the Hidalgo County health authority, announced he was passing on a campaign for the seat, saying he could . I am committed to working hard every 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. Judges at the courthouse quickly encountered trouble in those unofficial returns. "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." Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer. "But we earned every vote and not with exaggerations or falsehoods. In this one, Mealer is hoping to achieve the same feat, only with the parties swapped. 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 . 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. In April, three Hidalgo staff members, including her chief of staff, were indicted for misuse of official information and tampering with government evidence. "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. 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. But for now, her two GOP challengers are busy slashing at each other before the May 24 runoff election. 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. In the GOP primary for county treasurer, Kyle Scott led Eric Dick. Elections Harris County election results 2022: County judge, commissioners, propositions. Nov. 10, 2022. Mealer's tough-on-crime campaign also spotlighted these accusations, framing the 31-year-old incumbent as an adversary of local law enforcement. They answered questions from the . Heres what you need to know. Please check back later for updates. 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. Among those trailing are five criminal district court judges: Chuck Silverman, 183rd district court; Abigail Anastasio, 184th; Greg Glass, 208th; and Amy Martin, 263rd. 2022 Election. For any questions regarding your voter information please call the Hidalgo County's Elections Department at (956) 318-2570. . WINNERS AND LOSERS: Who won, who lost, who's going to a runoff in primary elections across Houston, rest of Texas. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke is leading . 2022 / 08:13 AM CST . She enjoys traveling and reading romance novels. I am extremely grateful to our supporters and all those who contributed to this campaign. FOX 26 Houston. . He initially joined the paper through the Hearst Journalism Fellowship program after covering the same beats for the San Antonio Express-News. According to election results from 2016 and 2020, Democrats hold a 12-point advantage in Precinct 4. 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. He grew up in Connecticut, graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, and is a die-hard Red Sox fan. Hidalgo's slight edge over Mealer emerged with the results of early and absentee voting, and remained largely the same as the county's tallying process dragged on into the morning. Ariana Garcia joined Chron in 2021. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Marie D. De Jess, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer, Bun B, Badu, J.J. Watt celebrate RodeoHouston Southern Takeover, Exclusive: Abbott explains push against diversity hiring programs. 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. Editor's Note: Calling all Rio Grande Valley candidates. 10:46 AM CDT October 23, 2022 . Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo at a Commissioners Court meeting in February 2020. Staff members faced charges of misuse of official information and tampering with a government record in connection to a county contract awarded by Hidalgo's office to a local public relations firm to create a county COVID-19 outreach program. 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. Onward! 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. Jen Rice is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle covering Harris County government. Her current term ends on December 31, 2026. It doesn't need to be that way. 2022 Updated: 5:24 PM CST November 9, 2022 . WINNERS AND LOSERS: Who won and who lost in the 2022 midterm elections across Houston and rest of Texas? 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. another GOP candidate for county judge, called Hidalgo a "formidable campaigner," adding that progressives see her as a key component to flipping Texas blue. 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. Hidalgo also faced more specific challenges, including her fundraising disadvantage and a corruption probe. 3 . "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.". With 205 of 259 precincts reporting in the Democratic primary, Ruben Ramirez was leading in the race for U.S. Representative . 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. Code 7.104] 2 All State Senate seats are up for election in 2022 following redistricting in 2021. It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your County Judge. The ongoing political showdown over the county's annual budget process has pitted the Mealer and Hidalgo camps firmly against one another, offering voters a clear view of the candidates different visions for the role Harris County government should play. Democratic County Judge Lina Hidalgo beat Republican Alexandra del Moral Mealer by more than 18,000 votes. "My opponent will often say, well, none of these are county issues," Hidalgo said. Throughout her reelection campaign, Hidalgo faced an onslaught of criticism from state Republicans, including Gov. 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 . Oct. 12, 2022. Mar 2, 2022. Lina Hidalgo, a rising Democratic star, faces a tough reelection race to lead Harris County. Election Day is Tuesday, November 8, 2022. 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. HARRIS COUNTY ELECTION UPDATES: Mealer concedes county judge race to Hidalgo. Tax Rates. 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. Running for Local Offices; Notable Links . They asked the federal government for additional vaccine doses due to rising, but still relatively small, numbers of cases. (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. Emmett (Republican Party) . Moreover, Patrick confronted Hidalgo at the event and accused her of defunding the police despite increasing the law enforcement budget since 2019. During her campaign, Hidalgo said she was also subjected to smears, attacks, and the "dirtiest political tricks" from statewide leaders like Gov. Search Texas Monthly 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. Those voters had plenty of reasons for their own enthusiasm, including the implementation of a strict abortion ban by Republicans in Texas, and a relatively competitive gubernatorial contest. Are ticket costs pricing Houston Astros fans out of Opening Day? TEXAS VOTER GUIDE: The key state and local races that your vote will decide in the November 8 midterm election. Dylan McGuinness covers City Hall and local politics for the Houston Chronicle. Another administrative incumbent, Harris County Treasurer Dylan Osborne, appeared headed for defeat as well, trailing challenger Carla Wyatt. 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. Turnout overall was down 10 percent, but de Leon noted it still marked the second-highest turnout for a midterm election here. Like most other candidates, Mealer is accepting campaign donations from county contractors. Incumbent Cagle lost his bid for reelection as Harris County Precinct 4 commissioner against Democratic challenger Lesley Briones, a civil court judge. 2023 Commissioner's Court Meetings Calendar. 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. Bun B, Badu, J.J. Watt celebrate RodeoHouston Southern Takeover, Exclusive: Abbott explains push against diversity hiring programs. 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. Democratic Precinct 2 commissioner Adrian Garcia's, 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. Emmett left office in 2019. 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.. Campaign finance reports also showed Mealer outraised Hidalgo with $10 million in the campaign chest. Former Army Capt. Commissioner Jack and Janet Cagle, center, at his election night party at Maize's Restaurant in Houston. 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. Sam Gonzlez Kelly is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle. The last-minute celebrity endorsements were one of Hidalgos last campaign moves before the Nov. 8 election. LUPE is a nonprofit organization that helps the community organize for and win a better quality of life. First Day to Apply for a Ballot by Mail. A new poll released by Defend Texas Liberty PAC shows Republican candidate Alex Mealer with a four-point lead over Democrat incumbent Lina Hidalgo in the contentious race for Harris County judge. 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. Espaol / English. The local Democratic Party administers the polling locations on Election Day. Solis, who lives in Palmview, speculated that the lack of polling locations on the west side of Hidalgo County could have been designed to help a certain primary candidate. Before coming to the Chronicle, Jen spent three years covering City Hall for Houston's NPR station. For the first time, the two candidates for Harris County judge, incumbent Lina Hidalgo and challenger Alexandra Mealer, sat down face-to-face. "With crime rising, is the focus increasing deputies or is it increasing social workers?" 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. 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. As many of you know, I am not a stranger to public service. . 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. 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. 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. 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.