Hidalgo went public with her decision on Monday in an interview with ABC13's Melanie Lawson.
She said that she never planned on staying in the position for decades and is ready for a new challenge, though she will keep serving the public in some capacity outside of elected office.
"When I first was elected, I decided I would only do two terms," Hidalgo said, "and I have decided to keep that promise and not seek a third term, and so no, I will not be running again."
When asked why she made that decision, Hidalgo said, "Look, the first time I was elected, I said immediately, 'I don't want to do this for 30 years. I don't want to have more than two terms.' My advisors at the time said, you know, 'Don't say that. Don't say that.' But the fact of the matter is, I did not run to build an empire."
Hidalgo was first elected in 2018, defeating longtime Judge Ed Emmett. She was 27 years old at the time, and faced a quick learning curve, and while her star rose nationally in progressive circles, she faced opposition within the Commissioner's Court and was censured this summer after a public spat over funding early childhood education.
Though she is not running, Hidalgo told reporters on Tuesday she still has work to do.
"People might think that I'm giving up during a difficult time, and I don't want that to be the takeaway," she said. "And here's why I didn't make my decision based on that. Because I can't be arrogant enough to think I'm the only person that can be there and make a difference."
A host of candidates have already announced their intentions to run for Harris County Judge in 2026, and she said part of her decision to announce now is to give additional candidates time to enter the race and be competitive, but Hidalgo said Tuesday she plans not to endorse.
She narrowly won reelection in 2022. Those two terms, she says, are enough, and she's ready for a new way to serve the public.
"I have not been trying to look for another job just yet," she said on Tuesday. "I have been totally focused on my mission. I plan to continue to focus on my mission. The only thing I can say is that I'll stay involved in public service. I don't know in what capacity. "
Hidalgo has enjoyed successes and became a national political figure, but at home faced challenges, most recently public spats with the commissioners' court over spending and the budget.
"So I know that I can be stubborn and that might come as offensive to some people, but I am very dedicated to the issues that I fight for," Hidalgo told Lawson on Monday. "They are all community issues. They're not issues that benefit me in any way, and I'm very proud of that. I mean, I don't think anybody does things perfectly. And I know there are things that I could have done better, or there are some things that we did very well. And the fact of the matter is, we move on."
Hidalgo has not ruled out a future run for office, but she won't be on a ballot in March or November 2026.
For updates on this story, follow Tom Abrahams on Facebook, X and Instagram.