Texas 2022 Elections Texas' 2022 races coming into focus as candidate filings close. First Day of Early Voting. The Houston Chronicle's editorial board makes an endorsement for the Harris County judge that can be considered crucial in the tight race. His statement went on to layout the penalty a class B misdemeanor for failing to meet the deadline. 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.. "Elections should not be about pitting one group against each other. 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. Early voting in the March primary begins on Valentine's Day. 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. They answered questions from the . Harris County judge Lina Hidalgo greets her supporters at an primaries election night party at Axelrad Beer Garden, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Houston. We are a membership-based organization and our strength is found in the participation of our over eight thousand members. Her biggest donor was Richard Weekley, a Houston-based developer and megadonor who contributed $400,000 to Mealers campaign. Join us on Facebook Live and YouTube Live tonight, Friday, February 4th at 5 pm. The Early Voting results were reported shortly after the polls closed, Election Day results will be reported, and the remainder of the reconciliation process will continue over the next few days, as we prioritize accuracy over speed, Longorias office said in a statement. From attacks by Texas Republicans, charges filed . It doesn't need to be that way. ", "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. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer, Gary Fountain/Contributor. County Court at Law Judge Lesley Briones and former Harris County elections staffer Benjamin Chou were leading in that race. Previously, she was a community news and breaking news reporter for the Austin American-Statesman. Search Texas Monthly The intense exchange was just one of many instances in which the lieutenant governor has openly rejected Hidalgo. Cortez, Tania Ramirez, and Norma Ramirez are running in the Democratic Party primary. 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. Hidalgo reported having $2 million in her campaign account, giving her a slight edge over Mealers $1.7 million cash on hand. The judge congratulated other candidates who won in Tuesday's election, including Democratic Precinct 2 commissioner Adrian Garcia's victory over his Republican opponent Jack Morman. "My opponent will often say, well, none of these are county issues," Hidalgo said. 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. "The math is clear, and one plus one equals two, but they're still trying to pin that on us," she said. 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. According to Harris County officials, Patrick told Hidalgo to sit down and shut up multiple times at the funeral. 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, Texas 2022 midterm elections: Live results from Abbott vs. Beto, Hidalgo vs. Mealer and more, retain and expand control of the county government, Mealer concedes county judge race to Hidalgo, ran a spirited campaign arguing that Hidalgo has forsaken public safety. Elections Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo throws shade at Mattress Mack, local leaders during victory speech. "Hidalgo continues to be the front-runner, primarily because of the makeup of Harris County in terms of partisanship," Cross said. Saturday, January 1, 2022. "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.". Its rattlesnake season in Texas. Lina Hidalgo reelected as Harris County judge. (Steve Gonzales, Staff photographer) / Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner before they gave a joint press conference about growing Monkeypox infections in July 2022. According to election results from 2016 and 2020, Democrats hold a 12-point advantage in Precinct 4. Democrats on Tuesday generally faced a hostile climate, with President Joe Bidens lagging approval numbers, the uptick in crime and rising inflation all dragging on their enthusiasm. But for now, her two GOP challengers are busy slashing at each other before the May 24 runoff election. Running for Local Offices; Notable Links . Friday, November 4, 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. Hidalgos Republican opponent, Alexandra del Moral Mealer raised 4x the amount of fundraising money in her bid. MLB legend makes surprise appearance at Astros' Spring Training, Houston is ugly, and I've never felt more at home, Texas A&M upset win clears path for UH to snag top overall seed, Oops! Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo made passing reference to Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale and other prominent endorsers of her political opponent Alex Mealer during a Wednesday victory speech. Elections Lina Hidalgo reelected as Harris County judge . HIDALGO COUNTY, Texas (KVEO) Hidalgo County's judge will seek to keep his position for four more years in 2022. EXPLAINER: What you need to know about Lina Hidalgo and Alex Mealer in the race for Harris County judge. Hidalgo ( Democratic Party) ran for re-election for Harris County Judge in Texas. Mealer has framed those unfilled positions as another failure on Hidalgo's part, suggesting the county recruit from military bases and offer signingbonuses using federal COVID relief funds. Instead, the ad makes a specific claim about Mealer and a specific policy. She has created a political base around her campaign to make her race one of the most important and contested races in the state.. Procedures for Candidates, 2019-2021. Power-hungry politicians use our home to scapegoat immigrants, divide citizens and enrich wealthy special interests. November 8, 2022 General Election & Local Entities Elections. 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. Registered Voters as of February 27, 2023 Total 412,899. Fifteen candidates are vying for the position of Harris County judge in the upcoming . 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's facing challengers . Updated: Jun 18, 2021 / 01:46 PM CDT. . McGuinness previously covered the Rhode Island statehouse for the Associated Press and breaking news for the Boston Globe. 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. 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. 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. 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. A sixth criminal judge, Jason Luong of the 185th district court, also trailed in his election but appeared headed for a runoff. Hidalgo's conservative commissioners court colleagues have accused the judge of "defunding the police," a claim she has fiercely denied. Candidate Information Texas Secretary of State. Her current term ends on December 31, 2026. 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. She was previously a political reporter with the Texas Signal. Hidalgo's reelection campaign also suffered a blow following an unexpected endorsement from the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board co-signing Mealer. Members shall draw lots to determine who serves which terms. Are ticket costs pricing Houston Astros fans out of Opening Day? Emmett left office in 2019. Politics A new poll shows the Harris County Judge's race is neck-and-neck. 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. Daniel Marichalar (D) Hidalgo County Criminal District Attorney. 2022 / 08:13 AM CST . 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, a Republican, do not face election this year. 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. Hidalgo's staffers being charged in 2022 with helping . Ed Emmett (Republican Party) was the Harris County Judge in Texas. 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. If Hidalgo holds on to win, she will have overcome an aggressive re-election fight in a hostile political climate for Democrats. Onward! Oct. 12, 2022. Hidalgo touts among her . First Day to Apply for a Ballot by Mail. Lin-Manuel Miranda appeared at a rally Tuesday supporting Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo . WINNERS AND LOSERS: Who won and who lost in the 2022 midterm elections across Houston and rest of Texas? More often, though, her campaign rhetoric has focused on fending off attacks from Mealer and throwing her own punches at the GOP nominee. ), LIVE RESULTS TRACKER: Texas 2022 midterm elections: Live results from Abbott vs. Beto, Hidalgo vs. Mealer and more. That means our county judge must be ready to lead our community through these challenges and toward a thriving future. Like most other candidates, Mealer is accepting campaign donations from county contractors. A look back at Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's biggest moments of 2022. 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. 2022 Candidate's Guide - Running for State, District or County Office; 2020 Candidate's Guide - Running for Federal, State, District or County offices. On Friday, Hidalgo County Judge Richard . She's challenging Democratic incumbent Lina Hidalgo to become the chief executive over county government and head of the Commissioners Court. Meanwhile, across town at the Kirby Ice House, Mealer said the close margins show voters are paying attention. Incumbent Judge Lina Hidalgo is running for re-election after securing a historic - and surprising - win in 2018. Its rattlesnake season in Texas. Republicans say violent crime is up, Dems say it's down. The court last year redrew both precincts to favor Democrats. Ariana Garcia joined Chron in 2021. Axios on linkedin. 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. 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." defeat of Republican challenger Alex Mealer in Tuesday's Harris County judge election. 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. Hidalgo appeared to gain some breathing room over the summer, when public backlash to the Supreme Courts scrapping of Roe v Wade provided a boost to Democrats around the country. She enjoys binge-watching anime and films makeup tutorials in her spare time. 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. "With crime rising, is the focus increasing deputies or is it increasing social workers?" 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. "No one really knows what the county judge does. The primary election is March 1, 2022. Ballotpedia's 2022 elections analysis. Judges at the courthouse quickly encountered trouble in those unofficial returns. With all voting centers reporting, Hidalgo had 546,745 votes (50.74 percent) to Mealer's 530,788 (49.25 percent. Editor's note: This article has been updated to include responses submitted by Alexandra del Moral Mealer. While Mealer and other GOP candidates running for seats on Commissioners Court have maintained an intense focus on crime and public safety, those issues are far from the only challenges facing Harris County government, which also is responsible for planning out billions of dollars in flood control projects, overseeing development in unincorporated areas and running public health institutions that provide treatment for a large share of the county's uninsured, low-income residents. Particularly among the Democrats, she remains very popular.". Lawyers for the aides have maintained their innocence. 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 . Incumbent US Rep Sylvia Garcia reacts as she watches televised election returns 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. 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 31-year-old stood in front of supporters applauding and chanting her name at the office of the Harris Democratic Party. Alexandra Mealer is a tenacious campaigner, said Jessica Coln, a Houston-based Republican strategist who is uninvolved in the race. 2022 Wave elections; Hidalgo also addressed the millions in campaign contributions her opponent garnered from "far right, Trump mega-donors," while campaigning for office. 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's why tonight we are hosting a forum with the candidates for Hidalgo County Judge in the Democratic Party Primary. Lina Hidalgo defeated incumbent Ed Emmett and Eric Gatlin in the general election for Harris County Judge on November 6, . I want to thank each & every voter who showed up to make their voice heard this election. Hidalgo has scoffed at Mealers police hiring pledge, pointing to the countys more than 400 unfilled law enforcement positions. Cagle was unopposed on the Republican side. Are insane ticket costs pricing Astros fans out of Opening Day? Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo at a Commissioners Court meeting in February 2020. 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. TEXAS VOTER GUIDE: The key state and local races that your vote will decide in the November 8 midterm election. 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. 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. Harris County Commissioner Pct. Her opponent, Republican challenge . Oct. 12, 2022 Updated: Oct. 14, 2022 1:37 p.m. For the first time, the two candidates for Harris County judge, incumbent Lina Hidalgo and challenger Alexandra Mealer, sat down . See also: Municipal elections in Harris County, Texas (2022) General election. Election mishaps and conflicting court rulings introduced a degree of uncertainty about when the results would become official. Hidalgo took . "They do that to get you talking about everything but Harris County. Turnout in the top 10 majority Black ZIP codes was down 15 percent from 2018, for example. 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. 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. Democratic Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, left, is facing a challenge from Republican Alexandra Moral del Mealer. Minerva Diaz (R) Hidalgo County Commissioner Precinct 4. VIDEO: Lina Hidalgo and Alexandra Mealer debate Harris County budget, crime and policy. That fundraising ability allowed Mealer to distribute TV ads hammering home her message that crime is out of control and Hidalgo is to blame. . 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. Dan Patrick, as well as her fellow commissioners Jack Cagle and Tom Ramsey. 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. LIVE UPDATES: 2022 Texas Primary Election Results. . I also want to thank Ms. Mealer for a hard-fought campaign & her military service. Our nation is too divided right now and it's been divided for too many years," Hidalgo said. 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. Vendor Portal . Brioness lead over Cagle came in part by design. Mealer is trying to take full advantage, blanketing the airwaves with campaign ads and outspending the incumbent overall. The GOP race to face Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is getting nasty. As many of you know, I am not a stranger to public service. (Jon Shapley, Staff photographer), Bun B, Badu, J.J. Watt celebrate RodeoHouston Southern Takeover, Exclusive: Abbott explains push against diversity hiring programs. 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. According to a new University of Houston poll, Mealer holds a slight lead with Election Day just two weeks away and early voting already underway.