Ken Paxton’s Office Sues Harris County Over Targeted Early Voting Ads

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office has filed a lawsuit against elections officials in Harris County, the state’s largest and most diverse county, challenging a get out the vote advertisement campaign that specifically targeted Black, Latino, and Asian voters. The suit claims the targeted ads constitute reverse racism by encouraging voting among people of color while excluding European ethnicities. Harris County, home to Houston, has seen record-breaking early voting this election cycle, with over 950,000 residents casting ballots and one day still remaining.

Details of the Lawsuit and Targeted Advertising

The lawsuit filed by Paxton’s office alleges that Harris County’s voter advertisement campaign used “racial or ethnic ‘detailed targeting’ terms” to increase turnout among African-American, Asian, and Latino communities, while intentionally excluding European ethnicities. The suit states, “By specifically directing voting advertisements to these and many other racial or ethnic ‘detailed targeting’ terms, it is readily apparent that Harris County is attempting to increase the likelihood that only certain racial and ethnic groups—but not all—will vote.” It further argues there is no legitimate reason for such selective targeting related to ethnicities, cultural interests, and countries.

In response to the lawsuit, Harris County has already ceased running the targeted advertisements. Notably, Attorney General Paxton has recused himself from the lawsuit despite his role as Texas’s current attorney general.

Record-Breaking Early Voting in Harris County

Harris County is shattering early voting records this election cycle. More than 950,000 residents have already voted early, with one day of early voting still left. This surpasses the previous record for a non-presidential election, which was 855,711 early votes cast in 2018. The surge in early voting highlights the high level of voter engagement in the county, especially among diverse communities.

Political Reactions and Criticism

The lawsuit has drawn strong criticism from Texas Democratic Congressman Christian D. Menefee, who accused Paxton of attempting to suppress voter turnout. Menefee stated online, “Ken Paxton filed this lawsuit in the final days of voting because he wants to stop Houstonians from going to the polls. He’s whining about ads that do nothing more than tell neighbors when to vote and where to get information about voting.”

Menefee highlighted the geographic areas seeing high turnout, including Third Ward, Acres Homes, Cypress, Tidwell, and Sunnyside, and said, “Paxton is upset that diverse voters across Harris County are making their voices heard.” He added, “Remember this: someone with as much power as the Texas Attorney General would only take desperate action like this lawsuit because he is scared.” Menefee urged all eligible voters in Harris County to view the lawsuit for what it is and to cast their ballots.

This legal challenge and the record turnout in Harris County underscore the contentious political environment surrounding voter engagement efforts targeted at minority communities in Texas.