In a closely contested race, Democrat Sean Teare emerged as Harris County’s next district attorney, defeating Republican Dan Simons. Teare promised to move past political divisions and focus on practical, community-centered leadership.
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Democrat Sean Teare was chosen Harris County's new district attorney in an unusually close contest, defeating Republican Dan Simons. After a problematic vote count, Teare claimed triumph in the competition, which ran into Wednesday morning before the results were decided.
After his victory, Teare declared his will to transcend political partisanship. "I believe the party arguments have bored our community. They are ready, in my opinion, to unite behind a leader. He underlined that rather than political spectacle, his government would give pragmatic governance top priority. "We are going to operate an office that gets off the business of scandalous politics and go after bad guys ensuring we don’t create the next generation."
Immediately, Teare wants to overhaul the county's intake system to simplify procedures and increase effectiveness. Aimed at assigning a specialist team of prosecutors to handle intimate partner abuse cases only, Harris County's first-ever Domestic Abuse Bureau is another massive project.
Teare also described strategies to bolster the leadership of his office by including seasoned prosecutors from Texas and other states, thereby guiding younger lawyers.
Teare added, suggesting significant beginning changes under his direction, "We are going to build a leadership group that extends below the division chief level, focused on experience and fostering the development of lower-level prosecutors."
Intending to streamline operations and tackle domestic violence with committed resources, Teare's triumph signals a change toward unity and reform in Harris County's criminal justice system.
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Early voting for the March 3, 2026 Texas primary runs Feb. 17-27. Houston-area voters will decide key federal, statewide and local races, including a high-profile U.S. Senate contest and the open Harris County judge seat.
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Federal officials temporarily shut down air traffic at El Paso International Airport after the Pentagon allowed Customs and Border Protection to deploy an anti-drone laser near Fort Bliss, according to two people familiar with the matter. The closure lasted only hours, but it stranded travelers and raised new questions about coordination between defense and aviation agencies.
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Houston has already recorded six 80-degree days in 2026, and forecasters expect more this week as a February heat ridge pushes temperatures 15 degrees above normal. While daily records are unlikely to fall, highs could approach longstanding marks set in the 1960s.