Harris County voters settled two contested primary runoffs Tuesday, locking in the nominees who will face off in November for the county judge seat being vacated by Democrat Lina Hidalgo, who announced last September she would not seek a third term.
On the Republican side, former Houston city councilman and Harris County treasurer Orlando Sanchez defeated insurance businessman Warren Howell, collecting 85,132 votes to Howell’s 49,288. Sanchez came out of the March primary with a plurality in a six-candidate field but fell short of the majority required under Texas primary rules to avoid a runoff.
The Democrat race produced a notable upset.
Former Houston city councilwoman Letitia Plummer edged out former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, 57,755 to 55,213. Parker had led Plummer by as many as 18 points in pre-runoff polling conducted by the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs.
Plummer, a dentist who spent five years on Houston City Council, had campaigned on reducing recidivism in the Harris County Jail and halting property tax increases. Parker was seen as the heavy institutional favorite heading into Election Day.
Sanchez and Plummer will now face each other in the November 3 General Election for Harris County judge, an office that carries responsibility for adopting the county budget, setting tax rates, calling bond elections, and overseeing county infrastructure.
In a separate race also on the Republican ballot Tuesday, incumbent Harris County GOP Chair Cindy Siegel held off challenger Don Hooper, winning 58 percent of the vote, 77,775 to 55,277. Siegel has led the Harris County Republican Party since 2020 and previously served as mayor of Bellaire.
