting one group against each other. 2022 / 08:13 AM CST . 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. HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's political future is on the line for 2022. Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Show More Show Less 2 of 2. Those showed potentially ominous trends for strongholds in the traditional Democratic coalition. Come find out at a candidate forum hosted by LUPE and LUPE Votes this Friday, February 4th at 5 pm online. 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. 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. 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." Another administrative incumbent, Harris County Treasurer Dylan Osborne, appeared headed for defeat as well, trailing challenger Carla Wyatt. The poll released by the UH Hobby School of Public Affairs shows Democratic incumbent Lina Hidalgo at 48% among likely . Don't elect their candidate for County Judge" or something and avoided a poor fact checking result. 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. 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. New poll shows heated race for Harris County judge is too close to call Despite seeing a barrage of criticisms . 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. Hidalgo, Garcia cruise through primary, while incumbent judges struggle, Timeline: How battle between Houston ISD, TEA has reached the point of a looming takeover. Lina Hidalgo reelected as Harris County judge - msn.com Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. 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. 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. She assumed office on January 1, 2019. Lina Hidalgo ( Democratic Party) is the Harris County Judge in Texas.
Sweetwater High School Principal, Rome Police Warrant List, Articles H