Harris County is preparing for a change in leadership after Democrat Letitia Plummer defeated Republican Orlando Sanchez in the race for county judge.
Plummer’s victory marks a historic first. She will become Harris County’s first Black County judge and the first Muslim County judge in the nation. Now, with the election behind her, Plummer is turning her attention to the transition from outgoing County Judge Lina Hidalgo and the issues facing the county.
“Today, I’m announcing the start of our transition,” Plummer said during a news conference Wednesday.
Plummer said she has already met with Hidalgo and Houston Mayor John Whitmire. In the coming weeks, she plans to meet with county department heads, emergency management officials, the Harris County Flood Control District and first responders.
Plummer said she wants to use the transition to learn more about the job, understand the county’s needs and build relationships with the people responsible for providing services.
As county judge, Plummer will preside over Commissioners Court, help oversee a roughly $3 billion budget and serve as the county’s chief emergency manager. That includes helping prepare Harris County for hurricanes, flooding and other disasters.
“My job is to make sure that every resident is more secure, more prepared and better able to bounce back,” Plummer said.
She also wants to work more closely with Houston and other cities in Harris County, particularly on infrastructure and drainage projects.
For some residents, the change in leadership comes with hopes that longstanding problems will finally receive more attention.
Doris Brown, who lives in the Scenic Woods neighborhood, said she has spent eight years bringing concerns about flooding and county spending to Commissioners Court. Brown said her neighborhood floods during heavy rain and questioned why residents have not seen more flood-control improvements.
“We don’t want to be a sacrifice zone any longer. We pay taxes. Where our money going?” Brown said.
Brown said she was emotional after learning Plummer won the election. She hopes the incoming administration will bring more accountability and get projects moving in neighborhoods that have dealt with flooding for years.
Harris County Flood Control officials have said construction on federally funded projects is expected to begin by June. Brown said residents want to see work actually start in their neighborhoods.
Plummer also campaigned on changing the county’s approach to federal immigration enforcement.
She has opposed the county’s participation in 287(g) agreements, which allow certain local law enforcement officers to perform federal immigration-enforcement duties through agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The issue presents a challenge for the incoming administration as Texas law requires qualifying sheriffs’ offices to participate in the program.
Plummer has also spoken out against Harris County’s current contract with Flock Safety, which provides automated license plate reader cameras used by law enforcement.
She has called for changes to the county’s use of the technology and its contract with the company.
During Wednesday’s news conference, Plummer acknowledged that not everyone supported her campaign but said she intends to serve the entire county.
“I am judge-elect to every person in this county. Whether they could vote, couldn’t vote, or didn’t vote,” she said.
Plummer also addressed the financial pressures facing families, saying she wants to work with county commissioners to find savings while maintaining essential services.
Her transition team is accepting resumes from people interested in joining the incoming administration.
Plummer is expected to take office Jan. 1, 2027.
