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 Mealer conceded the race Wednesday morning minutes after the final Election Day ballots were tallied.
The results on Election Day were delayed coming in. Polls were open until 8 p.m. due to a court order.
"Thank you to all those who supported our campaign for good governance," Mealer said in a tweet.
Mealer was a combat veteran who moved to Houston after serving in the U.S. Army. She is a West Point graduate and received her MBA and JD from Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School
Hidalgo thanked her challenger Mealer for a hard-fought campaign and her military service.
"Yesterday, the people of Harris County chose optimism over fear & people over politics. I want to thank each & every voter who showed up to make their voice heard this election. I also want to thank Ms. Mealer for a hard-fought campaign & her military service. Onward!"
Hidalgo has held the position since defeating then-incumbent and longtime County Judge Ed Emmett in 2018. That was her first time running for public office. The Colombian immigrant and Stanford graduate was the first Latina county judge.
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