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. She said both local parties, following the secretary of states advice, agreed to seek a court order adjusting the deadline. A poll from the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston, released Monday on the first day of early voting, found 47% of likely Harris County voters say they will support Mealer, a political newcomer running for Harris County judge. During the March primaries, incumbent Lina Hidalgo took a huge lead as the Democratic nominee, but the race seems neck-and-neck against Republican Alexandra del Moral Mealer . 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. 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. "Because Lina has funded more full-time social workers than she has sheriff deputies.". What does the data say? 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. New survey looks at voting trends in Harris County Judge race That means all votes cast between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. are being set aside until the high court decides whether they're legitimate and can be counted. Del Moral Mealer is running in the Republican primary for Harris County Judge. Welcome to the Hidalgo County Elections Department! Fifteen candidates are vying for the position of Harris County judge in the upcoming . Jasper Scherer covers Texas politics and government for the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News. 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.. Lina Hidalgo wins reelection bid for Harris County judge against Hidalgo defeats Mealer in Harris County judge race Rest assured that I take, very seriously, the responsibility to serve all of Hidalgo County. Help us ask the candidates for Hidalgo County Judge the challenging questions. 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. 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! She has evolved into a savvy, hard-nosed, driven candidate, and she has been incredibly successful in raising the funds necessary to compete with Lina Hidalgo. 'Mattress Mack' endorses GOP opponent of Lina Hidalgo for county judge . The Houston Chronicle editorial board endorses Republican nominee 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 . Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo tries to win re-election but faces a challenge from Republican Alexandra . With all voting centers reporting, Hidalgo had 546,745 votes (50.74 percent) to Mealer's 530,788 (49.25 percent. A look back at Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's biggest moments of 2022. [Tex. Don't elect their candidate for County Judge" or something and avoided a poor fact checking result. FOX 26 rates Hidalgo attack ad: 'Mostly B.S.' : r/houston "With crime rising, is the focus increasing deputies or is it increasing social workers?" Those showed potentially ominous trends for strongholds in the traditional Democratic coalition. Onward! VIDEO: Lina Hidalgo and Alexandra Mealer debate Harris County budget, crime and policy. He said they were watching growing caseloads in other major American cities. 2022 Updated: 5:24 PM CST November 9, 2022 . In the process, she became a champion to progressives who said that focus helped struggling households that the countys previously limited government left behind. A runoff also will be necessary in the wide open Democratic primary for the Precinct 4 seat on Commissioners Court, newly drawn last year to improve the partys chances of defeating Republican incumbent Jack Cagle. Dylan McGuinness covers City Hall and local politics for the Houston Chronicle. Release: Hidalgo County Judge Candidates Will Tackle the Biggest Challenges Facing Colonia, RGV Residents at LUPE Candidate Forum. According to election results from 2016 and 2020, Democrats hold a 12-point advantage in Precinct 4. 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. Hidalgo County Judge Candidates Will Tackle the Biggest - LUPE 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. 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. But that hasn't stopped RGV residents from working together for the things we all need to thrive. Another candidate for county judge is McAllen City Commissioner Tania Ramirez. Daniel Marichalar (D) Hidalgo County Criminal District Attorney. Texas 2022 elections: Who won, who lost, what's undecided 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. 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. Lina Hidalgo ( Democratic Party) is the Harris County Judge in Texas. She won in the general election on November 8, 2022. Candidate Information - Secretary of State of Texas 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. 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. Republican Alexandra del Moral Mealer concedes, Harris County Judge Taken on September 7, 2022. 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, a Republican, do not face election this year. Lina Hidalgo (@LinaHidalgoTX) November 9, 2022. 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. Cagle was unopposed on the Republican side. Three of her staffers have been indicted by District Attorney Kim Ogg over a controversial COVID-19 outreach contract, an investigation that Hidalgo has decried as a witch-hunt. . STAY IN THE KNOW, by visiting our website in the next couple of days. Republicans say violent crime is up, Dems say it's down. Democrats have won every countywide contest since 2016, including Hidalgos own upset win over popular incumbent Ed Emmett in 2018. Solis: Redo the primary election in Hidalgo County; tens of thousands 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. 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. 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. Dan Patrick, and Texas Comptroller Glen Hegar, particularly with accusations that she was "defunding" the police. 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, Who won, who lost, who's going to a runoff in primary elections across Houston, rest of Texas, 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. County Judge | Hidalgo County, TX - Official Website In the GOP primary for county treasurer, Kyle Scott led Eric Dick. During her campaign, Hidalgo said she was also subjected to smears, attacks, and the "dirtiest political tricks" from statewide leaders like Gov. Harris County judge candidates . From attacks by Texas Republicans, charges filed . Mid-year campaign finance reports for Harris County judge race - impact 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. (Steve Gonzales, Staff photographer) / Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner before they gave a joint press conference about growing Monkeypox infections in July 2022. She has said the GOP plan would create hundreds of new positions that may never be filled, while preventing raises for the current police officers and cutting critical funding for flood control, public health, and other areas.. This is a carousel. "To the extent we work on these issues that affect us all, all of us will do better. She pointed to a recent city-county gun buyback program and county spending aimed at addressing maternal mortality. They attributed the delay to damaged ballot sheets that must be duplicated before they can be scanned by counting machines, according to Secretary of State John Scotts office. Search Texas Monthly On Twitter Wednesday morning, Hidalgo celebrated her win, tweeting: "Yesterday, the people of Harris County chose optimism over fear & people over politics. Members shall draw lots to determine who serves which terms. "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. Five questions with Harris County judge candidate Alexandra Mealer See also: Municipal elections in Harris County, Texas (2022) General election. Q&A with Lina Hidalgo: Harris County judge discusses pressing issues 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. We'll ask them about immigration and the border, climate-fueled flooding, broadband internet, and more. 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. ELECTION CALENDAR DATES. Elections Harris County election results 2022: County judge, commissioners, propositions. 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. Candidate Information Texas Secretary of State. She's challenging Democratic incumbent Lina Hidalgo to become the chief executive over county government and head of the Commissioners Court. Saturday, January 1, 2022. The primary election is March 1, 2022. Previously, she was a community news and breaking news reporter for the Austin American-Statesman. Harris County judge Lina Hidalgo talks to her supporters at an primaries election night party, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Houston. 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. For the latest and best fromChron,sign up for our daily newsletter here. This is a developing story. ), LIVE RESULTS TRACKER: Texas 2022 midterm elections: Live results from Abbott vs. Beto, Hidalgo vs. Mealer and more. Many pundits have said these races are too close to call, and early vote returns reflect that these races are tight, Sims said. Oct. 12, 2022. 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. Monday, February 14, 2022. A new study says yes. Lina Hidalgo defeated incumbent Ed Emmett and Eric Gatlin in the general election for Harris County Judge on November 6, . ", Before closing out her speech, Hidalgo turned attention to any who don't believe she won her reelection fair and square. For the latest and best fromChron,sign up for our daily newsletter here. 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. Against the newcomer, Hidalgo's campaign appeared unworried about Mealer's prospects and trusted voters would secure her position again. Q&A: Get to know Harris County judge candidates Mealer, Hidalgo This is due to Hidalgo facing scrutiny over allegations of not doing enough to combat a rise in crime and an ongoing lawsuit over an $11 million COVID-19 outreach . Candidate Information | Hidalgo County, TX - Official Website 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. 5 Deputy Corporal Charles Galloway. 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. 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. 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. Our goal is to provide voters with impeccable, transparent and timely service for a wide variety of county, city, school, state and federal constitutional elections. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo saw her most challenging year in politics in 2022. The Democratic incumbent has touted her response to the COVID-19 pandemicincluding supporting measures like drive-thru voting to help make it easier to voterecord investments in the county toward early childhood education, and creation of a legal defense fund for immigrants under her leadership. He initially joined the paper through the Hearst Journalism Fellowship program after covering the same beats for the San Antonio Express-News. Hidalgos Republican opponent, Alexandra del Moral Mealer raised 4x the amount of fundraising money in her bid. Hidalgo has scoffed at Mealers police hiring pledge, pointing to the countys more than 400 unfilled law enforcement positions. Republicans Have Their Knives Out for Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo We are a membership-based organization and our strength is found in the participation of our over eight thousand members. 2022 Election Guide: Harris County and Texas races to watch 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. Hidalgo reported having $2 million in her campaign account, giving her a slight edge over Mealers $1.7 million cash on hand. . 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. "Right now the county judge race is in a . Fellow Democrat Adrian Garcia also secured another term as Precinct 2 commissioner, defeating Republican Jack Morman, who held the seat before Garcia won it four years ago. 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. 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. Hidalgo, Garcia cruise through primary, while incumbent judges struggle In addition to the county judge race, Republican Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle is running against Democrat Lesley Briones, and Democratic Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia is in a rematch with Republican Jack Morman, the former commissioner he narrowly ousted four years ago. 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. The two emerged as victors in a nine-person primary election last month, with Mealer capturing 29 percent to Martinez's 26 percent. In an interview, Mealer acknowledged Trump lost the 2020 election and said that, barring any obvious evidence of impropriety, she would accept the results in November if she loses. ", Yesterday, the people of Harris County chose optimism over fear & people over politics. Harris County Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria said some paper ballots got wrinkled and jammed, but most votes would be counted on time. Emmett left office in 2019. Q&A with Harris County judge candidate Alexandra Mealer. Turnout in the top 10 majority Black ZIP codes was down 15 percent from 2018, for example. With 205 of 259 precincts reporting in the Democratic primary, Ruben Ramirez was leading in the race for U.S. Representative . 2023 Commissioner's Court Meetings Calendar. Moreover, Patrick confronted Hidalgo at the event and accused her of defunding the police despite increasing the law enforcement budget since 2019. LUPE is a nonprofit organization that helps the community organize for and win a better quality of life. 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. LUPE was founded in 1989 by farmworker and civil rights leaders Cesar E. Chavez and Dolores Huerta. The redistricting also cost him familiarity with voters, essentially switching the areas covered by Precincts 3 and 4. 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. Hidalgo County Courthouse 100 North Closner. 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. You can't just look the other way on so many issues.". Sen. Ted Cruz, who endorsed Mealer showed up at Mealer's election watch party. 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. Is Whataburger healthy? 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. BY THE NUMBERS: Republicans say violent crime is up, Dems say it's down. Martin trailed by a small margin, while the rest trailed by larger amounts. 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. Election mishaps and conflicting court rulings introduced a degree of uncertainty about when the results would become official. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton challenged it after Rogers' ruling, prompting the intervention by the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court. Are ticket costs pricing Houston Astros fans out of Opening Day? That's why tonight we are hosting a forum with the candidates for Hidalgo County Judge in the Democratic Party Primary. Five lower-ballot Republicans had narrow advantages for criminal or civil court benches, though Democrats were leading in most contests. Hidalgo has maintained that the scandal was a politically motivated attack and has publicly defended her aides. 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. Welcome to Hidalgo County! Running for Local Offices; Notable Links . 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. She enjoys binge-watching anime and films makeup tutorials in her spare time. Vendor Portal . Updated: . She was previously a political reporter with the Texas Signal. In Precinct 2, former commissioner Jack Morman and Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton led three other candidates. Hidalgo's reelection campaign also suffered a blow following an unexpected endorsement from the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board co-signing Mealer. Ballotpedia's 2022 elections analysis. "We've worked for a commissioners court that looks like our county and we've worked to make sure that diversity is represented throughout the leadership of county government," she said. It doesn't need to be that way. As many of you know, I am not a stranger to public service. Hidalgo cited the two Republicans blockade of a new tax rate as justification, saying they endangered vital county services. 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. Hidalgo's conservative commissioners court colleagues have accused the judge of "defunding the police," a claim she has fiercely denied. Mealer is trying to take full advantage, blanketing the airwaves with campaign ads and outspending the incumbent overall. Lina Hidalgo reelected as Harris County judge - msn.com Harris County judge Lina Hidalgo greets her supporters at a primaries election night party at Axelrad Beer Garden, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Houston. I also want to thank Ms. Mealer for a hard-fought campaign & her military service. Hidalgo touts among her . 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. 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, a Democrat, and Pct. The national environment a key factor in the outcome of the county judge race, political experts say now appears to be shifting back in favor of Republicans. Like most other candidates, Mealer is accepting campaign donations from county contractors.