The Latest Breaking News from Harris County

Publishing note: We will not be sending a Nov. 24 edition in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, but our coverage of election-related legislation and news will resume on Dec.1. 

The judge found that Harris County’s elections office made mistakes and violated the state’s Election Code — but that didn’t affect the outcomes of several 2022 races. He also tossed all but one Republican lawsuit challenging the results.

Judge Andrea Beall ruled Tuesday that the prosecutors, Brian Wice and Kent Schaffer, are owed the $300-an-hour rate by the county that they were promised when they started on the case in 2015.

The audit does not suggest the outcome of the election would have changed despite “multiple failures.”

The county’s top elected official will be discharged from a mental health facility this weekend and plans to return to work on Oct. 2 after two weeks of outpatient therapy.

Despite a vast array of health resources, Black infants in Harris County are about twice as likely to die before their first birthday as those from other racial groups.

Patrick’s previous appointment — Marc Brown, a former state appeals court judge in Harris County — declined the role after the Tribune inquired about a political donation he made.

The ruling means the November elections in the state’s largest county will be overseen by two other county officials. Legislators targeted Harris County’s elections department after taking issue with the way the 2022 elections were run.

On Aug. 15, the Texas attorney general’s office appealed a district judge’s decision blocking SB1750, a bill transferring all powers and duties of the county elections administrator to the county tax assessor-collector and county clerk in counties with a population of more than 3.5 million.

Texas Republicans passed measures this year to eliminate Harris County’s top election job and give the Republican secretary of state power to take oversight of elections in Houston

14 of the 15 bills with activity this week are in states with Democratic trifectas.