Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo was escorted off the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo grounds Thursday for a second time after attempting to access a VIP seating area without tickets during a Megan Moroney concert. The rodeo’s executive committee revoked her ex-officio director status, requiring Hidalgo to purchase tickets to enter like all other attendees.
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Hidalgo held a brief news conference outside NRG Stadium seeking security camera footage of her Tuesday night removal, when she tried to access the dirt floor area without proper credentials. Rodeo officials said she was asked multiple times to return to her assigned seating before being escorted out by security. She was again escorted to her vehicle Thursday after making a similar attempt.
In a letter to rodeo leadership, Hidalgo suggested her treatment was influenced by her being a Hispanic woman and alleged she was manhandled and threatened with arrest. She wrote, “White men have felt emboldened to treat others, particularly Hispanics, with physical force.”
Rodeo Chairwoman Pat Phillips and President Chris Boleman countered, emphasizing that access policies are applied equally to all. They noted Hidalgo was the only elected official to repeatedly request floor seats without proper authorization and described her allegations of discrimination as “absolutely false and insulting.”
Rodeo officials also confirmed Hidalgo purchased $9,000 in premium tickets for previous concerts featuring J Balvin, Dwight Yoakam, and Luke Bryan. Hidalgo has called for improved camera coverage at the venue and maintained public access to any footage related to the incidents.
As Harris County Judge, Hidalgo oversees the county’s administration and presides over a Commissioners Court that manages a budget exceeding $4 billion.
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