Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has been the subject of local controversy this week after becoming involved in a public back-and-forth with officials from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Now, a state leader is calling for the judge to resign.
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Texas Sen. @TeamBettencourt (R-Houston) has called for Harris County Judge @LinaHidalgoTX to resign as the county leader "because of her latest bizarre behavior at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and then her totally unfounded attacks on others, spewing nonsensical claims… pic.twitter.com/9CwvQzfk39
— KPRC 2 Bryce Newberry (@KPRC2Bryce) March 13, 2026
The situation stems from Hidalgo’s allegations of mistreatment and being manhandled by rodeo security personnel during Monday night’s Megan Moroney concert.
RodeoHouston leaders have defended and praised their staff for what they described as professional and appropriate behavior toward a guest without proper tickets.
After both sides released multiple pointed statements, Hidalgo was ultimately stripped of her ex-officio director position at the rodeo — a role she cited as justification for her outrage over the situation.
On Friday, State Senator Paul Bettencourt issued a forceful public statement calling for Hidalgo to resign.
Bettencourt’s statement, delivered on his public social media platforms, frames Hidalgo’s actions as part of a broader pattern of “bizarre behavior” that he says undermines confidence in her leadership.
The controversy began earlier this week when Hidalgo was denied access to a restricted premium area at a sold-out concert at the rodeo. She was eventually escorted out after refusing to comply with staff instructions.
Hours after being removed, Hidalgo alleged she was “manhandled” and suggested race and gender bias played a role in how she was treated — claims the rodeo has strongly denied.
OUR FIRST REPORT: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo alleges being shoved by RodeoHouston security over $425 seat dispute
Bettencourt, a Republican lawmaker, seized on the dispute, arguing that Hidalgo’s “petulant and immature” conduct reflects deeper concerns about her fitness to serve.
“Here’s the bigger problem: As County Judge, she is, by Texas Legislature statute, the head of the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) for the nation’s third-largest county. We cannot just give the job to Mayor Whitmire if a Category 4 or 5 hurricane barrels down on us this summer, unfortunately,” Bettencourt said.
Bettencourt cited a recent leak from a RodeoHouston source to KPRC 2 reporter Bryce Newberry, which revealed Hidalgo’s extensive involvement in the 2026 rodeo — including nearly $9,000 worth of free premium tickets before the fallout.
Judge @LinaHidalgoTX’s behavior at @RodeoHoustonTX is so bizarre that this is the 1st time I've called for her resignation. No county resident should have an elected offical getting $9k of free tickets, a private suite, and then having a temper tantrum on the floor because she…
— Team Bettencourt (@TeamBettencourt) March 13, 2026
He also characterized Hidalgo’s public statements as “totally unfounded attacks on others” and accused her of “spewing nonsensical claims of racial bias” at the rodeo this year.
The senator also complimented former Harris County judges Robert Eckels and Ed Emmett for their poise in making “tough decisions” regarding evacuations during natural disasters.
He argued that Hidalgo does not have the ability to handle such situations.
“By any objective measurement, Lina Hidalgo does not have that same rational decision-making ability,” Bettencourt wrote. “The public would not even know if she would show up for duty, and this is a bipartisan problem for all to recognize.”
Hidalgo, who announced in 2025 that she will not seek re-election, has yet to respond to Sen. Bettencourt or retract her comments about the rodeo incident.
KPRC 2 has reached out to Hidalgo’s office for a response to Bettencourt’s new statement.