A bid to recall Mayor Dedrick Johnson has failed, falling just 21 signatures short of the 1,010 needed to trigger a special election, and now the petition itself is under investigation for possible fraud.
City officials announced Wednesday that only 989 of the roughly 1,600 submitted signatures were valid. The city cited unregistered voters, incomplete information, and — most seriously — potential forgery. Texas City police confirmed they received sworn affidavits alleging fraudulent entries, including one verified instance where a deceased person’s name, address, and signature appeared on the petition.
Authorities are working with the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office to determine if criminal charges are warranted. “Given the seriousness of these allegations, we are committed to conducting a thorough and impartial investigation,” Texas City PD stated.
Bryan Rivera of Texas Hometown Solutions, which helped gather signatures, defended the petition’s integrity. “I stand by these signatures 100 percent,” he said, adding he had not seen proof of deceased individuals signing.
Mayor Johnson welcomed the result, saying, “I’m glad citizens spoke through their rejection of the recall… We’re gonna keep moving forward.”
The Texas City Municipal Police Association (TCMPA), which supported the recall, called the outcome “a setback, not a defeat” and vowed to continue pushing for transparency and accountability. The group also raised concerns about retaliation against recall supporters and alleged improper release of confidential information, which they said would be referred to the Texas Attorney General’s office.
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