(TEXAS SCORECARD) – Campaign sign shenanigans happen during every election, and they rarely end well for the people caught committing them.
On Thursday, photos and video surfaced on social media showing Bell County Democrat Party Chairman Mikhail Gray interfering with Republican candidates’ signs outside a polling place.
The incidents occurred outside the early voting location at the Harker Heights Parks & Recreation Center.
Hillary Hickland, the Republican candidate for Texas House District 55 in Bell County, posted some of the photos and video on her social media accounts.
One video showed Gray placing a sign for Democrat U.S. Senate candidate Colin Allred directly in front of a Hickland sign.
“Bell County Democrat Chair, Mikhail Gray, in an act of desperation or pettiness? You tell me,” Hickland posted on X along with the video.
Hickland’s sign was displayed at a booth for GOP candidates alongside signs for Trump-Vance, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, and the Bell County Republican Party. Their signage was also covered by Democrats’ signs.
The Democrats had placed dozens of Allred and Harris-Walz signs along sidewalks and throughout the grounds around the voting location. The city of Harker Heights does not limit the number of campaign signs allowed at polling places.
Another photo posted by Hickland showed Gray carrying a Cruz sign without its stand, which Hickland said Gray “broke.” Hickland told Texas Scorecard a report had been filed about the incident.
Hickland defeated four-term State Rep. Hugh Shine in the March Republican primary. She faces Democrat Jennifer Lee in the General Election.
Early voting is underway now through November 1. Election Day is Tuesday, November 5.
