With Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo stepping down, the question now is who will take the lead in the 2026 election. Several prominent candidates have already entered the race, setting the stage for a high-profile contest.
Who will replace Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo ? Race heats up with Democrats, RepublicansHouston braces for Wednesday late afternoon thunderstorms, no cold front in sight as mid-90 temps stick around Read full article: Houston braces for Wednesday late afternoon thunderstorms, no cold front in sight as mid-90 temps stick aroundRead full article: HISD Superintendent Mike Miles earns $173K bonus after annual 2024-25 evaluationLocal NewsWith Hidalgo stepping down, the question now is who will take the lead in the 2026 election.
Several prominent candidates have already entered the race, setting the stage for a high-profile contest.The Republican field includes firefighters union leader Marty Lancton, Piney Point Village Mayor Aliza Dutt, and former Harris County Treasurer Orlando Sanchez. Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University, said Annise Parker is the clear frontrunner. He noted her successful six-year tenure as mayor and her continued political involvement at the national level. “She represents the type of more centrist approach that a lot of Houstonians favor, like, say, John Whitmire, but also from a slightly more progressive perspective,” Jones said.When asked if the race is the Democrats’ to lose, Jones said Harris County remains a light blue area, making it difficult for Republicans to win even in favorable years. “2026, being a midterm with Donald Trump’s approval ratings going downhill, is likely to be a very tough year for Republicans,” he said. “It got even tougher with Lina Hidalgo’s decision not to run because one thing Republicans had going for them was the ability to campaign against an unpopular county judge.” Jones co-investigated a study with the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs that surveyed voters on the most important issues, including crime, cost of living, and property taxes. He said Democratic candidates will need to appeal to two different voter groups: a small, progressive base in the March primary that wants a fighter against Trump, and general election voters in November who focus on practical issues like public safety and infrastructure. “For Republicans, it’s sort of the reverse,” Jones explained. “Tie yourself as close as possible to Donald Trump in March, then focus on public safety, roads, and quality of life in November, because if you run as a pure Republican in November, you’re going to lose.” Potential candidates have until Dec. 8 to apply to get on the primary ballot. The primary election will take place on March 3, 2026, determining which candidates will appear on the November ballot.
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