One-on-one with Harris Co. Judge candidate Orlando Sanchez
November 23, 2025
Transcript
Greg Goonan (host):
A battle fully underway to carry the Republican banner in the race for Harris County judge, enter a contender familiar to most Houston voters and certainly conservatives, as we've reported former [Houston] mayoral candidate and Harris County treasurer Orlando Sanchez has thrown his well-known hat in the ring. We spoke about what he brings to the table.
Orlando Sanchez (candidate):
Years of experience, almost two decades in public service both at the city of Houston, and twelve years as [Harris County] treasurer, so a vast knowledge of this region and the problems faced by this region with the necessary tools to fix the issues. When half the population is asthmatic and a huge percentage of those don't even have English proficiency, it's good to be able to communicate with them in Spanish. I think in part Greg the reason I did so well in my elections both at the county and at the city were my ability to communicate with a vast swath of the population in Harris County, and as we all know Latinos are now giving conservative leaders a good look. It's happened all over south Texas, and it's starting to happen in Harris County. The Republicans took precinct 2; they took house district 144, so there's an opportunity for a conservative that has experience both at the city and at the county.
For 26 years and even when I served as Harris County treasurer the tax rate was never increased by the conservative Republicans of Harris County. The last two years we've had over 20 percent rate increase on top of the assessments assessed by Harris County appraisal district. People are tired of paying taxes and not having services delivered to them.
As you know I have tremendous relationships not only with the Harris County delegation but through my political action committee, which I started the largest Hispanic conservative PAC in Texas. We've helped legislators across the state of Texas. One example is we helped John Lujan win his south Bexar County district, house district 118. That was a Democrat district now held by a Republican. We've done that across the state. We trained Mayra Flores down in south Texas who became the first Mexican-born member of the U.S. Congress, so we have relationships not only at the federal level but also at the state level. I've known [Texas Lieutenant Governor] Dan Patrick for years. [Texas State Senator] Paul Bettencourt. [Texas Governor] Greg Abbott and I started our political career in 1992. I ran for Texas House of Representatives; he ran for state district court, so the relationships are long-lasting.
Before I started my political career I actually was an EMT for North Channel EMS. I spent thousands of hours in an ambulance responding to some of the most critical industrial scenes and highway accidents. I served two years with the United States Air Force, and I was a Texas National Guardsman for seven years. When there's a major disaster in the state, who's the governor call? It's the National Guard. We always prepared for disasters whether it was weather-related or security-related. As a guardsman, as a former EMT first responder, as a former city council member, and somebody that helped the finances of Harris County I'm prepared to lead when there's a natural disaster, a flood, or any given emergency situation.
I've been a solid Republican since 1992. I've never endorsed a Democrat. I've never contributed to a Democrat. I'm not a member of the Texas AFL-CIO. I am a solid Republican building the Republican party, winning counties over for the conservative side with the Latino votes, and I aim to do that in Harris County.
G. Goonan (host):
All right Charles, that was a partisan appeal, but this is a partisan primary, right?
Charles (panelist):
It is, and you can't deny the long history in the party and active history in the party, and he's the only candidate on both sides who can claim to have won a citywide and a countywide race, and so I think that's a really unique proposition there as well. It was a great interview. I think the thing that the Republicans all need to be concerned about or wonder is whoever gets through the primary how do you win now that [Lina Hidalgo]'s not going to be running? Because I think that was the motivating thing to get people out in November, and so how do you keep that momentum after the primary?
G. Goonan (host):
Yeah but the goal here is to win in November, and Sanchez faces a formidable candidate in Marty Lancton who has not been active or out there in Republican politics has some persuading to do.
? (second panelist):
People know Marty Lancton, and people were very sympathetic with the fire union, and the firemen getting what they needed to get from the city, but in Orlando's interview at the end he was taking shots at Marty - AFL-CIO, I've always been a Republican. Those are things that Lancton who I think is going to be able to raise a lot of money is going to have to answer in this campaign for him to get through.
I think Orlando is going to be a formidable candidate, but here's what this race is about. It's about the number three. You need three votes on [Harris County] commissioners court to change the world. Electing a Republican county judge with three Democrats still on commissioners court, nothing changes. The commissioners court is a train wreck, and it needs to be cleaned up.
G. Goonan (host):
Bill, the operative word here is winning the general, and Marty can put together a [Houston Mayor] Whitmire-type of coalition of Republicans and Democrats. I think that's the argument.
Bill (third panelist):
Well as far as the general election goes this race is so far down the ballot that what actually happens in that race doesn't make that much difference. It's all about what's going on nationally. Right now the way the polling's looking it's going to be a tough year for Republicans in [2026] across the board, so I don't know that all that makes that much difference to tell you the truth. I think Orlando is kind of the safe choice for Republican primary voters, and Marty's got a lot of big-name support, but Republican primary voters don't listen to those people.
G. Goonan (host):
Okay we're going to leave it there. Up next encrypted apps, secret conversations, and potentially laws broken. We will tell you why lawyers for Judge K.P. George are calling on Fort Bend County's district attorney to resign.