Lina Hidalgo has dropped out of the 2026 Harris County Judge race after serving two terms in the position. Despite dropping out, she’s still taking time to bash the presumed Democratic frontrunner, Annise Parker, who previously served three terms as Houston mayor.

Hidalgo blasted Parker in a post on Facebook, asking her supporters not to support Parker and saying: “We do not need another John Whitmire, another Kim Ogg, etc. There is another option in our Democratic primary for County Judge.”

Hidalgo also called Parker “Kim Ogg 2.0.” Hidalgo has had a notable public feud with the former Harris County DA ever since an investigation was launched into her and her office.

It’s not entirely clear whether Hidalgo’s attacks on Parker are purely political or the result of her feud with Ogg. Gary Polland with Texas Conservative Review addressed that question, saying: “Annise Parker is a liberal. The difference may be politically that, based on Parker’s track record, she may be more of a fiscal conservative.”

That may very well be the reason Hidalgo felt the need to attack Parker. She has made big spending a key part of her administration, so a fiscal conservative succeeding her could be devastating to many of the expensive programs that would make up her legacy.

Polland did point out that, due to Hidalgo’s declining popularity, attacking Parker might end up having the exact opposite of its intended effect. “If Hidalgo is hostile to Parker, that becomes a plus in the November election,” he explained. “It may be a negative in the primaries, but if she gets to the general, it will help her.”

Polland also says Hidalgo’s attacks against Parker won’t really matter if they continue—and as of right now, he doesn’t believe Hidalgo will put in the time or money required to sustain her attack on Parker.

Kenny Webster