A Democrat judge indicted on felony vote-harvesting charges filed for reelection, exploiting a Texas legal loophole that lets suspended officials campaign while facing prison time.
Story Snapshot
- Suspended Frio County Judge Rochelle Lozano Camacho, indicted on three felonies, filed for reelection on December 5, 2025.
- Texas probe into ballot harvesting yields 15 indictments, targeting elderly and mail-in voters.
- State law permits her candidacy despite no-pay suspension by Judicial Conduct Commission.
- Primaries on March 3, 2026, precede her March 12 court date, testing voter accountability.
- Alleged scheme violates 2021 election reforms, with up to 10 years per charge.
Camacho’s Arrest Ignites Major Texas Investigation
Frio County Judge Rochelle Lozano Camacho faced arrest in May 2025 on three felony vote-harvesting charges. Prosecutors charged her with orchestrating illegal ballot collection from elderly and mail-in voters. This action launched a sweeping Texas Attorney General investigation into election irregularities. Authorities uncovered a network spanning local officials and operatives. The case exposed vulnerabilities in voting safeguards despite 2021 reforms.
Indictments Sweep Local Officials and Operatives
Investigators secured 15 indictments by late 2025, including city council members and school board officials. Evidence pointed to systematic harvesting in Frio County, a Democratic stronghold. Political operatives allegedly paid harvesters and coached voters. Camacho coordinated efforts from her judicial position. Common sense demands swift justice; these facts align with conservative priorities on secure elections.
Texas Election Code prohibits third-party ballot handling outside family, with penalties up to 10 years per violation. Camacho’s team allegedly bypassed these rules through drop boxes and nursing homes.
State Commission Suspends Camacho Without Pay
The State Commission on Judicial Conduct suspended Camacho without pay after her indictment. This action removed her from the bench pending trial. Suspension aimed to protect public trust in judiciary. Yet Texas law explicitly allows indicted judges to run for office. Camacho filed her reelection paperwork on December 5, 2025, capitalizing on this gap.
Her campaign tests whether voters prioritize accountability over party loyalty. Facts show Democrats often evade consequences in such scandals, eroding faith in institutions.
Timeline Pinpoints Primaries Before Trial
Texas Democratic primaries schedule for March 3, 2026, occurs nine days before Camacho’s next court date on March 12. Voters decide her fate amid ongoing prosecution. This proximity raises stakes for election integrity advocates. Successful reelection could delay full reckoning. Prosecutors build case on witness testimony and financial records.
Election Reforms Fail to Deter Organized Scheme
Texas enacted strict 2021 reforms post-2020 controversies, banning most ballot harvesting and mandating voter ID. Camacho’s operation allegedly predated full enforcement. Harvesters targeted vulnerable seniors in South Texas. Opinion: Weak enforcement invites abuse; conservatives rightly push zero tolerance to safeguard democracy.
Voters face clear choice: reelect an indicted judge or demand integrity. This case foreshadows national battles over mail-in and elderly voting protections.
Sources:
Indicted Democrat Judge Seeks Reelection as Texas Vote-Harvesting Case Expands
