Hobby School Poll: Parker, Sanchez Lead Harris County Judge Primaries

The University of Houston Hobby School poll, fielded Feb. 3-10 among 2,000 likely Democratic primary voters and 2,000 likely Republican primary voters, shows Annise Parker leading the Democratic race for Harris County judge at 46% to Letitia Plummer’s 25%, with Matt Salazar at 5% and 24% of Democrats undecided, the survey reported with a margin of error of +/- 2.19%.

The same Hobby School survey finds Orlando Sanchez atop the Republican field at 21%, Marty Lancton at 10%, Aliza Dutt at 7% and three other GOP candidates combined at 8% in one summary; HoustonDaily reports 54% of Republican respondents remain unsure about their choice, underscoring widespread GOP uncertainty as early voting continues. HoustonPress noted Lancton has “outraised his opponents with about $500,000 in his coffers, according to campaign finance reports filed last month,” and added that “Republican Governor Abbott endorsed Lancton as part of his effort to turn Harris County ‘dark red’ in this year’s midterm elections.”

Renée Cross, researcher and senior executive director at the Hobby School, tied Parker’s lead to her prior public service record and continued visibility in local advocacy politics: “Parker hasn’t held elective office in more than a decade, but her years as an at-large city council member, city controller and mayor, and her work in advocacy politics before and after she left office, cemented her reputation among Democratic voters.” Cross also noted voter familiarity gaps for Plummer: “We found that voters who are familiar with Plummer have favorable views, but slightly more than half said they don’t know enough about her to have an opinion.”

Beyond the county judge contests, the Hobby School toplines show notable favorability and chair-race numbers in Harris County. Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis posts a net favorability of 50% among Democrats, Traci Gibson leads the Democratic county chair field at 15%, and Cindy Siegel leads the Republican chair contest at 18%, according to HoustonDaily summaries and the poll release. OfftheKuff highlighted high undecided totals in other local GOP primaries: 64% unsure for county clerk, 66% unsure for treasurer and 75% unsure for Harris County Republican Party chair.

Campaign context remains active as voters head to the polls. “Early voting began Tuesday and runs through February 27. The winners of the March 3 primaries will face off in November,” HoustonPress reported, framing the county judge contest as a referendum on party direction rather than routine county administration: “Thus far, the county judge’s race has not been about roads and bridges or minimizing a budget deficit. It’s about which Democratic candidate is the most progressive and whether a Republican can take back the seat.”

The full Hobby School report and additional 2026 primary analyses, including U.S. Senate and congressional primary toplines, are available on the Hobby School website for reporters and voters seeking the complete questionnaires, cross-tabs and methodological detail.