Harris County Judge
Primary Runoff Elections
May 26, 2026
Warren Howell
Top 3 goals
- • Public safety
- • Law enforcement
- • Efficient courts and jails
Prior offices held
- • None listed
Military service
- • United States Air Force
Education
- • None listed
Party
- • Republican
Sources
Annise Parker
Top 3 goals
- • Flood infrastructure
- • Emergency preparedness
- • Affordability
Prior offices held
- • Mayor of Houston
- • Houston City Controller
- • Houston City Council Member
Military service
- • None listed
Education
- • Rice University
Sources
Letitia Plummer
Top 3 goals
- • Justice
- • Housing affordability
- • Healthcare
Prior offices held
- • Houston City Council Member At-large
Military service
- • None listed
Education
- • Baylor College of Dentistry
- • Spelman College
Sources
Orlando Sanchez
Top 3 goals
- • Lower property taxes
- • Public safety
- • Flood control
Prior offices held
- • Harris County Treasurer
Military service
- • United States Air Force
- • Texas Air National Guard
Education
- • University of Houston
Sources
Media Coverage
March 25, 2026
Exclusive: Inside Annise Parker and Letitia Plummer's preparation for the Harris County judge runoff
"Democrats Letitia Plummer and Annise Parker said they plan to double down on the strategies they fielded in the lead up to the March primaries... "The voters want someone who will stand up to Trump and push back on state and federal overreach," Parker said. "But they want government that works. They want a Commissioners Court where the commissioners and the county judge come together and tackle the agenda openly and transparently — moving in the same direction for the longterm benefit of Harris County."... "It's just time to turn the page. And the voters are saying it across the state," Plummer said. "People often talk about her experiences and what she's done, but what people have to understand is her experience is dated, and we need someone that's got new experiences."... Early voting in the runoffs begins May 18."
— Houston Chronicle
March 23, 2026
Dr. Letitia Plummer on Leadership, Public Health, and the Future of Harris County
"In this powerful conversation, Black Girls Politickin sits down with Dr. Letitia Plummer, small business owner, practicing dentist, and former Houston City Council Member at-large, as she shares her journey into public service and her vision for Harris County. From expanding public health access to building inclusive economic opportunities, Dr. Plummer discusses what it takes to lead at scale and create meaningful change in communities that need it most..."
— Black Girls Politickin | Full Transcript
March 8, 2026
Harris County Primary Live Election Results
"Atop the local ticket was the race to succeed County Judge Hidalgo. Both the top Democratic and Republican contenders in that race are now headed for a May runoff. The winners of the runoff will face off in the November election... Annise Parker and Letitia Plummer have advanced to a runoff. Orlando Sanchez and Warren A. Howell have advanced to a runoff."
— Houston Chronicle
March 4, 2026
Harris County judge race heads to runoff after no candidate clears majority
"On the Democratic side, former Houston Mayor Annise Parker and former Houston council member, Letitia Plummer advanced. Parker has campaigned on her experience in city and county government, saying leaders need better coordination and management... Plummer has emphasized public health, affordability and disaster resilience — saying the county needs to improve quality of life for residents... On the Republican side, Orlando Sanchez and Warren Howell moved forward from a crowded primary field. Sanchez has focused his campaign on public safety, tax reduction and election security. He points to his previous service as Harris County treasurer and as a probation officer... Howell, an Air Force veteran, has pushed for a smaller and more efficient county government with an emphasis on accountability and audits."
— Click 2 Houston KPRC2 NBC | Full Transcript
March 4, 2026
Texas Primary Election Results Breakdown: Surprises, Runoffs & Upsets
"The Harris County Judge races are both headed for a runoff. Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker fell just shy of 50% of the vote against former Houston City Council Member Letitia Plummer in the Democratic primary while former County Treasurer Orlando Sanchez was below the 50% mark and will face Warren Howell in a runoff."
— Houston Matters with Craig Cohen | Houston Public Media 88.7FM NPR | Full Transcript
March 4, 2026
Harris County Judge Nominees Will Be Decided in Runoffs
"Annise Parker and Letitia Plummer will face off for the Democratic Party nod, and Orlando Sanchez and Warren Howell are vying for the GOP. Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker secured the most votes in the Democratic primary for Harris County judge but fell slightly short of the 50 percent-plus requirement, sending her to a runoff with former Houston City Council member Letitia Plummer. A similar scenario played out on the GOP side as former Harris County Treasurer Orlando Sanchez and insurance businessman Warren Howell will face off again in May. The Republican primary proved to be an upset for Marty Lancton, the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association president who was endorsed by Gov. Greg Abbott and considered in early polls to be a frontrunner. Lancton came in third. "
— Houston Press
March 4, 2026
Harris County judge Democratic, Republican primaries head to runoff
"The Harris County judge primaries will head to a runoff. Annise Parker and Letitia Plummer received the most votes in the Democratic primary. Orlando Sanchez and Warren Howell received the most votes in the Republican primary, with Marty Lancton in a close third."
— FOX 26 Houston
March 4, 2026
UPDATE: See unofficial results from Harris County judge, Precinct 2 March primary elections
"With all 275 Harris County voting precincts reporting, two Democrats and two Republicans are headed to the May runoff elections for county judge, as none of the candidates received at least 50% of the vote... Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker will face former Houston City Council member Letitia Plummer in the May 26 Democratic primary runoff... Former Houston City Council member Orlando Sanchez and business owner Warren A. Howell will advance to the [Republican primary] runoff."
— Community Impact
March 4, 2026
Harris County Judge Primaries End in Republican and Democratic Runoffs
"In the crowded primary races to replace Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, neither party has a nominee yet, since no candidate captured at least 50 percent of the vote on Tuesday night."
— The Texan
March 4, 2026
Results
"I thought former H-Town Mayor Annise Parker would win without a runoff in her race for Harris County Judge. Nope. She is in a runoff. MAGA said no thanks to Houston Firefighters union honcho Marty Lancton for Harris County Judge. Marty didn’t even make the runoff."
— Campos Communications (Commentary)
March 3, 2026
Annise Parker and Letitia Plummer headed to runoff in Democratic primary for Harris County judge
"Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker and former city council member Letitia Plummer are heading to a runoff to claim the Democratic nomination for the Harris County judge’s seat after neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote during Tuesday’s primary election... Parker received 46.6% of the vote, compared to Plummer’s 37.3%... In the six-candidate Republican primary, former Harris County treasurer Orlando Sanchez and local businessman Warren Howell appeared headed to a runoff after receiving 26.5% and 20.8% of the vote, respectively... The two primary runoff winners will compete in the November general election for the right to be the chief executive of the third-largest county in the United States."
— Houston Public Media 88.7FM NPR
March 3, 2026
Orlando Sanchez and Warren Howell make GOP primary runoff in Harris County judge race, unofficial results show
"Republicans are seeking to win back the Harris County judge seat, which has been held by a Democrat since the 2018 election. Orlando Sanchez and Warren Howell appeared headed to a runoff in the Republican primary for Harris County judge, according to complete but unofficial results released Wednesday morning by the Harris County Clerk’s Office... Sanchez served as an at-large member of the non-partisan Houston City Council from 1996 through 2000 before filling the Harris County Treasurer's role as a Republican in 2007. After more than a decade in office, he was swept out of county government in the 2018 blue wave along with former Harris County Judge Ed Emmett. Sanchez subsequently fell short in two bids for the City Controller's office in 2019 and 2023. Howell is an Air Force veteran and civic association leader in the Spring Branch area who works in the insurance business, according to his campaign website."
— Houston Public Media 88.7FM NPR
March 3, 2026
No clear winners in Harris County judge primaries
"The top two finishers in the Democratic and Republican primary for Harris County judge are headed for May runoffs after no candidate passed the 50% threshold... On the Democratic side, former Houston mayor Annise Parker will face off against former at-large Houston City Council Member Letitia Plummer. On the Republican side, former Harris County treasurer Orlando Sanchez and business owner Warren Howell advanced to a runoff."
— AXIOS Houston
March 3, 2026
Harris County judge election results 2026: Annise Parker leads Dem primary
"The open-seat race is one of Texas' most closely watched local races, with both parties eyeing an opportunity in a county that remains politically competitive. [Texas Governor Greg] Abbott has pledged to turn Harris County "dark red" after years of Democratic control."
— MSN
March 3, 2026
Harris County Judge results: Latest numbers in race to replace Lina Hidalgo
"The seat is being vacated by current Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who will not be seeking a third term... Letitia Plummer, a two-term Houston Councilmember. Annise Parker, former three-term Houston mayor, who was the city controller before that... Warren A. Howell a Harris County business owner who served in the Air Force... Orlando Sanchez, a former Harris County treasurer and Houston city councilmember."
— KHOU 11 CBS | Full Transcript
March 3, 2026
Harris County judge primary election results for March 3, 2026
"Offices on the ballot in Harris County included the county judge position, a key executive role overseeing the Commissioners Court and county administration."
— Click 2 Houston KPRC2 NBC
March 1, 2026
Disrupting the Status Quo: Dr. Letitia Plummer on Legacy, Justice, and the Fight for Harris County
"With the Tuesday election just days away, the future of Harris County hangs in the balance. In this high-stakes episode, we sit down with Dr. Letitia Plummer, the history-making former City Council member who resigned her seat to run for Harris County Judge. Dr. Plummer isn't your typical "establishment" politician. A Spelman alumna, practicing dentist, and small business owner, she carries a powerful civil rights lineage—her grandfather was a legendary lawyer..."
— Ridgemont4'sFinest | Full Transcript
January 21, 2026
Interview with Letitia Plummer
"[Letitia Plummer] stepped down from Houston City Council last year after announcing her candidacy (also before Judge Hidalgo’s announcement), where she was in her second term in At Large #4. A dentist by trade, she ran for CD22 in 2018 and lost in the primary runoff before winning her first Council race the next year. She became the first Muslim woman to serve on Houston City Council in winning that election."
— Off the Kuff with Charles Kuffner | Full Transcript
January 19, 2026
Interview with Annise Parker
"[Annise Parker] served six years (the maximum allowed at the time) on Houston City Council, as Controller, and of course as Houston’s Mayor. Since then she has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for BakerRipley and spent seven years as CEO and President of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and Leadership Institute. She was the first person to announce her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for County Judge, before Judge Hidalgo announced her intention to not run again."
— Off the Kuff with Charles Kuffner | Full Transcript
November 23, 2025
One-on-one with Harris Co. Judge candidate Orlando Sanchez
"Former Harris County treasurer Orlando Sanchez says his long history in and outside of politics has equipped him to take the county judge seat as a Republican candidate."
— What's Your Point? with Greg Goonan | FOX 26 Houston | Full Transcript
September 23, 2025
Orlando Sanchez on Running for Harris County Judge
"...former Harris County Treasurer Orlando Sanchez talks about his run for Harris County Judge."
— Hello Houston | Houston Public Media 88.7FM NPR | Full Transcript
June 29, 2025
Letitia Plummer running for judge
"Letitia Plummer has joined the competitive Harris County judge race."
— What's Your Point? with Greg Goonan | FOX 26 Houston
June 25, 2025
Former mayor Annise Parker runs for Harris County Judge
"[Annise Parker] has spent much of her adult life in public service, and in this role she says she would be focused on public safety, public health, and flood control. Parker discusses a long-term strategy for drainage infrastructure, fixing county budget issues, her work with Victory Fund, and more."
— Hello Houston | Houston Public Media 88.7FM NPR
June 15, 2025
Parker runs for Harris Co. judge
"Annise Parker throws her hat in the ring in the race to be the next Harris County judge. Does the former Houston mayor have a shot?"
— What's Your Point? with Greg Goonan | FOX 26 Houston | Full Transcript
June 12, 2025
Candidate Warren Howell Brings Back Common Sense Leadership to Harris County Judge Race
"[Warren Howell], a conservative candidate for Harris County Judge, is running on a platform built around fiscal responsibility, public safety, and respect for working families. His campaign emphasizes restoring order to county government, cutting wasteful spending, and supporting first responders. "
— Katy Christian Magazine