As county judge, Hidalgo serves as the head of Harris County's governing body. She was elected to the Harris County Commissioners Court in 2018 and is the first woman to be elected Harris County judge. She also leads the county’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Hidalgo previously worked at the Texas Civil Rights Project.



On March 24, Lina Hidalgo issued an order requiring all Harris County residents to stay in their homes as much as possible as the state grappled with the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus. “All of us should stay home unless our jobs are essential for the health and safety of our community,” Hidalgo said. The order also closed most businesses except those deemed essential, such as grocery stores and hospitals. On Monday, a group of Houston-area pastors and an outspoken conservative activist filed a petition with the Texas Supreme Court arguing that the order, which also closed churches and limited worship services to video or teleconference calls, violates the First Amendment.