HOUSTON – The ongoing feud between Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo over her allegations of mistreatment by security personnel continued into Thursday.
Late Wednesday night, Hidalgo released two audio recordings and two video recordings of the incident she says occurred between her and rodeo security.
OUR FIRST REPORT: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo alleges being shoved by RodeoHouston security over $425 seat dispute
The judge said she was physically shoved and threatened by security staff when she attended the Megan Moroney concert at NRG Stadium with several guests.
In the video, Hidalgo can be heard going back and forth with two men who appear to be officers or security at the event.
Thursday afternoon, Judge Hidalgo announced on Facebook that the RodeoHouston executive committee had voted to revoke her from her “ex-officio director status.”
RodeoHouston later confirmed the revocation, adding that Hidalgo had also been stripped of all her position’s previous privileges besides voting.
Latest HLSR Statement
After Judge Hidalgo’s new audio and video files were released, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo issued an updated press release.
It was signed by the two rodeo leaders Hidalgo’s letter yesterday was addressed to: HLSR Chairwoman of the Board Pat Mann Phillips and President/CEO Chris Boleman.
In the one-page letter, rodeo officials provided additional details on the background and events of the dispute from their perspective. HLSR stated that officials were notified of Hidalgo’s intention to attend the Megan Moroney concert on March 10 — the same day of the event.
Because the performance was completely sold out, rodeo officials reportedly informed Hidalgo that she could not be granted chute wristbands and would have to settle for suite seating.
“We have paying guests who invest in [the chute seat] experience, and our volunteers and staff work hard to ensure those guests receive what they paid for. Tickets at any level have not been requested by any previous elected official in Houston or Harris County,” HLSR officials said.
NEW: "We are very disappointed in Judge Hidalgo's actions..." | RodeoHouston has just released new details on the dust up with Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, which resulted in her removal from the Megan Moroney concert earlier this week. pic.twitter.com/boSbCjzeWm
— KPRC 2 Bryce Newberry (@KPRC2Bryce) March 12, 2026
Despite being informed of her limited access, HLSR said Hidalgo attempted to bring guests — who also lacked chute wristbands — down to the dirt area. Officials said the judge was made aware of the credential she lacked and was ultimately escorted away safely with her group.
The statement also referenced Hidalgo’s social media posts following the incident, noting that the rodeo is “very aware of the statements the Judge has made publicly about this visit.”
“To reiterate, she did not have the required tickets and wristbands to access the chute seats. While we regret how the Judge may feel about the situation, the safety of guests is our top priority and our staff responded as best they could,” officials wrote.
HLSR added that it plans to thank its volunteer gatekeepers and law enforcement staff for the professionalism they displayed during their interactions with Hidalgo.
“Our volunteers and staff are not guided in their decisions by what someone’s name is or whether a person is a woman or Hispanic as falsely stated in her message,” the statement read.
The statement also confirmed reporting by KPRC 2’s Bryce Newberry Wednesday night that Hidalgo had been gifted 21 chute tickets during the 2026 rodeo season — with an estimated value of nearly $9,000.
Officials also confirmed the judge had attended three prior rodeo concerts: J Balvin, Dwight Yoakam, and Luke Bryan.
READ THE FULL HLSR LETTER HERE
Lina’s Latest Facebook Post
At 3:44 p.m. Thursday, Hidalgo released a new Facebook post.
In the post, Hidalgo claimed she has received security footage regarding the incident, but her team had not yet found “any relevant footage.”
She also said she had received word that the HLSR executive committee met Thursday and voted to revoke Hidalgo’s “Ex-Officio Director status and its privileges” — a leadership role that the judge repeatedly cited as the reason she believed she had access to the chute area of the rodeo’s concert.
NEW: Lina Hidalgo says on Facebook she has received security footage of her incident at the RodeoHouston Megan Moroney concert but hasn't found any "relevant footage." She adds that she has now learned her Ex-Officio Director status and its privileges have been revoked. @KPRC2
— KPRC 2 Bryce Newberry (@KPRC2Bryce) March 12, 2026
After Hidalgo’s newest Facebook post was released, HLSR sent KPRC 2’s Bryce Newberry the following statement:
Lina’s ex-officio status has been revoked.
Per Rodeo, the status came with 1 gold personalized badge, 1 gold guest badge, 1 parking pass, all the privileges of the board except for voting.
Background on the Feud
Hidalgo first mentioned the incident in a Facebook post Tuesday night, which was deleted shortly thereafter.
On Wednesday, a RodeoHouston source sent KPRC 2’s Deven Clarke the following statement:
“On March 10, during the sold-out Megan Moroney concert, Judge Lina Hidalgo attempted to access the dirt area without a valid chute seat ticket. Additionally, she attempted to bring several guests, also without chute seat tickets. Rodeo security advised that dirt access is limited to chute seat ticket holders only, a premium ticket priced at $425 and the group was directed back to their ticketed seating.”
Several hours after the rodeo’s response, Hidalgo released a new two-page letter on Facebook detailing the incident from the previous night.
In the letter, she said she was denied access to the dirt area because she did not have a wristband, something she said surprised her because she has never needed one in the past.
“I have always been allowed on the dirt based on the county’s relationship with the rodeo, regardless of wristband,” Hidalgo wrote in the letter. “Nobody has ever told me I needed a special pass to access the dirt.”
She also recounted a moment when a young girl in her group was allegedly heckled by a man in the crowd. When the child’s mother asked rodeo officials to intervene, Hidalgo wrote that they responded, “Well, I told you to leave,” a request Hidalgo said had never previously been made.
“I felt disrespected, threatened and physically unsafe, as did my guests and the kids,” Hidalgo wrote. “While I appreciate the work that the rodeo staff and volunteers do to manage such a large event, I cannot be complacent.”
KPRC 2’s Bryce Newberry also spoke with a different RodeoHouston source Wednesday night who confirmed the following information about Hidalgo’s participation in the 2026 rodeo:
- Lina Hidalgo had suite tickets to Megan Moroney.
- Since chute seats were sold out, officials asked her to return to the suite multiple times. Eventually, they asked her to leave altogether when she refused to return to her assigned suite.
- Lina Hidalgo is the only elected official to ask for chute tickets in the 2026 Rodeo season.
- So far this Rodeo season, Lina Hidalgo has visited the Rodeo at least 3 other times and been given 21 chute tickets for free, which have a total value of nearly $9,000.