Hidalgo on new Harris County elections head Tatum: 'He’s successfully led and advised elections departments over 16 years'

Harris County has a new elections administrator in Clifford Tatum, according to reports from Houston-based media outlets.

The Harris County Election Commission unanimously approved for Tatum to succeed Isabel Longoria on Tuesday, the inaugural officeholder, Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on her Twitter account described the search for a new elections head as “a thorough process.” 

“He’s successfully led and advised elections departments over 16 years,” the county judge tweeted about Tatum. “Welcome, Clifford, and thank you to all members of the Commission.”

KHOU reported that the position has been vacant since the resignation of Longoria, whom Hidalgo appointed during the 2020 presidential election, earlier this summer.

Longoria tendered her resignation after the county drew ire and scrutiny for its controversial handling of the ballot counts in March's Texas primary elections.

Tatum will officially assume the position upon becoming a Texas resident and registered voter in the state, per KHOU.

Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported that Tatum previously served as general counsel for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC).

According to Hidalgo, KTRK reported, Tatum was among “two fantastic finalists.”

“A huge thanks to the commission for such collaborative work,” the county judge, a Democrat, said, the station reported.

Citing the EAC’s website and LinkedIn, Houston NBC affiliate KPRC reported that Tatum is a trial attorney by occupation who had worked in the State of Georgia and Washington, D.C.

Tatum is a graduate of Guilford College in North Carolina and the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Michigan, per KPRC.