Criminal District Attorney
November 3, 2026 · Hidalgo County, Texas · County · general
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: Low · 14 out of 100
This district is large for its type, so each vote is a smaller slice of the outcome. About 891,977 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(4,838,303 ÷ 891,977) ÷ ln(4,838,303 ÷ 33) = 14.21, comparing counties in TX (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
Low representation + unknown decisiveness → Below average vote impact.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".
District Attorney is responsible for:
- Deciding who gets charged with crimes in the county
- Prosecuting criminal cases in court on the public's behalf
- Deciding plea deals and what sentences to ask for
- Working with police as cases are investigated and built
Affected Areas: Anti-Corruption, Public Safety and Crime Control, Gun Control, Women's Reproductive Rights, Civil Rights, Corporate Accountability
Candidates
Lydia Elizondo
Republican · declared
Lydia Elizondo is a Republican candidate for Criminal District Attorney in Hidalgo County, Texas, in the 2026 general election.
Toribio Palacios
Democratic · Incumbent · declared
Toribio Palacios is the Democratic incumbent for Criminal District Attorney in Hidalgo County, Texas, in the 2026 general election.
Election sources
Source: ballotpedia.org