HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — After losing the budget battle, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is eyeing the November elections and said she won’t be supporting one of her democratic colleagues.

Judge Lina Hidalgo urges people to vote

Last week, after one of the largest tax rate increases in recent county history passed, Hidalgo encouraged people to vote.

“As the composition of the court changed, I’m afraid it has put the county down a problematic financial path,” Hidalgo said. “I hope people get out and vote on November 3rd.”

At the time, ABC13 asked Hidalgo, a Democrat, if that meant she was advocating for republicans. She told ABC13 to circle back.

On Monday, ABC13 did. Not only did Eyewitness News learn who she won’t vote for, but also the efforts she made to try to block the tax rate vote.

Who Judge Hidalgo said she won’t vote for

Hidalgo isn’t on the ballot this November, but it doesn’t mean she’s shying away from those who are.

“I’m going to get in that voting booth, and you better believe I’m not going to vote for Commissioner Briones,” Hidalgo said.

Hidalgo wouldn’t say if she’s voting for Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones’ Republican opponent. Hidalgo said she won’t support Briones over her blocking a proposal to have voters decide whether to fund childcare programs and how the commissioner has spent other money.

ABC13 reached out to Briones’ office after our interview. They pointed us to her campaign team. ABC13 didn’t receive a response.

Last week, commissioners approved a $3.1 billion budget that budget officials said will increase the average homeowner’s property taxes by around $190 a year.

The three Democratic members of the court approved the tax rate. Commissioner Tom Ramsey, the lone Republican, did not.

Hidalgo used a note and possible quorum break to try to block the vote

During the vote, Hidalgo walked away. Four years ago, Ramsey and a former Republican commissioner didn’t show up for the tax rate vote.

Knowing this, Hidalgo said she hoped Ramsey would do something similar to deny a quorum, making a vote on the tax rate impossible.

“At some point, I passed him a note,” Hidalgo recalled. “My note said, ‘Have you spoken to anyone else about the tax rate vote? If not, can you and I speak?’ He said, ‘I did speak to somebody about it.’ The thing is, it’s not lawful for more than two of us to speak about a topic.”

ABC13 reached out to Ramsey’s office regarding the note and whether he considered a quorum break with Hidalgo. ABC13 didn’t receive a response.

Hidalgo doesn’t take accountability for a budget that’s ballooned by a billion

During Hidalgo’s eight years as the county’s chief executive, the budget has ballooned by more than a billion. She didn’t take responsibility for that during our interview.

Instead, she blamed growing appraisals, inflation, and commissioners approving deputy pay increases. She believes these issues have caught the public’s attention and could drive voters to the polls.

“We did a DOGE thing,” Hidalgo said. “There are always more efficiencies that can happen. Which is why I wanted to work on the budget more.”

With three months to go, here’s what Hidalgo said she’s focused on

The election isn’t all Hidalgo’s focused on. Hidalgo said she’s focused on Flock cameras, ethics reform, and emergency preparedness plans during her final three months after she decided not to seek re-election.

“I don’t know if there’s enough time for all of that,” Hidalgo said. “I do think it was the right decision. As far as what I’m doing next year, I’m not ready to share that. I’ll keep people posted.”

While Hidalgo said she won’t vote for her fellow Democratic colleague in the Precinct 4 race, she did say she supports the Democratic candidate for county judge, Letitia Plummer.

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