Letitia Plummer set to become next Harris County judge

Democrat Letitia Plummer is projected to win the Harris County judge election.

Republican Orlando Sanchez conceded the race to Plummer on Tuesday. Sanchez described the outcome as disappointing. Plummer thanked her supporters for what she called a historic victory. She noted that she is now the first African American county judge in the third-largest county in the United States.

The open seat resulted from current Judge Lina Hidalgo's decision not to seek reelection. Hidalgo is a Democrat. The two candidates debated policy positions last month. Topics included housing affordability, immigration enforcement, Flock cameras, and data centers.

Plummer criticized the existing Flock camera contract during the debate. She stated she would not support the contract as written. Plummer argued that a public use policy is necessary. She said the public needs to know who accesses Flock data and how long that information is stored in the database.

Plummer pointed to privacy challenges in many Black and brown communities. She said those groups face specific concerns regarding how data is handled. Plummer is scheduled to hold a press conference on Wednesday to discuss her transition into the role.

The election took place in Harris County, Texas. Plummer's win shifts control of the county court from a Republican challenger to a Democrat who previously served in the role. The office oversees civil and criminal cases in the county.