Letitia Plummer wins Democratic nomination for Harris County judge
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Letitia Plummer (left) and Orlando Sanchez (right). Photo: Karen Warren via Getty Images and Sanchez's campaign.
Letitia Plummer narrowly defeated Annise Parker in the Democratic runoff for Harris County judge, according to unofficial results.
Why it matters: The race came down to a couple thousand votes, with Plummer, a former Houston City Council member, edging out Parker, a former Houston mayor who had been seen as the frontrunner.
- The November election will determine who succeeds Judge Lina Hidalgo to run the nation's third largest county. The contest has been one of Texas' most closely watched local races.
The latest: Plummer will face Republican runoff winner Orlando Sanchez in the November general election.
By the numbers: Plummer edged out Parker with 57,755 votes, or 51%, compared to Parker's 55,213 votes, or 49%, according to the Harris County Clerk's office.
- Orlando, previously Harris County treasurer, won the Republican nomination with 63% of the vote over businessman Warren Howell, who got 37%.
The intrigue: Plummer overcame a significant polling deficit with a campaign rooted in community outreach, despite trailing Parker in the primary.
- A strong early vote turnout for Plummer was driven by the competitive 18th Congressional District, "which consists predominantly of Black voters who overwhelmingly support Plummer and anemic turnout in the rest of the county by older white voters who are Parker's core base of support," Rice University political scientist Mark Jones told Axios as votes were being tallied Tuesday night.
- He notes the redrawn 18th district, for which U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee won the Democratic nomination, accounted for more than one-third of all early votes cast in Harris County.
What they're saying: Plummer earlier Tuesday night said that her campaign had "surpassed every single expectation," adding "we have done the work, we have met the people where they are."
- Parker chalked up her early trailing Tuesday evening to lower turnout, saying "while I didn't think my opponent could beat me, low turnout absolutely could," to news media.
Context: Harris County has leaned Democratic — Hidalgo flipped the county judge seat in 2018.
- But Republicans — backed by Abbott and his political operation — have poured money and organizing into Houston-area races as part of a broader push to flip the county back red.
- Yes, but: Abbott-endorsed candidate Marty Lancton didn't make the runoff.
What we're watching: Plummer and Sanchez bring years of public office experience to the race, setting up a matchup between two well-known figures in Houston-area politics as Democrats try to maintain their advantage in Harris County.
What's next: Election Day is November 3.