Sarah Grunau/ Houston Public Media
Local firefighters union president Marty Lancton, a top Republican candidate for Harris County Judge, has raised more than $500,000 in his upcoming bid for the seat — outpacing the leading Democratic candidate, former Houston Mayor Annise Parker.
But while Lancton received several high-dollar donations from some business owners and real estate moguls, Parker, who drew in roughly $416,000, received about 115 more donations than Lancton, according to recent campaign finance reports filed this week.
His lead in campaign funds comes weeks after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced his endorsement of Lancton in the county judge’s race, vowing to devote a significant part of his war chest to Lancton’s campaign and a consolidated effort to turn elected Harris County seats red. Lancton’s campaign finance report did not include any direct donations from Abbott.
A 2025 University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs survey — which was conducted before Lancton threw his hat in the ring — showed Harris County voters slightly favored Parker in this year’s county judge election. Other candidates trailed behind Parker, like Democratic Houston City Council member Letitia Plummer, who received a 2% net favorability for the position.
Plummer did not file a campaign finance report through the Harris County Clerk’s Office by the Jan. 15 reporting period deadline. Her campaign made a July 8 filing appointing a treasurer, and a Jan. 12 filing giving her authorization to file financial reports. A spokesperson for Plummer’s campaign did not immediately return a message seeking comment Friday.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced last year she would not seek reelection for her seat. Her recent campaign finance report shows she pulled in about $1,800 in the latest reporting period and spent more than $280,000. Many of those expenditures went towards her Japan trade mission, which was aimed at garnering more business for the county.
Republican candidate Aliza Dutt, the mayor of Houston suburb Piney Point Village, brought in $42,000 in donations. Republican Warren Howell raised just under $4,500.
Oscar Gonzalez, a retired Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputy and Republican, raised about $2,200 in donations in his bid for the seat.
Some of Lancton’s heftiest campaign donations include a $50,000 gift from a Washington D.C.-based firefighters association political action committee, another $50,000 from his own union’s political action committee and various top-dollar donations from some local business owners.
Parker’s top donations include $20,000 from Gilbert Garcia, a managing partner of a Houston-based asset management firm. She also received $10,000 from Ken Bohan, treasurer of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, a political action committee founded by Parker, and another $10,000 donation from former Port Houston Commissioner Theldon Branch III.
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