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 that she was mistreated and 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.
Later Friday afternoon, Sen. Bettencourt spoke to KPRC 2’s Bryce Newberry about why he chose to call for the judge’s resignation for the first time.
“The reason why I did this for the first time is, I’m very concerned about the erratic decision-making and the way that she is presenting herself in public,” Bettencourt said. “I don’t think she’s making rational decisions.”
Bettencourt’s statement, posted on social media, framed Hidalgo’s actions as part of a broader pattern of “bizarre behavior” that he said undermines confidence in her leadership.
Bettencourt said the rodeo confrontation was the latest example in what he described as an escalating pattern.
Reports from HLSR sources surfaced earlier this week saying Hidalgo had received nearly $9,000 worth of premium rodeo tickets, along with access to a private suite, as part of her rodeo leadership role before the dispute occurred.
Bettencourt said that made the situation particularly concerning.
“No one in the county would believe that their county judge would not be satisfied with $9,000 of free tickets from a charity in a private suite — and then go ask for more,” Bettencourt said. “It’s a real red flag.”
The Hidalgo-Rodeo dispute began earlier this week when the judge was denied access to a restricted premium section during the Megan Moroney concert.
Rodeo officials say she did not have the correct credentials for that area and was escorted out after refusing to comply with staff instructions.
Hours after the incident, Hidalgo publicly alleged she was shoved and mistreated by security and suggested that race and gender bias played a role in the encounter.
RodeoHouston officials strongly rejected those claims and said their employees acted appropriately.
OUR FIRST REPORT: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo alleges being shoved by RodeoHouston security over $425 seat dispute
Bettencourt, a Republican who represents parts of Harris County in the Texas Senate, said the issue goes beyond the rodeo dispute itself.
“I don’t think she’s making rational decisions,” Bettencourt said. “And that will really hurt us if we have an emergency during the summer, especially if we have a Category 4 or 5 hurricane.”
Under Texas law, the county judge serves as the top emergency management official for the county, overseeing disaster response and evacuation decisions.
Bettencourt said that responsibility is what ultimately led him to publicly call for Hidalgo’s resignation.
“She’s the one that’s going to be making evacuation decisions on whether millions of people stay or go if we have a major hurricane,” Bettencourt added.
He also praised former Harris County judges Robert Eckels and Ed Emmett for their leadership during past disaster events.
“It takes good rational judgment to do it,” Bettencourt said. “And I don’t even know if she’ll show up to make the decision. I don’t believe she has the capability of making those decisions.”
Bettencourt also dismissed Hidalgo’s claims that bias may have played a role in the rodeo dispute, calling the accusations “preposterous.”
“She blasted past all the stop signs, created a scene, and then tried to turn it into something about race and gender,” Bettencourt said. “It’s just all preposterous.”
Despite the political criticism, Bettencourt said his concerns are not partisan.
“I don’t care whether it’s a Democrat or Republican running emergency management,” he said. “I just want somebody that can make rational decisions.”
Hidalgo announced last year that she would not seek re-election in 2026, meaning her term as county judge will end next year.
As of Friday afternoon, she had not responded publicly to Bettencourt’s call for her resignation or withdrawn her allegations about the rodeo incident.
KPRC 2 has reached out to Hidalgo’s office for comment on Bettencourt’s statement and is awaiting a response.
According to multiple sources, as of Friday evening, Hidalgo was preparing to leave the United States on a pre-planned trade mission with the Greater Houston Partnership that includes stops in The Netherlands, Germany, and Portugal.