HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- As early voting began Monday, a new poll revealed how tight the race is for Harris County judge. Its our 10th year participating in Amplify, and to celebrate, weve got $15,000 in matching funds from four generous Tribune supporters. Greg Abbott when he took the authority to enact pandemic restrictions away from local officials, unsuccessfully pleading with Abbott to take stronger action as COVID patients overwhelmed many Houston hospitals. The number of homicides in Harris County grew to 566 in 2020 a 42% increase from the previous year, before COVID-19 hit. Before, flood projects too often left very impacted but less wealthy communities behind. I watched as petty crime in my neighborhood turned into violent crime, and our local officials refused to even acknowledge the problem, let alone try to find solutions to immediately address the issue. "It's not a particularly difficult thing. Alexandra del Moral Mealer will face Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo in November Mealer, a 37-year-old former Army captain, garnered a little over 75% of the votes in the Republican Party. She is connecting Mealer and former PresidentDonald Trump closely together. The Commissioners Court also approves the budget and sets the tax rate for the hospital district, which is charged with the responsibility for providing acute medical care for citizens who otherwise would not receive adequate medical services. Houston billionaire Jeffery Hildebrand and wife Melinda also gave Mealer $350,000. As of 9:20 a.m. Wednesday with 100% of the precincts reporting, Hidalgo, the Democrat, leads Mealer by just under 16,000 votes. HARRIS COUNTY, Texas Democratic incumbent Judge Lina Hidalgo will serve another term as county judge for Texas' most populous county after Republican challenger Alexandra del Moral. If you'd like to sign up now, fill out the form below and we will add you as soon as we finish the transition. "This is a statistical dead heat," Mark Jones, Rice University political science professor, said. ", SEE ALSO: Houston-area law enforcement getting 'first-of-its-kind' to combat rise in crime. "Didn't really understand what that change was, chief of it being petty crime turning to violent crime.". Democrat Erica Davis announced her run for Harris County Judge, joining 11 other challengers in the race to unseat Lina Hidalgo. The race pins current Democratic County JudgeLina Hidalgo against Alex Mealer, a Republican endorsed by Senator Ted Cruz. Originally from Northern Virginia, Rachel is an avid soccer fan and unabashedly loves reality TV. Democrats also look to be winners in the two county commissioner seats as well, as incumbent Adrian Garcia leads former commissioner Jack Morman 52.6% (105,653) to 47.4% (95,363) in the Precinct 2 commissioners race, while Lesley Briones defeats Republican incumbent Jack Cagle 51.6% (121,391) to 48.4% (113,774). Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. The biggest issue facing Harris County is the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester. He was born in Port Arthur, Texas and has lived in Harris County for 38 years. Mom of 2, stabbed 8 times, is making most of second chance at life, Mom's bond raised months after being charged with role in son's death, Mom's purse snatched while picking up child from daycare, police say. Tags Harris county commissioners Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo Lina Hidalgo. RELATED: 'This Week In Texas' puts spotlight on Harris County Judge's race, "I don't think Houston or Texas is different from most parts of the country," Alex Bunin, the chief public defender in Harris County, said. by Joshua Fechter To those who are skeptical about my ability to execute my campaign promises, I would just say that if you think I am moving fast on the campaign trail, imagine how fast I can run once in office with a full team behind me," Alexandra Mealer statement on new poll said. It is a complex issue with no easy solution, but as we get closer to going to the polls, there is no doubt, based on recent surveys and polling, that crime and public safety will be a factor in how Harris County voters cast their ballots. Terms of Service. We made developers follow the strictest water detention standards so that as the county grows it doesnt flood more. How will you work with your colleagues on the court to get things done? If they fail to retake the seat, they fear it could be curtains for them in the states most populous county Harris residents account for 16% of the states population and that could make it harder to maintain their hold on statewide power. Harris County Judge's race is a "Statistical Dead Heat" New. In an interview this past summer, the Republican nominee for Harris County Judge, Alexandra del Moral Mealer, said crime was a big reason she threw her hat into the race. Precinct 5 Ted Heap. Submit application to: [1] The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas has jurisdiction in Harris County. there are two men on the ballot running for Fort Bend County Judge. Its not a matter of adding more boots, Hidalgo said. Someone running on lets purge the rolls and 'I dont believe Trump lost.' I think that's a little misleading in that we have many open positions in law enforcement that need to be filled.". Weve made significant progress on the backlog with a $17 million investment to add additional judges to the bench and fund technical improvements that allow cases to move faster. Lina Hidalgo, a rising Democratic star, faces a tough reelection race to lead Harris County The Houston region's high number of homicides, the state's new abortion ban and a flood of campaign. Mealer raised more than $4.9 million from July 1 to Sept. 29, according to her latest campaign finance report dwarfing the $301,000 that Emmett raised in a similar time frame during his unsuccessful 2018 reelection campaign. Troy Nehls (who won reelection to the U.S. House), challenged Georges standing with local small businesses, especially after the pandemic. "During the pandemic, there were some areas of crime that did increase. Candidate John Grace Challenges Judge Ann-Marie Carruth for Lubbock County's 72nd District Court Seat. Mealer sent a social media post conceding the race on Wednesday . Building an early childhood education system that gives every child in our county a fair start in life. For updates on this story, follow Nick Natario on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Both options are priced the same. A West Point graduate and ex-Army captain who served for a decade in Afghanistan, Mealer has put Hidalgo on the defensive over the countys crime numbers which mirror trends seen in most major U.S. metropolitan areas during the COVID-19 pandemic and a criminal court backlog that dates back to Hurricane Harvey, before Hidalgo took office. In the Nov. 8. election, Judge Jason Cox of Harris County Probate Court 3 will face Republican candidate Rory Olsen, who was judge of the same court for several four-year terms. Rene Cross, executive director of the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston, said Hidalgo is very popular among Democrats and very unpopular among Republicans. When I launched my campaign in November of 2021, public safety was my top priority. Hidalgo's supporters worry about voter rights, racial equity and abortion. . The race figured to be tight as Mealer, the Army veteran and West Point graduate who went to Harvard Law School, ran hard as the Republican challenger against Hidalgo to fight crime and put more resources into law enforcement in the county. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Here is what the Hidalgo campaign sent to ABC13: "Judge Hidalgo successfully led Harris County through natural disasters and a global pandemic - all while making record-breaking investments in public safety and overhauling systems that did a disservice to our county. Harris County Judge's race is a "Statistical Dead Heat". And so I think it makes it really hard to argue that its due to any one person or one partys policies.. Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. Tags chemical disaster Deer Park East Palestine train derailment Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo hazardous waste Texas Molecular. Don't miss the crucial news and insights you need to make informed legal decisions. Lina - you raised your hand and said you wanted to lead this County, stop talking to your national donors and get up on stage with me and defend your policies to the voters of Harris County., RELATED: Public safety a top priority in race for Harris County judge. No Republican Party candidates filed to run. Precinct 8 Phil Sandlin. Its much broader, its national. Hidalgo, meanwhile, had a larger pool of donors but raised less than a third of Mealers haul from July through September about $1.5 million. "I think it's very political and it's basically split among the parties," Bunin said. Chris Watson. Aimed to help Insurers prevent, prepare and prevail In adjudicating complex claims, negotiating settlements and winning cases. The Judge overseeing this case is ROBERTS, KATHLEEN H. The case status is Disposed - Other Disposed. Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates Shes pointing out a campaign platform thats since been deleted by Mealer, detailing her plans to clean voter rolls. Dave Grohl cooks barbecue for hundreds at shelter, Chocolate peanut butter cups recalled nationwide, Republicans vow to block Biden FAA pick as Democrats, MLB could take over broadcasting of Astros, others, Star-studded lineup set for March Madness Music Festival, Buydowns can lower mortgage rates. License our industry-leading legal content to extend your thought leadership and build your brand. Updated For more of The Ben Domenech Podcast: https://bit.ly/3SoYZkE. Resources like these are made possible by the generosity of our community of donors, foundations, and corporate partners. Hidalgo, in turn, has attacked Mealer for not publicly taking a position on the states blanket ban on abortions in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade earlier year. campaign spokesperson, Toni Harrison said. I want people to participate whether they vote for me or not. Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, Runbeck Election Services, and a slew of other election officials, mayors, judges, city councilman, and county supervisors in the state of receiving bribes from the Sinaloa cartel. And the two reasons I chose to enter this race, crime and government corruption, are the top two issues for the vast majority of voters in our county. A longtime county resident, Schultz said she began her legal career in the county in 1991 after receiving her law degree and master's degree in English from Duquesne University. Hidalgo netted the overwhelming majority of her votes through straight-ticket voting, which was later abolished by the Texas Legislature, and beat Emmett by less than 2 percentage points. I couldnt tag him because hes been banned from Twitter, Hidalgo said. The county's chief administrator talks about her future and issues facing the county with Houston Matters . Poll reveals what are the top issues on voters' minds as they head to the polls. Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Judge Hidalgo surprised many by being elected as the first woman judge and defeating a Republican incumbent. HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A sticking point in the county's budget is funding law enforcement as democrats and republicans stake their positions on public safety heading into a hotly contested race for Harris County judge. That has absolutely nothing to do with the county judge.. Hidalgo has touted annual increases to the countys public safety budget since she took office and notes that violent crime has fallen year over year. Tuesday, March 1, 2022. . . Some critics, including Mealer, have blamed the backlog for the increase in crime, saying offenders are committing new crimes as they await trial for old ones a claim crime experts have said has scant evidence to back it up. Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. To Emmett, Hidalgos focus on abortion policies which county governments have little influence over is an attempt to avoid debate on the countys handling of violent crime on her watch. Its a matter of adding feet to the boots.. Houston Public Media is supported with your gifts to the Houston Public Media Foundation and is licensed to the University of Houston. Mealer says the money is in the wrong place. With early voting underway, Jones says the poll shows just how important voting is. Copyright 2023 ALM Global, LLC. We need to put everything we can into working through this backlog and getting the criminal justice system functioning.. Filing Window. Hidalgo has touted annual increases to the countys public safety budget since she took office and sought to paint Mealer as an election denier a label Mealer unequivocally rejects, as she says Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election. A recent Hobby School survey found that among white, Hispanic, and black voters, among women and men, Crime and Public Safety is across the board a consistent a top three issue in 2022. All Rights Reserved. According to data from the Texas Department of Public Safety, the number of violent crimes in Harris County fell 12% during the first nine months of this year compared with the same period last year. 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. What is the biggest issue facing Harris County right now, and how do you plan to address it? Get highlights, trending news, and behind-the-scenes insights from Houston Public Media delivered to your inbox each week. "The Republicans have taken on the mantle of we're standing against crime and they've said things like we need more police officers, constables, sheriff's deputies on the streets. RELATED: UH poll shows tight race for Harris County Judge. This case was filed in Martin County Florida Courts, Martin County Courthouse located in Martin, Florida. According to a 2020 Brand Keys Consumer . **Please note** If you are already signed up for the newsletter, you do not need to sign up again. Sep. 22, 2021 Updated: Sep. 23, 2021 9:19 a.m. 2 Humble ISD School Board president Martina Lemond Dixon announced Wednesday she is running for Harris County Judge as a Republican candidate. Website: www.oscargonzalesforharriscountyjudge.com Contact information: 713-208-5721 Warren A. Howell Experience: manager and owner of businesses for over 50 years in construction, manufacturing,. The industry-leading media platform offering competitive intelligence to prepare for today and anticipate opportunities for future success. Our priority on commissioners court will be public safety, and as long as we are in agreement that that is the top priority, we will be able to find ways to work together. Contact Us| Elections. Your Real Estate Legal and Brokerage Expert. Hildago, who opened a 10-point lead in recent polling, is accusing Mealer of being an election denier and is questioning whether she would respect the voting wishes of Harris County. Texas Molecular, the company contracted to dispose of the wastewater, informed Judge Lina Hidalgo Thursday that the first shipments had arrived by truck around Wednesday, February 15. "That is a key priority," Hidalgo said. Thats scary to me, thats scary to me win or lose, Hidalgo said. Perkins Coie Lays Off 58 Business Professionals, Cravath Set for English Law Debut with Shearman Double Partner Hire, Early Reports: 2023 Am Law 200 Financials, AI Has Gone Mainstream. Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team. Andrew Schneider is the senior reporter for politics and government at Houston Public Media, NPR's affiliate station in Houston, Texas. Abortion has really come to the forefront of peoples minds right now, Hidalgo said. Its okay, you may agree you may disagree, but the democracy depends on participation, Hidalgo said. Why are you running for the role of county judge? ABC13 reached out to both candidates about Monday's poll. The process of keeping voter rolls updated for relocations and deaths is an ongoing effort that is a primary responsibility of the county," said Mealer. It's a big answer. Precinct 2 Jerry Garcia. Prior to joining CI, Rachel graduated from Rice University in 2020 and worked as a freelance reporter. About Us| The race pins current Democratic. Early in the pandemic, Hidalgo publicly clashed with Gov. Mealer also received $100,000 from the hard-right Defend Texas Liberty PAC, backed by donors including West Texas oil magnates Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks and headed by former state Rep. Jonathan Stickland, a Bedford Republican. [The county] stripped the constables and the district attorney of their saving accounts during an unprecedented crime epidemic, and the other commissioners and denied the overwhelming majority of their budget requests. Four years after she unexpectedly ousted a well-liked Republican to lead the nations third-most-populous county, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is in a pitched reelection battle against a well-funded Republican opponent imperiling her partys hopes that the Democratic superstar could one day ascend to statewide office. "We anticipated our race would be close": Hidalgo campaign responds to new poll as well as her opponent. 8:20 AM Oct 6, 2022 CDT Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided. New numbers show the race between Lina Hidalgo and Alexandra Mealer is extremely tight. Jason Cox, the incumbent, is running against former judge Rory Olsen, a visiting probate judge and mediator. Hidalgo has rejected Mealers proposal, arguing that the county already has hundreds of unfilled law enforcement positions. The HCCLA logo is a registered trademark. We are confident voters agree with Judge Hidalgo's vision for Harris County, and they will re-elect her as county judge." Prepare and prevail in adjudicating complex claims, negotiating settlements and winning cases to. Judge and defeating a Republican endorsed by Senator Ted Cruz grows it flood. Unabashedly loves reality TV you are already signed up for the Southern of! Wrong place, is who is running for harris county judge 2022 against former Judge Rory Olsen, a probate... 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