History of Lina Hidalgo in Timeline

Lina Hidalgo is a prominent political figure serving as the county judge of Harris County, Texas, the third most populous county in the United States. Notably, she is the first woman and first Latina elected to this position. Despite its name, the role of county judge in Texas is primarily an executive one, with Hidalgo acting as the county's chief executive and emergency manager. Her responsibilities include managing a substantial budget exceeding $4 billion. Hidalgo's election marked a significant milestone in representation for women and the Latino community in Harris County.

February 19, 1991: Birth of Lina Hidalgo

Lina Maria Hidalgo was born on February 19, 1991.

2013: Graduation from Stanford University

Lina Hidalgo graduated from Stanford University with a degree in political science in 2013. Her honors thesis was titled "Tiananmen or Tahrir? A Comparative Study of Military Intervention Against Popular Protest."

2016: Shift in Career Aspirations

Inspired by the 2016 election, Lina Hidalgo decided to put her academic pursuits on hold and run for public office, shifting her focus from healthcare and criminal justice.

2016: 2016 Presidential Election as Comparison

The 2016 election turnout was lower than the early voting numbers by October 30, 2020, demonstrating a substantial increase in voter participation in the 2020 election cycle in Texas.

January 2018: Time Magazine Cover Feature

Lina Hidalgo was featured on the cover of Time magazine in January 2018, highlighting women running for office.

2018: Elected as Harris County Judge

In 2018, Lina Hidalgo was elected as Harris County Judge, defeating incumbent Ed Emmett. This made her the first woman and Latina to hold the office. Her platform focused on flood control, criminal justice reform, and government transparency.

March 2019: Criticism over Bilingual News Conference

Hidalgo faced criticism in March 2019 for speaking in both English and Spanish during a news conference about a chemical fire, with some critics making disparaging remarks.

December 2019: Forbes 30 Under 30 Recognition

In December 2019, Lina Hidalgo was named one of Forbes 30 under 30 in Law and Policy.

March 2020: COVID-19 Response: Closure of Bars and Restaurants

In March 2020, Hidalgo ordered the closure of bars and restaurants as part of her early public health measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 2020: COVID-19 Response: Mask Mandate

In April 2020, Lina Hidalgo mandated the use of face masks in public for Harris County residents in an attempt to control the spread of COVID-19. This decision faced criticism from some Republicans at the state and federal levels.

October 30, 2020: Record Early Voting Turnout in Texas

By October 30, 2020, early voting turnout in Texas had already exceeded the total number of votes cast in the entire 2016 presidential election in the state. Hidalgo has been credited with increasing voter turnout, especially among lower-propensity voters.

2020: Appearance at Democratic National Convention

Lina Hidalgo appeared in video montages during the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

March 2021: Controversy over Elevate Strategies Contract

In March 2021, a controversy arose over an $11 million contract awarded to Elevate Strategies for COVID-19 vaccine outreach, with allegations of ties between Hidalgo and the company.

September 2021: Termination of Elevate Strategies Contract

In September 2021, Harris County terminated the contract with Elevate Strategies.

April 2022: Indictment of Hidalgo's Staffers

In April 2022, three of Hidalgo's staffers were indicted by the Harris County District Attorney in connection to the Elevate Strategies contract controversy.

November 2022: Completed Ironman Triathlon

Hidalgo completed an Ironman Triathlon in November 2022.

2022: Carnegie Corporation Great Immigrant Award

Lina Hidalgo was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrant Award in 2022.

July 2023: Leave of Absence for Depression Treatment

In July 2023, Hidalgo announced a temporary leave of absence to undergo treatment for clinical depression.

November 9, 2023: New Public Corruption Investigation Launched

On November 9, 2023, Texas Rangers opened a new public corruption investigation into Hidalgo's office, issuing three search warrants to locate records they believe were not disclosed or possibly destroyed in prior investigations.