Juan Manuel Medina, a former Democratic Party County Chair in Texas and one-time San Antonio mayoral candidate, has been indicted in an alleged illegal vote-harvesting scheme. Medina is facing two counts of vote harvesting, part of a wider investigation led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton into potential voter fraud.
Authorities allege that Medina orchestrated a network of individuals to collect ballots illegally, aiming to benefit Democratic candidate Cecilia Castellano, who ran for the Texas House District 80 seat in 2024. Castellano lost that election but is now one of nine people indicted alongside Medina.
Among the other defendants are Rachel Leal, former Dilley council member Inelda Rodriguez, and several former local officials, including ex-mayors. Prosecutors say these individuals were recruited to harvest votes in support of Castellano’s campaign.
Castellano’s attorney has strongly denied any wrongdoing, characterizing the charges as politically motivated and harmful to democratic engagement. The defense argues the investigation aims to intimidate voters and candidates rather than uphold election integrity.
As part of the legal process, authorities conducted a raid on Medina’s home and confiscated Castellano’s phone, treating it as evidence in the vote-harvesting case. These moves indicate a serious approach to the investigation, even as criticism mounts over its intent.
This indictment is part of a larger crackdown on alleged voter fraud by Paxton’s office. In May 2025, six others were indicted in connection to similar offenses in Frio County, which includes part of District 80.
Additionally, Paxton recently announced an investigation into 33 individuals suspected of being noncitizens who allegedly voted in the 2024 election. These actions are being viewed by some as politically charged, especially given their focus on Democratic-leaning communities.
Texas treats vote harvesting as a felony, carrying significant legal consequences. The situation echoes a 2022 case in San Luis, Arizona, where two women were charged for similar ballot collection activities related to the 2020 election. These developments mark an ongoing trend of heightened scrutiny around voting practices in key swing states.
