Annise Parker, former Houston Mayor, is poised to re-enter Houston politics, announcing her candidacy for Harris County Judge in 2026. This sets the stage for a potential Democratic primary challenge against incumbent Lina Hidalgo, who has held the seat since 2019 and narrowly secured re-election in 2022.
Hidalgo has not yet publicly committed to her 2026 plans. Parker is the first prominent Democrat to declare a run for the position overseeing the Commissioners Court of Texas’ most populous county.
In a statement, Parker articulated her campaign’s core objectives: “I’m running for Harris County Judge to keep our county safe, affordable, and thriving. I’m running to fight the chaos that is hurting our seniors, families, and small businesses. I’m running to fight for US.”
Parker also took aim at Republican President Donald Trump, who began his second term in January, stating, “Donald Trump is throwing millions of Americans off healthcare to fund tax cuts for billionaires – and gutting FEMA, which pays for our local response to hurricanes, flooding, and major disasters.”
Historically, Parker made history in 2010 as the first openly LGBTQ+ mayor of a major American city. She served two terms as Houston’s mayor and has been out of politics since 2016. She holds the distinction of being the only individual to have served as mayor, controller, and council member in Houston.
Following her mayoral tenure, Parker served as CEO and President of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, a political action committee, a position she resigned from in December 2024.
Currently, the only other candidate in the Harris County Judge race is Aliza Dutt, the Republican Mayor of Piney Point Village, who was elected in 2024.