UH Hobby School poll: Letitia Plummer leads Orlando Sanchez 47% to 40% in Harris County judge race

Democrat Letitia Plummer holds a 7 percentage point lead over Republican Orlando Sanchez in the race for Harris County judge, according to a new University of Houston Hobby School poll released ahead of early voting.

The survey found Plummer with support from 47% of likely voters, compared with 40% for Sanchez. Another 13% remain undecided.

The Hobby School polled 2,750 Harris County likely voters from Oct. 3 to Oct. 8. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.87 percentage points.

Plummer leads among women, with 54% support compared with 34% for Sanchez. She also has support from 86% of Black voters and 48% of Latino voters, compared with 8% and 38% for Sanchez.

Sanchez leads among white voters, 52% to 35%, and among voters over 55, 50% to 40%.

Mark P. Jones, a senior research fellow at the Hobby School, said white voters and older voters were more likely to support the Republican candidate. But he said that support was not enough to offset the advantage Democratic candidates had with younger voters.

The poll also found significant dissatisfaction with the county's direction. According to the survey, 71% of voters said Harris County is headed in the wrong direction, and 72% disapproved of the county's recent property tax increase.

Renée Cross, senior executive director of the Hobby School, said that disapproval has not translated into a desire to reverse the county's Democratic tilt.

The survey also looked at two other Harris County commissioner contests.

In Precinct 2, Democrat Adrian Garcia leads Republican Richard Vega, 52% to 40%.

In Precinct 4, Democrat Lesley Briones leads Republican Steve Radack, 49% to 41%.

Early voting begins Monday. The election is Nov. 3.

Voters will choose the next Harris County judge to fill the open seat.