In the GOP primary for county treasurer, Kyle Scott led Eric Dick. 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. Editor's note: This article has been updated to include responses submitted by Alexandra del Moral Mealer. A look back at Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's biggest moments of 2022. 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. defeat of Republican challenger Alex Mealer in Tuesday's Harris County judge election. 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. Her current term ends on December 31, 2026. . 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. 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. The Editorial Board. Harris County judge Lina Hidalgo greets her supporters at an primaries election night party at Axelrad Beer Garden, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Houston. And Mealer, 38, a retired Army veteran, ran a spirited campaign arguing that Hidalgo has forsaken public safety in the name of extracurricular goals. Please type your name EXACTLY as it appears on your VOTER REGISTRATION RECORD. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo waits to speak to the media after the Harris County Commissioners Court went into executive session Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, in Houston. If you are running in the March 2022 primaries, we want to hear from you. Mar 2, 2022. First Day to Apply for a Ballot by Mail. 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Hidalgo's 2018 win was fueled by a perfect storm of political factors: voters outraged by the Trump administration, high Democratic turnout for Beto O'Rourke's campaign against Sen. Ted Cruz and the popularity of straight-ticket voting. In the four years since her upset victory thrust her into office as a 27-year-old newcomer, Hidalgo has reimagined the boundaries of county government, reaching beyond its traditional focus on public safety and flood control to also address such issues as childhood development, immigration and environmental control. On election night, Mealer conceded the race after unofficial results showed Hidalgo riding to a comfortable 15,000-vote lead. Chris Daniel, a former district clerk, ran unopposed in the Republican primary. 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. (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 Hidalgo County health authority, announced he was passing on a campaign for the seat, saying he could . Harris County Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria said some paper ballots got wrinkled and jammed, but most votes would be counted on time. Is Whataburger healthy? 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! Hidalgo reported having $2 million in her campaign account, giving her a slight edge over Mealers $1.7 million cash on hand. In the week leading up to Election Day, First Lady Jill Biden, Hamilton Broadway star Lin Manuel-Miranda and rapper Common stumped for Hidalgo and encouraged voters to cast their ballots for Democratic candidates. Race for Harris County judge still too close to call Published: November 8, 2022, 11:56 AM Updated: November 9, 2022, 1:04 AM Tags: Decision 2022 , Harris County , Voting , Lina Hidalgo . She assumed office on January 1, 2019. 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. Turnout overall was down 10 percent, but de Leon noted it still marked the second-highest turnout for a midterm election here. 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. For any questions regarding your voter information please call the Hidalgo County's Elections Department at (956) 318-2570. . In the Precinct 4 Commissioner's race, Lesley Briones, the Democratic challenger to Republican incumbent Jack Cagle, had 121,391 votes (51.62 percent) to Cagle's 113,774 (48.38 percent). 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). She has been on the ground to cover natural disasters, disease outbreaks, elections and protests, delivering stories to both . 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 . Her reporting has aired nationally on NPR's Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Here & Now. No candidate in those two races had the majority needed to win outright on election night. ", 'POLITICS OF PERCEPTION': Hidalgo, Harris County Dems hope for boost from abortion, national trends, but races still competitive over crime, economy. Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Show More Show Less 2 of 2. She's facing challengers . Last Day to Register to Vote. Dan Patrick, as well as her fellow commissioners Jack Cagle and Tom Ramsey. 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. I also want to thank Ms. Mealer for a hard-fought campaign & her military service. Candidates Richard Cortez (incumbent), Norma Ramirez, and Tania Ramirez will each have 30 minutes to discuss their stance on the biggest challenges facing colonia residents and RGV residents. Code 7.104] 2 All State Senate seats are up for election in 2022 following redistricting in 2021. . Throughout her reelection campaign, Hidalgo faced an onslaught of criticism from state Republicans, including Gov. 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. Sort of. Against the newcomer, Hidalgo's campaign appeared unworried about Mealer's prospects and trusted voters would secure her position again. 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. 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. That's why tonight we are hosting a forum with the candidates for Hidalgo County Judge in the Democratic Party Primary. Her opponent, Republican challenge . Mealer calls Hidalgo's campaign strategy dishonest and has criticized Hidalgo for focusing on abortion rights, a policy area the county judge has no authority over. 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. "That is a key priority," Hidalgo said. Lina Hidalgo (@LinaHidalgoTX) November 9, 2022. . The judge congratulated other candidates who . If the unofficial results stand, Democrats would retain and expand control of the county government four years after they won a majority for the first time in decades. 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." Hidalgo has maintained that the scandal was a politically motivated attack and has publicly defended her aides. 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. Power-hungry politicians use our home to scapegoat immigrants, divide citizens and enrich wealthy special interests. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer. 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. Hidalgo County residents and colonia residents in particular are on the frontlines of the biggest challenges facing the nation and the world. First Day of Early Voting. According to Harris County officials, Patrick told Hidalgo to sit down and shut up multiple times at the funeral. The redistricting also cost him familiarity with voters, essentially switching the areas covered by Precincts 3 and 4. But that hasn't stopped RGV residents from working together for the things we all need to thrive. Sen. Ted Cruz, who endorsed Mealer showed up at Mealer's election watch party. Who won and who lost in the 2022 midterm elections across Houston and rest of Texas? Mealer is trying to take full advantage, blanketing the airwaves with campaign ads and outspending the incumbent overall. Welcome to Hidalgo County! Ariana Garcia joined Chron in 2021. Moreover, Patrick confronted Hidalgo at the event and accused her of defunding the police despite increasing the law enforcement budget since 2019. "She does seem to evoke strong emotions in either party. Daniel Marichalar (D) Hidalgo County Criminal District Attorney. Sort of. Democratic incumbent Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Republican Alexandra del Moral Mealer addressed voters in Houston. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo hugs U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia after being reelected for a second term on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022 in Houston. 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. He initially joined the paper through the Hearst Journalism Fellowship program after covering the same beats for the San Antonio Express-News. "No one really knows what the county judge does. she shouted to roaring applause. Campaign finance reports also showed Mealer outraised Hidalgo with $10 million in the campaign chest. Meanwhile, across town at the Kirby Ice House, Mealer said the close margins show voters are paying attention. Another well-to-do donor on the list of Mealer supporters is beloved Houston Gallery Furniture salesman Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale, who cut televised endorsements for Hidalgo's challenger and would go on to publicly tussle with the judge after her campaign's end. Lina Hidalgo ( Democratic Party) is the Harris County Judge in Texas. Republicans and prominent business leaders in Harris County made unseating Hidalgo a priority. 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. ", Thank you to all those who supported our campaign for good governance pic.twitter.com/ZnjLvtQVTO. 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. 2022 Candidate's Guide - Running for State, District or County Office; 2020 Candidate's Guide - Running for Federal, State, District or County offices. Harris County judge Lina Hidalgo is applauded as she arrives at a primaries election night party, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Houston. 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. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. With 205 of 259 precincts reporting in the Democratic primary, Ruben Ramirez was leading in the race for U.S. Representative . 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. Instead, the ad makes a specific claim about Mealer and a specific policy. 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, a Republican, do not face election this year. Don't elect their candidate for County Judge" or something and avoided a poor fact checking result. . Fifteen candidates are vying for the position of Harris County judge in the upcoming . Incumbent Judge Lina Hidalgo is running for re-election after securing a historic - and surprising - win in 2018. 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. 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. Tax Rates. Now, emboldened by a combination of factors the felony indictment of three Hidalgo aides, a sharp rise in homicides mirroring a trend across the country, and favorable national conditions Harris County Republicans have rallied behind Mealer as perhaps their best shot to reverse their recent struggles. Jack Cagle is running against Democrat Lesley Briones. Democrats thought their 3-2 majority on the Court would make this an easy task and they . That is not guaranteed, though, given the narrow nature of their leads and the in-limbo status of the set-aside ballots. Lina Hidalgo defeated incumbent Ed Emmett and Eric Gatlin in the general election for Harris County Judge on November 6, . 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. 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. I want to thank each & every voter who showed up to make their voice heard this election. It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your County Judge. Democratic incumbent Judge Lina Hidalgo will serve another term as county judge for Texas' most populous county after . Heres what you need to know. This 10 percentage point lead by . Texas 2022 Elections Texas' 2022 races coming into focus as candidate filings close. 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. 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 . Welcome to the Hidalgo County Elections Department! Jasper Scherer covers Texas politics and government for the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News. . Alexandra Mealer is a tenacious campaigner, said Jessica Coln, a Houston-based Republican strategist who is uninvolved in the race. "My opponent will often say, well, none of these are county issues," Hidalgo said. 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. 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. Cortez, Tania Ramirez, and Norma Ramirez are running in the Democratic Party primary. He grew up in Connecticut, graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, and is a die-hard Red Sox fan. Are ticket costs pricing Houston Astros fans out of Opening Day? 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. Alexandra del Moral Mealer, the Republican nominee for Harris County judge, speaking at the press conference at the Harris County DeputiesOrganization in Houston. Hidalgo ( Democratic Party) ran for re-election for Harris County Judge in Texas. That message helped Mealer rake in millions in campaign cash, with six-figure support in the last month from the likes of Gallery Furniture owner Jim Mattress Mack McIngvale and energy executive David Modesett, among others. "We are just getting started.". Registered Voters as of February 27, 2023 Total 412,899. ", "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. They answered questions from the . Democrats have won every countywide contest since 2016, including Hidalgos own upset win over popular incumbent Ed Emmett in 2018. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is applauded as she arrives to a primaries election night party, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Houston. ), LIVE RESULTS TRACKER: Texas 2022 midterm elections: Live results from Abbott vs. Beto, Hidalgo vs. Mealer and more. 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. Const. Brioness lead over Cagle came in part by design. 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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. In April, three Hidalgo staff members, including her chief of staff, were indicted for misuse of official information and tampering with government evidence. 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 . "To the extent we work on these issues that affect us all, all of us will do better. BY THE NUMBERS: Republicans say violent crime is up, Dems say it's down. Are insane ticket costs pricing Astros fans out of Opening Day? art. 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. 2022 Wave elections; Harris County judge Lina Hidalgo talks to her supporters at an primaries election night party, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Houston. 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. Bun B, Badu, J.J. Watt celebrate RodeoHouston Southern Takeover, Exclusive: Abbott explains push against diversity hiring programs. This is a carousel. 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. 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. Procedures for Candidates, 2019-2021. "Right now the county judge race is in a . The balance of the five-member court is at stake in this election, with three incumbents up for re-election in competitive races. 2022 Election. 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.. 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. Q&A with Harris County judge candidate Alexandra Mealer. Elections Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo throws shade at Mattress Mack, local leaders during victory speech. In February, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick criticized Hidalgo for where she decided to stand at the memorial service of slain Harris County Pct. Axios on linkedin. 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. 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. Judges at the courthouse quickly encountered trouble in those unofficial returns. It doesn't need to be that way. That fundraising ability allowed Mealer to distribute TV ads hammering home her message that crime is out of control and Hidalgo is to blame. 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. Climate damage has fueled storms that flood our region. The last-minute celebrity endorsements were one of Hidalgos last campaign moves before the Nov. 8 election. 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. "While we did not accomplish our goal of changing leadership in Harris County, we were successful in elevating the profile of critical issues like the need to appropriately resource our law enforcement and criminal justice system, as well as the desire to eliminate corruption and increase transparency in local government," Mealer said in a statement on social media. ", Yesterday, the people of Harris County chose optimism over fear & people over politics. 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 . Tensions ran high as the court's two Republican members skipped the meeting, blocking the three Democrats from passing their proposed tax rate unless they agreed to specific terms for funding law enforcement.