In the tug-of-war for endorsements in the Harris County District Attorney Democratic primary, incumbent DA Kim Ogg and challenger Sean Teare are pulling in support from various corners of the political sphere. Ogg, vying for a third term, has bagged the backing of local political figures and community groups, alongside endorsements from the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, Latino Labor Leadership Council, and the "C" Club of Houston. According to the Houston Chronicle, she also has the backing of state Sen. Carol Alvarado and an array of former mayors, while Sean Teare, the former prosecutor challenging his ex-boss, has notched endorsements from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and several political advocacy groups.
The contest for political allies also witnessed strategy in play, as reported by KPRC 2. Ogg's efforts with the Houston Police Officers Union led her to state, “To fail to show up to a law enforcement interview when your running as top law enforcement seems disrespectful but that’s me, I show up where I’m wanted and where I’m not wanted because I represent everybody.”
Teare, on the other side, leverages his support from key figures like former Mayor Sylvester Turner. His determination is punctuated by a quote in the Click2Houston interview where he stresses, “It will not change in one iota the way that I work collaboratively with every law enforcement agency in this county.” Teare seeks to emphasize his readiness to enhance safety across Houston and Harris County.
Though the Houston Police Officers Union hasn't issued a collective endorsement due to potential conflicts, it's notable that union leadership, specifically Executive Director Ray Hunt and Union President Doug Griffith, are placing their support behind Ogg. This information, disclosed in an announcement obtained by Click2Houston, reveals the internal leanings within the law enforcement community and may offer insight into how such support could sway the vote in the March 5 primary election. With the early voting period setting in on Feb. 20, the endorsements throw an intriguing spotlight on the continuing narrative of choice for Harris County's top prosecutor.
