Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has urged Democrat primary voters to reject former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, inserting herself into the race for who will succeed her and deepening a growing divide inside the county’s Democrat Party.
In a Facebook post, Hidalgo warned voters against backing Parker, calling her “Kim Ogg 2.0” and accusing the former mayor of governing in ways that do not align with Democrat priorities. Hidalgo later echoed that message on X, arguing that Parker would follow the same governing approach she has criticized in Houston Mayor John Whitmire.
“Today, I want to send a clear message to Democratic primary voters in Harris County: Annise Parker doesn’t represent our values,” Hidalgo wrote, adding that Parker would run on the Democrat ticket but govern as a Republican.
Hidalgo did not endorse another candidate, but listed several grievances she said voters should consider. She pointed to Parker’s endorsement of former District Attorney Kim Ogg in 2022 and her refusal to support Hidalgo’s reelection bid that same year. Ogg, a Democrat who clashed repeatedly with Hidalgo while in office, later lost the party’s primary after years of intraparty conflict.
Hidalgo also accused Parker of inviting the state takeover of the Houston Independent School District. Parker has previously said her early comments supporting intervention were made as a frustrated parent at a time when she believed the district’s elected board was dysfunctional. She has since criticized the state’s handling of the takeover and called for the return of an elected board.
Parker responded to Hidalgo’s remarks by dismissing the criticism and shifting focus to what she described as larger political fights.
“My record of public service — stable, responsible, drama-free leadership — speaks for itself,” Parker said in a statement. “I’m running to fight Donald Trump and Greg Abbott, not to engage in Democratic infighting.”
The exchange comes as Democrats in Harris County continue to clash over party direction and loyalty, even as Republican leaders have signaled they intend to target the county in upcoming elections.
Just this past weekend, Democrat precinct chairs voted to deny Houston Mayor John Whitmire access to future party endorsements, citing concerns that he has worked too closely with Republican officials and failed to confront the Trump administration. Hidalgo publicly encouraged party activists to support that resolution, brushing aside warnings from other Democrats that the move could fracture the party.
Whitmire pushed back, emphasizing that Houston’s mayoral office is nonpartisan and that his administration follows state law, including statutes governing cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Several prominent Democrats opposed the resolution, arguing that working across party lines is sometimes necessary to govern a city the size of Houston.
While Hidalgo has positioned Parker as emblematic of a political approach she rejects, other Democrats have lined up behind the former mayor. Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia has endorsed Parker, calling her a capable leader prepared to stand up to state and federal Republicans.
Political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus of the University of Houston said the disputes reflect an ongoing struggle inside the local Democrat Party over direction and control. He said, “It’s a full-scale conflict that the Democrats have to win if they’re going to hold Harris County blue. There’s a wing of the party that wants to really push the progressive agenda and have candidates lock into that, but there’s also a wing of the party that wants to present as moderate. The party has got to figure out what its strategy is going to be.”
The race to replace Hidalgo, who is not seeking another term, is already taking shape ahead of the 2026 election cycle. On the Democrat side, Parker is running alongside Houston City Council Member Letitia Plummer. Several Republicans have also entered the contest, including Matthew Salazar, Aliza Dutt, Warren Howell, Oscar Gonzales, Marty Lancton, Orlando Sanchez, and George Zeos.
Texas’ primary elections will be held March 3, 2026, with a runoff election scheduled for May 26, if necessary. The General Election for Harris County judge is set for November 3, 2026.
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