Former Democratic Party County Chair And Mayoral Candidate Indicted For Alleged Vote Harvesting

A former Texas Democratic Party county chair and mayoral candidate, along with several other suspects, were indicted for alleged vote harvesting.

According to KSAT, Juan Manuel Medina, former Bexar County Democratic Party Chair and former San Antonio mayoral candidate, was indicted on two counts of vote harvesting.

The indictments included former mayors, former council members, and a former Texas House candidate.

Former Texas Democratic Party county chair indicted for ballot harvesting after Paxton probe https://t.co/DvtQgGU37U

— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) July 5, 2025

KSAT noted:

A former candidate for San Antonio mayor and former Bexar County Democratic Chair, a former candidate for the Texas House and former Pearsall council members are among the seven suspects who turned themselves in to the Frio County jail on Wednesday in connection with a massive state-led election investigation, KSAT Investigates confirmed.

81st Judicial District Attorney Audrey Gossett Louis confirmed the following people were indicted on Monday in connection with the investigation:

• Former Bexar County Democratic Party Chair and former San Antonio mayoral candidate Juan Manuel Medina on two counts of vote harvesting
• Former Pearsall Mayor Petra Davina Trevino on one count of vote harvesting
• Former Dilley council member Inelda Rodriguez on three counts of vote harvesting
• Former Dilley Mayor Mary Ann Obregon on two counts of vote harvesting
• Rachel Leal on one count of vote harvesting
• Former Texas House candidate Cecilia Castellano on two counts of vote harvesting
• Susanna Flores Carrizales on one count of vote harvesting
• Precinct 3 Frio County Commissioner Raul Carrizales III on one count of vote harvesting
• Pearsall ISD Board Secretary Maricela Garcia Benavides on one count of vote harvesting

“A South Texas grand jury this week indicted 9 people, including the frm chair of the Bexar County Dem Party and a frm Texas House candidate, for alleged vote harvesting in a sprawling probe led by AG Ken Paxton that has targeted Latino Democrats,” reporter Alejandro Serrano wrote.

New: A South Texas grand jury this week indicted 9 people, including the frm chair of the Bexar County Dem Party and a frm Texas House candidate, for alleged vote harvesting in a sprawling probe led by AG Ken Paxton that has targeted Latino Democrats.https://t.co/CCsNlm3MIw

— Alejandro Serrano (@serrano_alej) July 4, 2025

More from The Texas Tribune:

The indictments add to six previous ones revealed by Paxton in May and are the latest escalation in a probe that last year resulted in search warrants that led Texas authorities to seize Castellano’s phone and raid Medina’s home.

At the time, Latino leaders in Texas condemned the moves while Democratic state lawmakers asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the state for potential violations of federal law and civil and voting rights amid a flurry of what Republican state leaders described as efforts to secure the state’s elections.

On Thursday, neither Paxton’s office nor 81st Judicial District Attorney Audrey Gossett Louis returned requests for comment. KSAT attributed the information in its report to Louis.

Castellano turned herself into authorities on Wednesday upon learning of two charges of vote harvesting leveled against her, her lawyer Don Flanary said. He professed his client’s innocence and questioned the government’s allegations in using a charge whose constitutionality is unsettled in courts.

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In September, a federal judge ruled that certain prohibitions of voter outreach efforts in the Texas law were unconstitutionally vague and restricted free speech. But the New Orleans 5th Circuit appeals court overturned the decision when Paxton’s office appealed it.

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