ABC13 speaks candidly to candidates for Harris County judge race runoff

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- In 57 days, voters across Texas will head back to the polls to vote in several runoff elections. In southeast Texas, the ballots for both parties include candidates for Harris County Judge.

Two women, former Houston City Council member Letitia Plummer and former Houston mayor Annise Parker, will face off in a May 26th runoff for Harris County judge. This result follows incumbent judge Lina Hidalgo's announcement that she will not seek re-election in 2026.

Plummer was elected twice to the Houston City Council. Plummer, a practicing dentist, wants to take what she calls an inclusive approach to Harris County.

"I really felt like I was that progressive voice on city council," Plummer told ABC13. "I felt like our community needed a more progressive voice and someone who really understood the challenges that people, everyday people, are experiencing."

Her priorities include equal pay, disaster recovery, and conditions at the Harris County Jail.

"It's not just roads, bridges, and infrastructure anymore, parks, you know," she said. "It's things that make people function better. "

Parker, who also served on the city council and as Controller, the city's financial watchdog. Her priorities as county judge would remain the same as at city hall.

"The residents of this region have seen me operate," she said. "They know I'll stand up on principle, and I don't back down. (My priorities are) jobs and economic development. They are housing and making investments in housing. They're floodwater management. Obviously, public safety is important. We have to do all of the above."

Both see the runoff as an opportunity to build on the momentum of their primary campaigns, leading into a sprint to the finish in November when one of them will face a Republican for the county's top job. Orlando Sanchez and Warren Howell are seeking the GOP nomination and are also in a runoff on May 26.

Parker and Plummer are both guests on the current episode of our political program, This Week in Texas. You can watch their full interviews. Available on demand on our website abc13.com, our mobile app, and wherever you stream ABC13.