A complaint filed with the Texas Ethics Commission accuses Letitia Plummer, the Democrat nominee for Harris County judge, of seven campaign finance violations. It remains unclear who submitted the complaint.
Plummer, a former Houston City Council member, won the Democrat nomination for county judge in a May 26 runoff upset over former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, taking 57,755 votes to Parker’s 55,213. She now faces Republican nominee Orlando Sanchez, a former Harris County treasurer, in the November General Election to replace outgoing Judge Lina Hidalgo.
The complaint alleges Plummer improperly paid a family member using campaign funds, accepted illegal contributions from corporations, failed to properly disclose payments made to her dentistry practice, and committed several other procedural and accounting errors. Plummer’s campaign has also drawn attention for filing finance reports late during the Primary Election season.
Among the specific allegations, the document points to a $10,000 payment Plummer made on June 2 to her dental practice, Maxwello Dental & Orthodontics, and a $5,000 payment to a family member on June 8 that her campaign labeled a rental expense. Those figures come from a report Plummer filed July 15, covering the period from May 17 through June 30.
The complaint also flags a $4,500 payment Plummer’s campaign accepted from her own business as a possible illegal corporate contribution, along with two additional donations from businesses that do not appear to be affiliated with Plummer. It further alleges her reported account balance came in nearly $8,000 short of what her stated contributions and expenditures would indicate, and that expenditures listed in her report lack the descriptions required under Texas election law.
Texas law bars candidates from converting political contributions to personal use, defined as spending that primarily serves individual or family purposes unrelated to campaign or officeholder duties. State law also generally prohibits corporations from making political contributions or expenditures, with limited statutory exceptions. Separately, candidates are required to include descriptions for expenditures listed on their campaign finance reports.
Plummer said in a statement that her team is aware of the complaint and has been in contact with the Texas Ethics Commission. “We are doing a full review,” Plummer said. “We will be ensuring compliance with campaign finance regulations and amend any public reporting if necessary.”
A spokesperson for Sanchez’s campaign said Sanchez has not submitted any ethics complaints against Plummer.
Complaints filed with the Texas Ethics Commission are generally handled confidentially during the review process, and any findings would likely not become public before the November election.
Plummer served on Houston City Council’s At-Large Position 4 from 2020 until resigning to run for county judge, and was the first Muslim woman elected to the council. She has practiced dentistry in the Houston area for more than two decades.
The county judge presides over the five-member Harris County Commissioners Court, a position responsible for adopting the county budget, setting tax rates, and overseeing county infrastructure.
