Hidalgo County, TX (KRGV) — Hidalgo County voters will decide who leads the district attorney's office for the next four years in the Nov. 3, 2026 midterm elections.

Channel 5 News spoke with both candidates about their experience and what they want to accomplish if elected.

Republican Lydia Elizondo is challenging incumbent Hidalgo County District Attorney Toribio “Terry” Palacios. Elizondo has practiced law for 28 years.

She spent most of that time as a defense attorney and has also worked as a prosecutor.

"I believe in equal justice, no exceptions, and everyone should be treated the same under the law. We are all equal and should all be treated the same," Elizondo said.

If elected, Elizondo says one of her priorities would be helping families still waiting for answers in unsolved crimes.

"I'd like to address that by having a unit put together to look at cold cases to see if, with the modern technology that we have, we can bring the perpetrators of those crimes to justice," Elizondo said.

Elizondo said she also wants to focus on cases involving domestic violence, financial scams, and animal cruelty. She says she wants transparency and accountability.

"I want us to have transparency. I want there to be accountability, and together with them, with the people of Hidalgo County, I want to build a better and safer Hidalgo County for our children and our grandchildren," Elizondo said.

Palacios started practicing criminal law in 1992 and previously served as a municipal judge for 27 years. Today he oversees a team of 82 attorneys in the district attorney's office.

"Sending somebody to jail, or giving somebody a second chance, [is] what we do. We do things for the right reasons," Palacios said.

During his time in office, Palacios says he has worked to give people more options outside of jail. One of those is a mental health diversion program his office started with Tropical Texas Behavioral Health.

The program helps eligible people accused of minor offenses get treatment.

"Now we have a special mental health unit that helps people that have mental health issues, and we try to send them to rehab. We're trying to send them to treatment instead of letting them sit there," Palacios said.

If reelected, Palacios says he wants to expand the help available here at home. He says getting treatment for drug addiction can mean traveling to other parts of Texas.

"We need to start something down here that we can help our youth, and the reason is they're good people," Palacios said.

The first day of early voting is Monday, Oct. 19. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Click here for more voting resources.

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