The GOP Candidate for Harris County Clerk is Getting a Pass on His Troubling Past
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Summary
We examine the Houston Chronicle’s endorsement of Chris Daniel for Harris County District Clerk, arguing that his effort to overturn his 2022 defeat deserved serious scrutiny. It contrasts the newspaper’s treatment of Orlando Sanchez with its acceptance of Daniel’s moderate presentation and makes a progressive case for Judge Darrell Jordan’s record of reform.
- Daniel’s election challenge deserves accountability. His continued litigation after losing to Marilyn Burgess by more than 25,000 votes should have been disqualifying.
- The endorsement standards appear inconsistent. The Chronicle backed Letitia Plummer over Sanchez for county judge, yet endorsed Daniel for district clerk without addressing his frivolous election lawsuit.
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Jordan offers a substantive reform record. His work includes misdemeanor bail reform, cite-and-release policies, and improved legal representation for people who cannot afford an attorney.
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Independent journalism provides essential scrutiny. The fact that a mainstream rag like the Houston Chronicle made such a bad call illustrates the need for robust independent journalism.
Harris County voters deserve a fuller accounting of Daniel’s record. Jordan presents himself as the stronger choice for district clerk.
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This election cycle, it’s in vogue for GOP candidates to split sharply, trying to demonstrate loyalty to the party while also distancing themselves from it. The urge to put distance between one’s own candidacy and Trumpism as a whole is understandable, as Trump’s approval rating has hit its lowest point ever and Bo French flings racist remarks at whatever minority he can see or think of, but it’s often impossible to split the difference while placating the MAGA base. For example, GOP Harris County Judge candidate Orlando Sanchez called French’s racist remarks troubling, then said he would still vote for him, which contributed to him not receiving the endorsement of the Houston Chronicle.
On the other hand, the Chronicle seems to go easier on candidates like Chris Daniel, the GOP candidate for district clerk. Daniel gave the expected answer on the French question, saying he wouldn’t vote for him, but still feigned moderation to camouflage extremism.
The Tea Party swept Daniel into power in 2010, and he served two terms until he was defeated in 2018 by Marilyn Burgess. He faced Burgess in a rematch in 2022 but lost by more than 25,000 votes that November, or nearly 2.5% of the vote. The election was close, but hardly in question to any reasonable person.
Not so, said Daniel. The former district clerk so desperately wanted a return to power that he challenged the results of the race alongside a slew of other sore-loser candidates, including Alex Mealer. Despite the clear and broad margin, he maintained his lawsuit the longest, pushing it forward until August of last year when the court told him what was obvious: there was no way he could show that more than 25,000 voters were denied the opportunity to cast their ballots for him.
While election denial has become commonplace, it is not a minor issue to be normalized. Election denial lays the groundwork for subverting democracy, as demonstrated when an angry mob invaded the Capitol on January 6. It threatens the health of democratic institutions, erodes public trust in the ballot, and empowers authoritarians in their pursuit of power.
Chris Daniel is a clear and egregious offender, yet the Chronicle seemed to completely overlook this in its assessment of the Harris County District Clerk race, endorsing him over the eminently qualified reformist, Judge Darrell Jordan. The endorsement did not mention whether the editorial board asked Daniel about his foolish lawsuit.
The Chronicle’s failings reveal two important, related truths. First, voters cannot rely solely on mainstream media endorsements. The paper often caters to a hypothetical voter who splits their ballot across the ideological spectrum—even when certain candidates actively undermine democracy—and labels this approach “well-reasoned.”
Second, independent media is essential to fill these gaps, providing accountability and context where editorial boards fall short.
Harris County, early voting is underway. Spread the word about Chris Daniel’s extremism. And when you step into the ballot box, mark Darrell Jordan for Harris County District Clerk and Letitia Plummer for Harris County Judge. Their opponents’ past is objectively disqualifying.
