Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, cited what he believed to be a classic example of voter fraud on Saturday when he ordered a new election in a Houston-area judicial election nearly two years later.
A Houston judge ruled last month that more than 1,400 votes in the 2022 180th District Court election were invalid. The results were discarded That’s because the difference between the Democratic and Republican candidates was just 450 votes.
“Voter fraud is real, especially in Houston,” Abbott said. I have written On his former Twitter account, X, he posted, “The judge hearing the case has ordered a rerun of the election. Voter fraud must end.”
It would be held New elections for judicial officersHowever, an appeal of the ruling is expected.
Judge David Peoples said an investigation determined 983 votes cast in the 2022 election were invalid because the voters lived outside of Harris County or had other residency-related issues. Additionally, 445 voters did not present valid photo identification and 48 mail-in ballots did not have the required signatures or were not received by the deadline.
Democratic candidate Judge DaShawn Jones has held the judgeship since defeating Republican Tami Pierce in 2022. Jones was first elected in 2018 and is currently running for a seat on the Texas Supreme Court.
Judge Peoples’ decision last month was part of a series of resolutions challenging the 2022 election. The other 20 lawsuits did not result in a change in the election results or a new vote. The judge said a new vote was needed in the 180th District election because it was unclear who the invalid votes were cast for.
A date for new elections has yet to be set.
