HOUSTON — Harris County commissioners on Tuesday did not advance a resolution calling for the resignation of Lina Hidalgo after it failed to secure sufficient support during a meeting of the Commissioners Court.
The resolution, introduced by Republican Commissioner Tom Ramsey, primarily recognized the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo but included provisions urging Hidalgo to resign and issue a public apology following a recent incident at the event.
Commissioners Rodney Ellis and Lesley Briones supported language recognizing the rodeo but opposed the call for resignation. Ellis said concerns about an official’s conduct are better addressed privately, while Briones said accountability should be determined by voters and established legal processes rather than a symbolic resolution.
The measure had been delayed after a February rule change moved resolutions to separate business court meetings. It returned for consideration Tuesday but did not pass.
Hidalgo did not attend the meeting, marking her third consecutive absence from Commissioners Court sessions.
The resolution followed a dispute between Hidalgo and security personnel at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, where she and four guests attempted to enter a restricted area near a concert stage without proper credentials. Hidalgo said security personnel “manhandled” her and made her feel unsafe, while rodeo officials disputed that account.
After the incident, Ramsey and other Republicans, including state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, called for Hidalgo’s resignation. The rodeo’s board also voted to remove her from its board, a position tied to her role as county judge.
Hidalgo, a Democrat, serves as the county’s chief executive and has said she will not seek a third term. Her office did not respond to requests for comment.
