Kim Ogg – Disgruntled Witch Prowls for a Pound of Flesh

“Sore loser vengefully continues to navigate the murky waters of Harris County politics“ —Anthony Ogbo

In politics, wonders never cease. Just when you think you have seen it all, a new trend, scandal, or controversy emerges to shake up the terrain. Thus, politics remains an unpredictable strange environment where alliances shift, loyalties are tested, and power dynamics constantly evolve.  Where am I going with this?

The U.S. Senate race between Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Democratic challenger Congressman Colin Allred is heating up in the final moments of the campaign. Cruz is up for re-election for the first time since narrowly winning a hard-fought challenge against Democrat Beto O’Rourke six years ago. But last month, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, a prominent Democrat, made headlines for endorsing Cruz in his re-election campaign. Ogg’s support for Cruz was further highlighted in a recent advertisement airing in various regions of Texas, urging widespread backing for the senator.

In the advertisement, Ogg expressed her endorsement of Cruz, emphasizing the importance of bipartisan cooperation in addressing the challenges facing Texans. She stressed the need to ensure the safety of the state, mentioning Cruz’s proposed legislation to keep violent illegal immigrants in custody until their trial. Ogg further stated that she was voting for Cruz because of his commitment to keeping Texans safe.

Ogg, it may be recalled, was shamelessly unseated by Sean Teare, a former prosecutor in her own office.  Teare had the backing of a group of Harris County Democratic Party precinct chairs unhappy with Ogg for inadequately representing party values. So, it was no surprise to those closely following Texas politics that she made those awful but strategic political decisions.

Since the Democrats rejected her reelection bid during the Party’s primary race in March, she has undergone a significantly bizarre political transformation, totally distancing herself from her Party and aligning more closely with conservative values. She completely changed her stance on various policy issues, including adopting tough-on-crime policies to gain favor with supposedly her former Republican adversaries.

Late last year, the ongoing feud between Ogg and her Party reached a boiling. The County Democrats voted 129 to 61 to admonish her for how she was doing her job. Party members accused her of weaponizing her office and falling out of step with Democratic values. The party created a resolution of admonishment that listed more than a dozen abuses but mainly accused her of abusing her power to pursue vendettas against political opponents.

Known for her vindictive conduct, Ogg has used her position to target political opponents with burdensome court cases, effectively punishing them for daring to challenge her authority. In a revealing interview with the Houston Chronicle in mid-September, a county court-at-law judge disclosed that he had cautioned his colleagues against crossing Ogg, stating, “If you anger her, you could find yourself facing a grand jury and potential indictment.”

In 2022, Ogg made headlines by indicting three former staffers of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, a progressive leader overseeing the local Commissioners Court, for allegedly directing $11 million in COVID-19 vaccine outreach funds to a politically connected vendor. The case has since stalled, with Hidalgo vehemently denying the accusations and no trial date set.

Ogg’s journey to becoming district attorney has been marked by controversy. Initially a Republican, she switched parties in 2016 and campaigned as a Democrat, pledging to reform the flawed cash bail system, decriminalize drug offenses, and establish a fairer justice system that does not oppress the less fortunate. However, Ogg’s stewardship began to raise eyebrows, as she accepted substantial campaign contributions from the local bail bond industry while accusing progressives of attempting to defund her department.

In a further display of her contentious approach, Ogg sought to have a self-proclaimed democratic socialist judge ousted from his position due to his outspoken criticism of the criminal justice system and reluctance to agree to plea bargains that often result in the unjust incarceration of low-income individuals. Additionally, following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Ogg declared her intention to prosecute individuals who violate Republican Governor Greg Abbott’s stringent ban on abortion on a case-by-case basis, aligning herself with one of the most restrictive abortion policies in the nation.

In no uncertain terms, Ogg remains a disgruntled witch in the current electoral season, vindictively prowling for a pound of flesh.  Her latest shift in political ideology remains an unpredictable omen. Some speculate that she may be positioning herself to run as a Republican candidate in the upcoming elections while others believe she is simply trying to distance herself from the party that just turned her away.

Regardless of her motives, one thing is clear: Kim Ogg’s actions have left a trail of confusion and distrust among both her supporters and critics. Her willingness to flip-flop on key issues and align herself with different political parties only adds to the skepticism surrounding her true intentions. As this sore loser vengefully continues to navigate the murky waters of Harris County politics, one can only wonder what other surprises she has in store for the future.

♦Publisher of the Guardian News, Professor Anthony Obi Ogbo, PhD, is on the Editorial Board of the West African Pilot News. He is the author of the Influence of Leadership (2015)  and the Maxims of Political Leadership (2019). Contact: anthony@guardiannews.us