The next election for Harris County Judge will not be on the ballot until 2026, but it’s already shaping up to be a potentially intriguing race – particularly in the Democratic primary.
Judge Lina Hidalgo, first elected as the county’s chief executive in 2018, told the Houston Chronicle on Thursday she plans to run for a third, four-year term. She could get a primary challenge from Annise Parker, the former two-term Houston mayor who is considering a run for county judge, according to a source close to her who asked not to be named.
“I think what we are positioning ourselves for is a very tight race if that actually happens,” said Michael O. Adams, a professor of political science and public administration at Texas Southern University. “I think Annise Parker, certainly being the former mayor of the City of Houston, has name recognition. And she will be a very formidable opponent against the county judge.”
Parker, 68, who served as a Houston City Council member and city controller before becoming the city’s first openly gay mayor in 2010, did not immediately respond to a voicemail and email seeking comment Friday. She has served since 2017 as the president and CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, announcing earlier this year that she would be leaving the national nonprofit in December.
A spokesperson for the 33-year-old Hidalgo also did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday. Hidalgo told the Chronicle she is “really excited” to pursue another term while adding there are “big things I want to get done, particularly on the flooding piece.”
Adams said there had been questions about whether Hidalgo, a progressive Democrat considered a rising star in her political party, would seek reelection or pursue a higher office. She has feuded with some other local elected officials, including outgoing Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, a fellow Democrat whose office indicted three of Hidalgo’s former staffers on felony charges for allegedly steering a lucrative county contract for a COVID-19 vaccine outreach program to a preferred vendor. The contract in question was voided, but the criminal investigation is ongoing and is now being led by the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
Hidalgo also took about a two-month leave of absence last year to receive treatment for clinical depression. In light of that experience, Hidalgo told the Chronicle, “Now, I feel I can do anything.”
“There were some concerns about whether or not she would actually run,” Adams said. “I don’t want to say it’s surprising, but now we know that she’s there.”
Florian Martin/Houston Public Media
Hidalgo took office by unseating former County Judge Ed Emmett, a popular Republican, in 2018. That made her the first woman and first Latina to serve as the top executive of Texas’ largest county.
Hidalgo drew a well-funded Republican challenger in 2022 and narrowly won re-election, receiving 50.7% of the vote against Alexandra del Moral Mealer. Mealer subsequently filed a lawsuit challenging the results, along with many other local Republicans who lost, but dropped the lawsuit months later.
Being an incumbent again in 2026 figures to benefit Hidalgo, according to Adams, who said Parker would have some advantages of her own if she ends up running. Leading the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund gives Parker access to a nationwide network of potential donors, Adams said, and Parker also developed ties to local civic clubs and party precinct chairs during her time as mayor.
“Annise Parker will run very strong in terms of District C, which is basically the Montrose area. She would do well there,” Adams said, referring to a part of Houston with a significant LGBTQ+ population. “It would be interesting to see what Anglo vote Lina Hidalgo would be able to pull. It may come down to who gets the most Black votes. I think Annise Parker has some history of having forged good relationships with the Black community. That has been one of the criticisms in some circles, that Lina Hidalgo has neglected building relationships within the Black community.
“It would be interesting for these two candidates,” Adams added. “I think they will split some votes.”
