HOUSTON – Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is standing firm amid growing political pressure following a controversial incident at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
In an exclusive interview with KPRC 2’s Bryce Newberry, Hidalgo said she has no regrets about how she handled the rodeo dispute, where she claims she was manhandled by security while attempting to access premium dirt-level seats during a concert featuring Megan Moroney.
“I’m just going through what it is to be a politician in a divided time,” Hidalgo said.
The controversy has drawn sharp criticism from political opponents, including Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, who introduced a resolution calling on Hidalgo to apologize or resign.
The proposal stems directly from the rodeo incident, though no publicly released video or audio has substantiated claims of physical mistreatment.
Instead of focusing on the rodeo situation, Hidalgo used the interview to sound the alarm over major delays and funding gaps in critical flood control projects ahead of hurricane season.
Hidalgo says critics ‘twisting things’
When asked whether the backlash is politically motivated, Hidalgo stopped short of explicitly saying yes but suggested her account has been misrepresented.
“I would refer you to the letter. I was very clear on what happened,” she said. “I would say comments that are not consistent with what I’ve said are twisting things.”
READ THE FULL LETTER HERE: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo alleges being shoved by RodeoHouston security over $425 seat dispute
Pressed on whether she would handle the situation differently, Hidalgo was direct: “No.”
Despite the ongoing controversy, she acknowledged the political noise surrounding the situation.
“There’s a lot of clouds,” Hidalgo said. “I really came to talk about flood control, but … there’s just nothing to clear.”
Political pressure continues
As the controversy surrounding the rodeo incident lingers, Hidalgo said she has not yet endorsed a candidate in the race to succeed her, citing a demanding schedule and recent travel.
For now, she appears focused on moving forward — even as calls for accountability continue.
“I’ve had a lot of political attacks over my time in office,” she said. “It’s unfortunate, right, to have another set of political attacks. I’m used to it, so I’m okay, I’ll be okay, I’m focused on the flood control side of things. I can’t control what people say. We live in a free country, I’m happy for that and so, you know, people are gonna say and have a right to say whatever they want to say.”
Still, with hurricane season looming and more than a billion dollars in flood mitigation efforts hanging in the balance, Hidalgo made clear where she wants to turn the attention.
Flood control projects at risk
While the rodeo incident continues to garner headlines, Hidalgo emphasized that her primary concern is flood preparedness as hurricane season approaches.
“It’s a beautiful day today, but we know hurricane season’s coming up,” Hidalgo said. “I think it’s really important for people to know what’s going on.”
According to Hidalgo, 28 flood control projects relying on federal funding are at risk of missing deadlines, which could result in roughly $800 million being clawed back.
A spokesperson for the Harris County Flood Control District told KPRC 2 News after the interview with Hidalgo that the district is “confident” about being able to deliver the projects, 11 of which are expected to begin construction by the end of July.
These projects stem from post-Hurricane Harvey funding allocated through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“They’re being built too slowly,” Hidalgo said. “We’re at risk of missing the deadline. If we don’t meet it, the money gets clawed back.”
She pointed to strict federal requirements as a major hurdle.
“With HUD projects, you have to sequence things that normally could be done at the same time,” she said. “There’s a lot of red tape.”
Hidalgo added that it’s “unlikely” the county doesn’t have any fault in the delays.
“I’m still digging to see if there are delays within the way the flood control district is administering those federal funds. I believe that they need to do better and should be doing better in how they administer the funds that are entirely local, but that’s a conversation for another day,” she said.
In addition, Hidalgo revealed that 26 more flood mitigation projects — totaling about $400 million — are currently paused indefinitely due to lack of funding.
The HCFCD spokesperson said these projects are part of a 2018 bond program and all of them are in a good place to obtain grant funding with preliminary engineering done.
“There’s no funding,” she said bluntly. “Right now, it’s dead in the water.”
These projects include detention basins, channel improvements, and drainage infrastructure across multiple parts of Harris County.
Budget pressure and accountability
Hidalgo acknowledged that rising construction costs, inflation, and broader budget constraints have compounded the issue, warning that difficult financial decisions lie ahead.
“The budget is in a very difficult position,” she said. “I’m only one vote.”
She said she plans to push for reprioritizing county spending and has directed the Flood Control District to provide regular updates to Commissioners Court.
“Is this a systems thing we need to take up with the federal government or is this something that needs to be happening more efficiently locally?” she said.
Hidalgo also urged residents to hold elected officials accountable for delayed or stalled projects.
“You promised me this project. Where is it?” she said. “If you don’t deliver it, I’m not voting for you next time.”
Questions about leadership and absences
The interview also addressed concerns about Hidalgo missing recent Commissioners Court meetings.
She said her absence was due to leading international trade missions aimed at boosting economic development.
According to Hidalgo, those trips were funded through campaign dollars — not taxpayer money — and have already led to conversations about increased foreign investment interest.
While critics have questioned whether she would show up to make decisions in an emergency like a hurricane, Hidalgo said she has a good track record.
“I’m very proud of how we’ve managed all emergencies,” Hidalgo said. “It’s not just about how you respond — it’s about how you prepare.”