Harris County Judge race candidates Letitia Plummer and Orlando Sanchez defended their bid for the seat in a debate.

Early voting for the midterm elections is underway, and the ballot for Harris County is long, experts warn. 

While the top-of-the-ticket candidates include the U.S. Senate and Congressional District races, several county positions are also up for election. This includes the Harris County Judge race, in which former Houston council member Letitia Plummer is running against Orlando Sanchez,  the former county treasurer and Houston mayoral candidate.

Current County Judge Lina Hidalgo is not seeking reelection.

In a recent debate hosted by FOX 26, the candidates presented their plans on managing Texas’ most populous counties and addressing issues like county spending, public safety, flood mitigation, jail reform, and immigration enforcement.

Fiscal oversight

Expansion of the workforce was one of the issues the candidates addressed.

Sanchez criticized the expansion plan, saying the county’s spending was “out of control” and noting that the county’s four highest-paid executive positions earn more than the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. Armed Forces. He pledged to implement audits and efficiency studies, similar to those done by the City of Houston.

“I’m going to look at key indexes to ensure that we’re being efficient.”

Letitia Plummer, Harris County Judge candidate

“We’ve got to stop the madness,” Sanchez said. “We then have to work collaboratively to make sure that we get the resources necessary from Austin and our partners in the federal government. There is a lot of money that is available to us, but we have a toxic relationship both with Austin and Washington.”

Meanwhile, Plummer defended the government service delivery process and acknowledged the need to “respect” tax dollars.

“I’m going to look at key indexes to ensure that we’re being efficient,” Plummer said. “I’m going to combine departments, not laying one off, but use technology to ensure that we’re being efficient in how we are running our county.”

Public safety and law enforcement

Public safety evinced deep division between the candidates.

Addressing the $70 million annual pay increase awarded to county deputies last year, Sanchez said that the primary mandate of any government is to ensure the safety of its residents. He scrutinized Plummer’s previous voting record, accusing her of trying to redirect police funding and cutting vacant police academy slots in 2020 when protests against the murder of George Floyd were at their peak.

“The number one job and priority of government is to protect its citizens,” Sanchez said.

Plummer countered by saying that her policies wanted to target non-critical vacancies during a time of a country-wide evaluation of policing. Her campaign was also endorsed by local police unions, she added.

“My opponent wants to build more jails, close schools and make sure that all the Black and brown folks are put in jails and don’t have the support that they need,” Plummer said.

Emergency management

The county judge, the presiding officer on Commissioners Court, casts their vote on adopting the county budget, setting the tax rate, calling for bond elections, and maintaining county infrastructure and the Harris County Flood Control District.

By state law, the county judge also leads emergency management efforts during natural disasters alongside the Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management.

Touting her on-the-ground experience through six natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic, Plummer said she would create “lily pads” or resiliency hubs during natural disasters. These, per her, would comprise generators, supplies, health care kits, and food. Last October, the Kashmere Gardens Multi-Service Center received a $900,000 generator, a measure spearheaded by Plummer, who was an at-large council member at the time.

“I’ve been through the storms with you,” she said. “I’ve currently led in those spaces, and I’m the most equipped to make sure that I lead you in our next storm.”

“I will find efficiencies, cut waste, root out fraud, and I will make Harris County affordable again.”

Orlando Sanchez, Harris County Judge candidate

Sanchez countered with his own experience going “through a multiplicity of storms and hurricanes and floods,” adding that his tenure as the county treasurer ensured that the county had enough funds to pay for its services. He also included working alongside Ed Emmett, the former county judge (2007-2019) and a state representative.

Why should voters choose either of them?

Both candidates listed the reasons why they would be best suited to serve in this role.

Plummer used her career trajectory as a dentist, opening two dental centers, as the basis for her understanding of the county’s healthcare system. Using the Commissioners Court’s attempt to eliminate the position of the county treasurer (Sanchez’s previous role), she argued that a disputed position does not indicate the ability to lead the county.

“Do you want someone that supports closing down our public schools, going to allow ICE in our communities, does not support the values that we believe in, does not support the values that we believe in, is supported by the MAGA Republicans, tearing our communities apart every single day, eliminating the American dream?” Plummer asked. “Or do you want someone who brings us hope?”


The office Sanchez is running for is “not a stepping stone,” he said. Citing Plummer’s sanction by the Texas Board of Dental Examiners and a recent report alleging she has seven campaign finance violations, including improperly paying a family member, Sanchez defended his candidacy.

“Spending is out of control,” he said. “Taxing is out of control…I will find efficiencies, I will cut waste, I’ll root out fraud, and I will make Harris County affordable again. We cannot maintain the status quo.”

I cover education, housing, and politics in Houston for the Houston Defender Network as a Report for America corps member. I graduated with a master of science in journalism from the University of Southern...