An individual talks about their mail-in main election poll on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Missouri Metropolis, Texas. The best profile Republican candidate who had sued in search of to overturn election leads to the nation’s third-most populous county, a Democratic stronghold in deeply purple Texas, has dropped her lawsuit, Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. Credit score: AP/Melissa Phillip
HOUSTON — The best profile Republican candidate who had sued in search of to overturn election leads to the nation’s third-most populous county, a Democratic stronghold in deeply purple Texas, has dropped her lawsuit.
Alexandra del Ethical Mealer was certainly one of 21 GOP candidates who had filed lawsuits difficult their losses in November’s election in Harris County, the place Houston is positioned. A lot of the lawsuits have been filed by candidates who misplaced judicial races.
The primary trial associated to the lawsuits — during which a candidate blamed her defeat on poll shortages and allegations that unlawful votes have been forged — occurred in August. A ruling in that lawsuit is pending.
Mealer had misplaced her bid to develop into Harris County choose, the county’s prime elected official who offers with spending and is accountable for native emergency response. She misplaced by greater than 18,000 votes to Lina Hidalgo, the Democratic incumbent.
In a press release on Thursday, Mealer mentioned she dropped her lawsuit as a result of the county pushed again on her efforts to get a full accounting of issues throughout November’s election.
Final yr’s midterm election skilled numerous issues, together with paper poll shortages and a few polling places opening late or having lengthy traces as a consequence of points with voting machines.
“My objective in submitting an election contest was to not relitigate my race, however somewhat to ensure future races are honest to all voters and candidates,” Mealer mentioned.
Mealer’s resolution got here after her authentic lawyer had withdrawn from the case as a result of she didn’t agree with Mealer’s claims of poll fraud within the election.
Harris County Lawyer Christian Menefee mentioned Mealer “unfold conspiracy theories in an try and overturn the desire of the voters. It’s time for the opposite dropping Republican candidates to drop their lawsuits as effectively.”
In addition to Mealer, one other GOP candidate additionally dropped his lawsuit on Thursday. One other candidate dropped his lawsuit final month. A GOP candidate who misplaced his race to be a state legislator from the Houston space had his election problem dismissed in January by the Texas Home speaker.
Related courtroom challenges have develop into extra widespread across the nation following baseless conspiracy theories unfold by former President Donald Trump and his supporters alleging the 2020 presidential election was stolen by President Joe Biden’s backers.
Harris County lately has develop into a recurring goal of latest Texas voting guidelines and restrictions handed by GOP lawmakers.
Earlier this yr, the Texas Legislature handed two election-related legal guidelines that solely influence Harris County. One permits the state to take over elections within the county if issues recur and the opposite eradicated the county’s prime election workplace.