On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, KSAT reported that Frio County Judge Rochelle Lozano Camacho, embroiled in an alleged vote harvesting scandal, has filed for reelection. Camacho, a Democrat, is among 15 individuals facing charges related to the scheme that originated in Frio County.
Camacho officially filed her paperwork to run on December 5, according to records. She initially won the county judge seat in November 2022, defeating Independent candidate Jose Asuncion and Republican candidate Jessica Villanueva.
Camacho is not the only individual implicated in the vote harvesting scandal seeking public office. Cecilia Castellano, another accused vote harvester, announced her candidacy last week for District 80’s state representative, also as a Democrat.
Camacho’s legal troubles began in May 2025, when she was booked into the Frio County Jail. KSAT Investigates initially reported on the arrests of Camacho and other prominent Frio County officials. Those arrested included Pearsall City Councilmember Ramiro Trevino, Pearsall Independent School District board member Adriann Ramirez, former Frio County Elections Administrator Carlos Segura, Pearsall City Councilmember Racheal Garza, and Rosa Rodriguez, identified by the 81st Judicial District Attorney as an alleged vote harvester.
Indictments obtained by KSAT reveal that Camacho faces three counts of vote harvesting. Audrey Gossett Louis, the 81st Judicial District Attorney, confirmed that several other individuals were indicted on June 30, 2025, in connection with the vote harvesting investigation. These include former Bexar County Democratic Party Chair and former San Antonio mayoral candidate Juan Manuel Medina, current state House (District 80) candidate Cecilia Castellano, former Pearsall Mayor Petra Davina Trevino, former Dilley council member Inelda Rodriguez, former Dilley Mayor Mary Ann Obregon, Rachel Lealon, Susanna Flores Carrizales, Precinct 3 Frio County Commissioner Raul Carrizales III, and Pearsall ISD Board Secretary Maricela Garcia Benavides.
Following her arrest, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct (SCJC) suspended Camacho from her position as Frio County Judge on May 12. The suspension is without pay and will remain in effect until the charges against her are dismissed, she is acquitted, or the commission reconsiders its decision. As of Tuesday morning, the SCJC confirmed that Camacho remains suspended due to the pending criminal matter.
Camacho and the other 14 individuals involved in the scandal are scheduled to appear in court on March 12, 2026. This court date falls shortly after the Texas Democratic and Republican primaries, which are scheduled for March 3, 2026. The deadline for candidates to file an application to run in either party’s primary was December 8, 2025, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s Office.
Source: KSAT
