The race to replace Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is headed to runoffs after no candidate reached the 50% threshold in the primary election.

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — The field has narrowed in the race to replace Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who is not seeking a third term in office. But it will apparently take two runoffs to determine the candidates who will face off in November.

On the Democratic side, former Houston Mayor Annise Parker and former Houston Councilmember Letitia Plummer are runoff-bound. With 100% of the vote counted, Parker has 46.62% of the vote, just under the 50% needed to win outright. Plummer has 37.29%.

For the Republicans, former Harris County treasurer and Houston Councilmember Orlando Sanchez finished the night in first place, but he also didn’t receive the necessary 50% to avoid a runoff. He received 26.46% of the vote. Fewer than 1,000 votes separate the candidates who finished No. 2 and No. 3. Business owner and Air Force veteran Warren A. Howell finished with 20.79% of the vote, and Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association President Marty Lancton had 20.57%.

The runoffs will be held May 26.


Three Democrats are running to take the seat:  

Matt Salazar, a business ownerLetitia Plummer, a two-term Houston CouncilmemberAnnise Parker, former three-term Houston mayor, who was the city controller before that.


Five Republican candidates are on the ballot:

George Harry Zoes, a Spring Branch-based entrepreneurWarren A. Howell a Harris County business owner who served in the Air ForceMarty Lancton, a longtime Houston firefighter and president of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters AssociationOrlando Sanchez, a former Harris County treasurer and Houston city councilmemberAliza Dutt, the mayor of Piney Point