HOUSTON – Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced she will not seek re-election, opening the door for a competitive race to fill the influential position.
PREVIOUS: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo not running for reelection, office confirms
With Hidalgo stepping down, the question now is who will take the lead in the 2026 election. Several prominent candidates have already entered the race, setting the stage for a high-profile contest.
So far, five candidates have declared their intentions. On the Democratic side, former Houston Mayor Annise Parker and City Council member Letitia Plummer are running.
The Republican field includes firefighters union leader Marty Lancton, Piney Point Village Mayor Aliza Dutt, and former Harris County Treasurer Orlando Sanchez.
Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University, said Annise Parker is the clear frontrunner. He noted her successful six-year tenure as mayor and her continued political involvement at the national level.
“She represents the type of more centrist approach that a lot of Houstonians favor, like, say, John Whitmire, but also from a slightly more progressive perspective,” Jones said.
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When asked if the race is the Democrats’ to lose, Jones said Harris County remains a light blue area, making it difficult for Republicans to win even in favorable years.
“2026, being a midterm with Donald Trump’s approval ratings going downhill, is likely to be a very tough year for Republicans,” he said. “It got even tougher with Lina Hidalgo’s decision not to run because one thing Republicans had going for them was the ability to campaign against an unpopular county judge.”
Jones co-investigated a study with the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs that surveyed voters on the most important issues, including crime, cost of living, and property taxes.
He said Democratic candidates will need to appeal to two different voter groups: a small, progressive base in the March primary that wants a fighter against Trump, and general election voters in November who focus on practical issues like public safety and infrastructure.
“For Republicans, it’s sort of the reverse,” Jones explained. “Tie yourself as close as possible to Donald Trump in March, then focus on public safety, roads, and quality of life in November, because if you run as a pure Republican in November, you’re going to lose.”
Potential candidates have until Dec. 8 to apply to get on the primary ballot. The primary election will take place on March 3, 2026, determining which candidates will appear on the November ballot.