The Importance of Voting in Primaries
2/26/26 – Exactly 8.5 years ago this week, the entire Lake Houston Area faced an existential threat by the name of Hurricane Harvey. Harvey killed 12 people in Kingwood Town Center, and flooded more than 16,000 homes and 3,300 businesses here.
In my opinion, we can’t let that happen again. We need to find ways to reduce flood risk before the next killer flood. That will take political solutions. And we need people with a firm grasp of the issues who have the desire, skills, and energy to make them real.
Importance of Voting in PRIMARIES
Unfortunately, few citizens vote in primaries. So, a small group of extremists funded by outsiders with other interests can limit your choices in November. Those extremists vote in high numbers and can easily influence the outcomes in primaries that have multiple candidates. And that’s why it’s important to vote NOW.
The last day for early voting is Friday, February 27. If you haven’t voted by then, your last chance will be Election Day on March 3, 2026.
Harris Votes
Below are my personal recommendations in three key, contested races.
Congressional District 2: Dan Crenshaw
As the community sought ways to reduce future flood risk after Harvey, a freshman Congressman named Dan Crenshaw rose to the challenge perhaps more than anyone at that point. He secured hundreds of millions of dollars for dredging, adding more floodgates to the Lake Houston Dam, and upstream detention. Not all of those projects are complete yet. But the money is waiting and projects are moving along.
In contrast, Crenshaw’s opponent in the current primary did little to help. He voted against a bill to create a Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District. He did nothing to rein in sedimentation from upstream sand mines in his Texas House district. And he argued to let children’s camps, like Camp Mystic, continue to build in floodplains.
I voted for Crenshaw.
Congressional District 9: Alex Mealer
In a neighboring congressional district to the east (CD-9), Alex Mealer faces a challenge from Briscoe Cain. Mealer is a West Point grad who commanded a company of 600+ people in Afghanistan and earned a Bronze Star. She also has MBA and JD degrees from Harvard. Plus, she has President Trump’s endorsement. And finally, she has spent days with me scouting flood issues in the Lake Houston Area and upstream. The woman is a force of nature. Strong. Brilliant. Energetic. Informed. And ready to step into the job.
Briscoe Cain, her opponent, also voted against a Lake Houston Area Dredging District this year (HB 1532), even though it wouldn’t have raised taxes. He also did not vote for the so-called “Ike Dike” bill (HB 1089). Finally, as a state representative, Cain presided over the growth of Colony Ridge in his district. It got so big and so bad that the entire Texas Republican Congressional Delegation demanded an investigation of the controversial development.
I don’t live in CD9, but if I did, I would vote for Mealer. The Lake Houston Dam is in her new Congressional District.
Harris County Judge: Marty Lancton
The race for Harris County Judge is also a critical for the Lake Houston Area. We’ve seen how Judge Lina Hidalgo starved the Lake Houston Area of flood-mitigation funding and our rightful share of the 2018 flood bond. We had the worst flooding in the county and have come in almost dead last in funding compared to other watersheds in the county.
Graph compiled from: Harris County Flood Control District Year-End 2025 reported bond spending and budget allocations advertised with 2018 flood bond.
Republicans have many good choices to replace Hidalgo in this race. On balance, though, I feel Marty Lancton is the best choice. He also has the best chance of getting elected in November.
Lancton leads an army of 20,000 first responders state wide. And he knows flooding first-hand from the standpoint of a person who has evacuated victims on his back and in lifeboats.
It’s one thing to understand problems intellectually and another to feel the shock-and-awe of Mother Nature for days on end as you repeatedly put your own life on the line to help fellow human beings you never met. I promise you, flood mitigation is a high priority for Lancton.
Lancton can draw support from both sides of the aisle in a way that perhaps other candidates cannot. And that makes him electable in the general election still nine months away. Among Republican candidates, he uniquely stands out. He is a lifelong Republican, endorsed by Governor Greg Abbott. Yet the firefighters union also elected him as its leader. And he knows how Austin works. He has lobbied there on behalf of first responders for years and knows all the key members.
I have endorsed Lancton.
Vote Even If You Disagree With My Recommendations
You may disagree with my choices or have different priorities. That’s fine. But please vote. It’s important that YOU make the decision instead of some out-of-state super-PAC. Many have invisible donors representing hidden interests fighting against YOUR interests. Don’t let them limit your choices in November with patriotic sounding names.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/26/26
3103 Days since Harvey
