Mayor Annise Parker (left) and Letitia Plummer (right.)

Mayor Annise Parker (left) and Letitia Plummer (right.)

Houston Chronicle Staff

As both parties gear up for runoff elections for Harris County judge, Democrats Letitia Plummer and Annise Parker said they plan to double down on the strategies they fielded in the lead up to the March primaries. 

Although Parker, who served as Houston mayor for three two-year terms, finished with a 9-point lead over Plummer, a former at-large Houston City Council member, she fell just over 3% short of winning the nomination outright.

It’s an outcome that Nancy Sims, a political science lecturer at the University of Houston, said came as a surprise to many people. She attributed the result in part to the unexpectedly strong performance of Matthew Salazar, who finished third with 16% of the vote despite minimal campaign presence and spending.

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“It would have been an advantage if the Dems could have, like in (U.S. Senate nominee James) Talarico‘s case, cleanly nominated someone and given them that extra time,” Sims said. “But they’ll be on equal footing with the Republicans in November.” 

Both candidates said they don’t plan to pivot their campaigns in the coming weeks, but Sims said she expects to see more spending as Parker and Plummer work to distinguish themselves ahead of the May 26 runoff. 

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Annise Parker: Leaning into experience

Democrat Annise Parker, who is running in the primary election for her party’s nomination for Harris County Judge, talks to Julie Hall, a 7th grader who wanted to meet Parker, during an election night watch party in Houston, Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

Democrat Annise Parker, who is running in the primary election for her party’s nomination for Harris County Judge, talks to Julie Hall, a 7th grader who wanted to meet Parker, during an election night watch party in Houston, Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle

The looming runoff for Harris County judge will not be Parker’s first — she was first elected to an at-large position on Houston City Council following a runoff in 1997. She was twice reelected to the position, after which she went on to serve as city controller for three terms followed by another trio of two-year terms as Houston mayor. 

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With nine terms in office spanning 18 consecutive years, Parker said she hopes her experience will resonate with voters.

“I was the mayor of Houston. I have run a national organization. I’ve been in the business world. I’ve been a small business owner. I just think that my qualifications speak for themselves,” Parker told the Houston Chronicle. “People don’t have to speculate as to how I will lead, because I have led.” 

Following her departure from office in 2016, Parker briefly worked as a senior vice president for BakerRipley, a prominent Houston-based nonprofit focused on strengthening underserved neighborhoods through education, professional development and community organizing. She was later named president and CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, a political action committee dedicated to assisting LGBTQ+ candidates. 

Parker is the first openly gay candidate to win election in Houston and to serve as mayor of a major U.S. city, and would be the first to serve as Harris County judge if elected. 

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Parker thinks her vision for the office will tip the scales in her favor. 

“The voters want someone who will stand up to Trump and push back on state and federal overreach,” Parker said. “But they want government that works. They want a Commissioners Court where the commissioners and the county judge come together and tackle the agenda openly and transparently — moving in the same direction for the longterm benefit of Harris County.” 

Parker has centered part of that vision on the difference between “stupid fights” and “good trouble” — a reference to the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis’ call for “good trouble, necessary trouble” in the context of the Civil Rights Movement. It’s an aphorism that, for Parker, means the difference between inviting attacks from conservative state officials and standing up for the genuine needs of the people she hopes to represent. 

“Voters don’t want someone who will pick stupid fights,” Parker said. “They don’t want someone who will squander opportunities to do better for the future of Harris County to follow the political winds.”

Letitia Plummer: Fighting as the underdog

Harris County Judge candidate Latitia Plummer talks to voters outside of Hiram Clarke Multi-Service Center in Houston on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

Harris County Judge candidate Latitia Plummer talks to voters outside of Hiram Clarke Multi-Service Center in Houston on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle

While Parker seeks to leverage her experience, Plummer said her status as the “underdog” is something that works in her favor. She drew a contrast between Parker’s “dated” experience and her own, which she said represents a new generation of leaders more in tune with the needs of their constituents. 

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Plummer also characterized the former Houston mayor’s strategic approach to partisan disputes as a continuation of political norms that have been rendered ineffective by an aggressive federal administration and complicit state officials. 

“I just don’t think we’re in that space now. We’re fighting MAGA on every level. We can’t sit on the sidelines,” Plummer said. “One thing Parker says oftentimes is that there are stupid fights. I just don’t believe that. I don’t think any fight is stupid right now.”

Although Plummer finished more than 30,000 votes short of Parker, she feels she can make up that difference before the runoff.

“It’s just time to turn the page. And the voters are saying it across the state,” Plummer said. “People often talk about her experiences and what she’s done, but what people have to understand is her experience is dated, and we need someone that’s got new experiences.” 

Plummer initially lagged behind Parker on name recognition — a Hobby School of Public Affairs survey conducted in February found more than half of the likely primary voters surveyed were unfamiliar with her — but Plummer says her campaign has made strides in elevating her profile. 

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“Most of the people that saw her name on there knew who she was,” Plummer said. “When people went to that ballot box, they actually made a choice not to choose Parker and they chose me.”

KICKOFF: Houston council member Letitia Plummer launches bid for Lina Hidalgo’s seat for Harris County judge

Parker may have more years in elected office than Plummer, but Plummer dubs herself the “runoff queen,” having competed in a runoff election each time she’s run, with May being her fourth. 

A dentist by trade, Plummer launched her political career in 2018 with a campaign for Texas’ 22nd Congressional District. Although she was defeated in the runoff, she was back a year later with a campaign for the At-Large Position 4 seat on Houston City Council. She was elected following a runoff that pitted her against Anthony Dolcefino, son of award-winning journalist-turned-hired-gun Wayne Dolcefino. She won reelection in 2023 following her third runoff. 

If elected, Plummer would be the first Black person to serve as Harris County judge.

Early voting in the runoffs begins May 18.Â