A Texas judge has ordered a new election to be held for a 2022 judicial race in Harris County, where the city of Houston is located, after siding with a Republican candidate who challenged the results.
In a 32-page ruling, visiting Judge David Peeples ruled that 1,430 illegal votes were cast in the contest between Republican Tami Pierce and Democratic incumbent DaSean Jones for a criminal court judge seat.
Jones had won by just 449 votes.
Peeples stated that among the illegal votes, 983 were from people living outside Harris County, while 445 lacked proper voter ID or substitute documents. As the “true outcome” could not be determined, the judge ordered a new election, though a date was not immediately set.
Pierce had alleged illegal votes were cast by non-residents and that some ballots lacked required information. Jones’ attorney attempted to argue Pierce could not prove enough illegal votes to materially impact the election’s outcome.
 
The ruling is a major victory for Republicans who have targeted Harris County’s elections, a Democratic stronghold in the red state.
Harris County GOP officials praised the decision, while Democrats criticized the “unjustified re-do.”
Peeples had previously thrown out most other GOP lawsuits challenging election results in the county.