Plummer Defeats Sanchez to Become First Black Harris County Judge

Voters in Texas' most populous county elected a new judge on Tuesday, selecting Democrat Letitia Plummer over Republican Orlando Sanchez. Plummer secured the position with approximately 813,708 votes, representing 61% of the total. Sanchez received 521,501 votes, or 39%, before conceding the race that same evening. This result marks a change in leadership for the office after incumbent Lina Hidalgo chose not to run for a third term following eight years in power.

The victory makes Plummer the first Black woman to hold the Harris County judge seat. She is also the first Muslim elected to the position. Unofficial results from KPRC 2 confirmed the margin of victory. Plummer had previously served on the Houston City Council since 2019 and worked as a dentist before entering full-time politics. Her platform focused on affordable housing, public safety, and infrastructure improvements for county residents.

Plummer reached the general election after winning the Democratic primary. She defeated former Houston Mayor Annise Parker in a closely contested runoff. The outcome ends a period of partisan alternation in the role. A Democrat will succeed another Democrat in the Harris County judge office for the first time since 1958. Hidalgo, who served the last two terms, stepped down to allow new leadership to take over the county's administrative duties.

The election took place during the November 3, 2026, midterm cycle. Sanchez had challenged Plummer as the Republican candidate. Both candidates campaigned on issues central to local governance, including service delivery and community development. The final tally showed a decisive preference for the Democratic nominee across the county. Plummer now prepares to assume the responsibilities of the office currently held by Hidalgo.