Sanchez Photo at Rivas Draws Criticism
Harris County judge nominee Orlando Sanchez posted a campaign photo at Houston's Rivas restaurant, prompting public objections from the owner's side and a local publisher.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Dining Out
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Republican Harris County Judge nominee Orlando Sanchez shared a photograph of himself at Rivas, an Italian restaurant in Houston's Montrose neighborhood, on campaign social media Thursday. Greg Jeu, publisher and editor-in-chief of OutSmart magazine, criticized the post on Facebook Saturday, and Rivas owner Michael Sibouyeh reportedly said he was disturbed and upset by it.
Why it matters
The photo, paired with a caption describing Sanchez as a longtime patron, raised concerns that it implied a restaurant endorsement in a county race. Jeu said the post looks like an endorsement from the restaurant, which he described as grossly misleading.
The restaurant has operated for roughly half a century and relocated to Montrose in 1996. Neither Rivas nor the Sanchez campaign had responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting.
The players
Orlando Sanchez
Sanchez is the Republican nominee for Harris County Judge, a county-wide executive position overseeing Harris County government.
Greg Jeu
Jeu is the publisher and editor-in-chief of OutSmart magazine, a Houston LGBTQ+ publication.
The details
A photograph of Sanchez at Rivas was posted on his campaign's social media pages with a caption describing him as a longtime patron. Johnny Mata told Chron he never endorsed Sanchez, though a photo of Sanchez and Mata circulated with the campaign, and that image remains online.
Timeline
Thursday: Sanchez shared the Rivas photo on campaign social media.
Saturday: Jeu publicly criticized the post on Facebook.
Season Trajectory
Local campaigns in Texas frequently feature visits to neighborhood businesses to signal community ties. Cases where a restaurant's name is used in a campaign post without its consent test where those visits cross into implied endorsement.
Diners in Montrose may see restaurant names appear in political content, which can affect how they interpret a business's stance. Residents weighing candidates in the Harris County judge race can factor campaign-linked endorsements into their decisions.
The takeaway
Business names appearing in campaign material may not reflect the owner's actual support, so checking with the business directly is a practical step for voters. Restaurant owners can also request that their name not be used in political content.
Further reading
For more local restaurant coverage, see Dining Out in Houston.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chron.
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