What this office does
The County Judge is the presiding officer of Harris County Commissioners Court, the county's main governing body, which handles administrative, legislative and judicial functions — adopting a budget, setting tax rates, calling bond elections, and overseeing county infrastructure such as roads and bridges along with courthouses, jails, libraries, parks and the Harris County Flood Control District. By state law the County Judge is also the county's director of emergency management, leading the Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management.
Leads Harris County Commissioners Court: the county budget, flood control district, public health, and the jail. Re-elected 2022.
Election watch
The County Judge seat is on the November 3, 2026 ballot, but Judge Hidalgo is not a candidate — when she first ran in 2018 she pledged to serve only two terms. See "Your ballot" for who is running.
The Commissioners Court approved reappointing Tonyel Edwards to the Harris County Resources for Children and Adults Board, a nomination from the County Judge, for a term ending September 22, 2029.
The Commissioners Court approved reappointing Bethanie Van Horne to the Harris County Resources for Children and Adults Board, a nomination from the County Judge, for a term ending September 22, 2029.
The Commissioners Court approved reappointing Marcia Johnson to the Board of Directors of the Harris County Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corporation, a nomination from the Commissioner of Precinct 1, for a term ending September 22, 2032.
The Commissioners Court approved appointing Janae Ladet to Position 7 on the City of Houston Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Number 26 (Sunnyside) board, a nomination from the Commissioner of Precinct 1, for a term ending December 31, 2027.
The Commissioners Court approved appointing Adrian Collins to the Harris County Industrial Development Corporation Board of Directors, a nomination from the Commissioner of Precinct 1, for a term ending September 22, 2028.
The Commissioners Court approved reappointing Brandon Dudley to Position 8 on the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority Board of Directors, a nomination from the Commissioner of Precinct 1, for a term ending August 31, 2028.