Government

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo confirmed on Monday, September 16, that she will not seek reelection in 2026, honoring a promise she made during her first campaign to serve only two terms. Her announcement comes at a time of political tension and fiscal debate, with the county preparing to vote on a multibillion-dollar budget that will shape services for more than 4.5 million residents.

“When I took office in 2019, I set out to build a county government that works for everyone — not just the powerful and well-connected,” Hidalgo shared via social media. “Together, we’ve made incredible progress through unprecedented challenges.”

In an exclusive interview with ABC13’s Melanie Lawson, Hidalgo stood by her earlier commitment:

“The first time I was elected, I said immediately, ‘I don’t want to do this for 30 years. I don’t want to have more than two terms.’”

Hidalgo also dismissed speculation that she might be eyeing Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia’s seat, affirming her support for Garcia and other Democratic candidates. While she confirmed she will not run for office in this election cycle, she left the door open for future public service.

“If the voters will have me, I’d like to be in elected office again,” she said. “I think that with everything I’ve been through, I have learned so much about how to be an elected official and make it sustainable."

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A Defining Era for Harris County

Elected at age 27 in 2018, Hidalgo became the first woman to serve as Harris County Judge and only the second woman elected to the Commissioners Court. Over the course of nearly two terms, she has helped reshape the role of county government, emphasizing proactive flood control, criminal justice reform, public health investment, and early childhood education.

Her tenure saw the county through historic challenges, including multiple natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. Major accomplishments include:

• Flood Resilience: Securing $1 billion in flood control funding and implementing a “worst-first” prioritization model using the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index.

• Disaster Response: Creating the Disaster Alliance to channel recovery funding quickly and equitably—raising $5.2 million after Hurricane Beryl.

• COVID Relief: Launching rental assistance, legal aid, domestic violence funds, and childcare support using federal aid.

• Early Childhood: Investing $149 million in ARPA funds for early childhood education—believed to be the largest such local investment nationwide.

• Mental Health & Public Safety: Expanding the Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART) to handle 20,000+ nonviolent calls and launching jail diversion programs for youth and adults.

• Sustainability: Passing the Climate Justice Action Plan and leading Harris County into national clean energy initiatives.

• Housing & Homelessness: Investing $95 million in housing-first programs, contributing to a 21% drop in homelessness since 2019.

Hidalgo’s leadership has been nationally recognized with awards from TIME Magazine, Forbes, and the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation.

Budget Showdown Amid Departure

Her announcement not to run again comes as Harris County prepares to vote on the FY2026 budget—a process now at the center of intense debate. Hidalgo has repeatedly warned of a $200 million-plus funding gap, citing increased costs for public safety, health care, indigent defense, and inflation-driven services, compounded by what she calls an unfunded $100 million pay raise for law enforcement approved earlier this year.

“There’s a saying that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Hidalgo said in a recent statement. “Some Commissioners want to say they have balanced the budget, eliminated our $200M+ deficit and passed raises for law enforcement – all without raising taxes or reducing services. That gives residents a false sense of security.”

She has called for more transparency and a public discussion on whether voters are willing to fund these long-term expenses, rather than using temporary cuts or accounting shifts.

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Commissioners Push Back on Deficit Narrative

The other four members of Commissioners Court—Lesley Briones (Pct. 4), Tom Ramsey (Pct. 3), Adrian Garcia (Pct. 2), and Rodney Ellis (Pct. 1)—have publicly challenged Hidalgo’s framing of a massive deficit.

Commissioner Adrian Garcia has stated unequivocally: “No resident is facing programs that are being cut. The public will continue to see the same level of service.” He pointed to the preservation of funding for library hours, public health programs, early childhood initiatives, and infrastructure maintenance.

Commissioner Lesley Briones has released a savings-focused proposal that she says will balance the budget without service reductions or tax hikes. The plan includes cost shifts, hiring freezes, better procurement practices, and targeted department offsets totaling over $200 million in savings.

Commissioner Tom Ramsey has echoed these views, framing the situation as a manageable shortfall—not a crisis—and arguing that voters should not be alarmed by projections of sweeping service cuts.

Commissioner Rodney Ellis, often politically aligned with Hidalgo, has not publicly embraced the $200 million figure either. Instead, he has focused on protecting investments in racial equity, justice reform, and infrastructure, encouraging a long-view approach to budgeting.

While the four commissioners agree that rising costs and future obligations require attention, they collectively argue that the FY2026 budget can be balanced without jeopardizing critical programs. Hidalgo, in contrast, has said that some of their claimed savings are either theoretical or dependent on future court votes—and may not hold up long-term.

Reflecting on Her Tenure

Hidalgo has faced both acclaim and controversy during her nearly seven years in office. Earlier this summer, she was formally censured by the Court—a first for a Harris County Judge—after walking out of a meeting over a tax policy dispute. She has also drawn criticism for her confrontational style and for bringing children into Commissioners Court to advocate for early education funding.

Still, she remains unapologetic about the causes she’s championed.

“You know who votes and who endorses? It ain't the kids, but somebody needs to speak for them,” she said in her ABC13 interview.

“I don’t think anybody does things perfectly. There are things I could have done better, and there are some things we did very well. And the fact of the matter is, we move on.”

With the final vote on the FY2026 budget scheduled for Wednesday, September 18, Hidalgo says she plans to finish her term focused on the work ahead.

“I’m excited to keep building on that progress through the end of my term,” she said. “After that, I look forward to staying engaged in politics and finding new ways to serve the people of Texas.”

Stay Informed

The final FY2026 budget vote will take place September 18, 2025, during Commissioners Court. For budget details or to register to speak, visit agenda.harriscountytx.gov. For regional updates, follow My Neighborhood News.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.