Lucio Vasquez/Houston Public Media
The latest campaign finance filing by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo – who has not yet revealed whether she intends to seek a third term next year – shows her available cash on hand ballooned from $41,300 in January to more than $600,000 as of the end of June. But the progressive Democrat received only about $26,000 in donations during that span.
Almost all of the increase came from three refunds for legal services, including a nearly $601,000 refund on June 26 from Gerger Hennessy Martin & Peterson LLP. It’s a Houston-based law firm with expertise in government investigations, trials and appeals, according to its website.
Hidalgo’s campaign also reported a legal services refund of more than $42,000 from The Akers Firm on May 30 and a nearly $11,000 refund from Khalil Law PLLC on May 25.
The nature of the refunds was not immediately clear Wednesday as Hidalgo’s campaign, which also reported more than $141,000 in campaign expenditures for the filing period, did not respond to requests for comment and explanation.
“It’s rare that you see that on a campaign finance balance sheet,” said Brandon Rottinghaus, a University of Houston political science professor. “I honestly can’t think of another case where I’ve seen something like that happen. That’s really unusual.”
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Office holders and candidates had a Tuesday deadline to submit their campaign finance reports for the period spanning between January and June. The filings come eight months ahead of the March primary elections.
Whether or not Hidalgo runs for reelection, the field for the Democrat primary already includes former Houston Mayor Annise Parker and current city council member Letitia Plummer.
Among those who have declared their intentions to run for county judge – the top elected official in the county that includes Houston – Republican Aliza Dutt is leading the funding race, according to the campaign filings. The mayor of Piney Point, a small village in west Houston, reported more than $246,000 in funds on hand. However, Dutt also reported around $118,000 in outstanding loans.
About $90,000, around 35%, of Dutt’s funds came from 12 donors, including six donations of $10,000. Two of those donations came from leaders of William Bros Construction and another two came from leaders of Sprint Sand and Clay, both Houston-area construction companies.
Though the office is currently held by Hidalgo, her predecessor, Ed Emmett, was a Republican who held the office from 2007 to 2019.
Plummer, an at-large member of the Houston City Council, is the latest Democrat to throw her hat into the ring for the seat. Plummer did not submit her finance report by the 5 p.m. deadline Tuesday. She told Houston Public Media at a city council meeting Wednesday that she adheres to city deadlines for campaign finance filings, which are due in December, even though she’s running for a county office.
Parker, a fellow Democrat who served as Houston mayor from 2010 to 2016, reported $92,755 in cash on hand.
About $20,000 of Parker’s funds, more than one-fifth, came from Gilbert Garcia, a former mayoral candidate who is the managing partner of Houston-area investment firm Garcia Hamilton & Associates. Another $10,000 came from Richard Holt, a managing partner with Houston-area consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal. Frank Liu, president of real estate agency Lovett Commercial, donated $10,000 as well.
Collectively, more than 75% of Parker’s funds came from 10 donors.
“If candidates are raising money from a handful of donors, then it shows a depth of support, but not breadth of support,” Rottinghaus said. “That can change quickly, because obviously, you know, Parker hasn’t yet ramped up her fundraising operation, since the kind of campaign process is still pretty new, but this early support definitely is in keeping with how people raise money. … Fundraising 101 dictates that you start with your core supporters and then work your way out. That’s, I think, what she seems to be doing.”
Warren Howell, the owner of an insurance company, and Oscar Gonzales, a former sheriff’s deputy in Harris County, are the other Republican candidates vying along with Dutt for the party nomination. Gonzales reported $476 in available funds, while Howell reported $1,357 in available funds with $67,000 in outstanding loans.
Erica Lee Carter, daughter of the late U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, said in a recent social media post that she is considering a run for Harris County Judge, but only if Hidalgo does not seek reelection. Carter won a special election last November to complete her mother’s term in Texas’ 18th Congressional District.
