It was just months ago when Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo was considered a rising star in the Democratic Party. Some argue she's now just damaged goods.
If Judge Hidalgo holds any higher aspirations, she now brings a history of mental health leaves, lawsuits to remove her from office, along with indictments against three staffers.
"I think at this point in time, there are people with a higher profile with less baggage and who have more experience than she has," says Mark Jone at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.
But Jones says that doesn't mean her political career is over.
"She's still the chief executive of the third most populous county in the country that has a population greater than 26 states," he says. "If she wants to run for re-election in a few years, she would still be considered the odds on favorite."
Jones says Hidalgo has little to no chance at winning statewide office in Texas, or being next in line for any congressional seat.
"A congressional seat would be a possibility, but that would require somebody like Sylvia Garcia or Al Green to leave their position," says Jones, but there are other local Democrats already waiting their turn.
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