Rising grocery prices are putting pressure on household budgets. For Houston-area voters, the question is what elected leaders can do to help—and what to look for when choosing who represents them.
Food prices nationwide increased about 27% between December 2020 and December 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index. That means groceries that cost $100 at the end of 2020 would cost about $127 by the end of 2025, on average. Actual increases vary by product. (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Charles Kuffner, a local political blogger, says rising food costs create difficult choices for families trying to cover everyday expenses.
“It’s a big pressure point on everybody,” Kuffner said.
What is driving food prices?
Kuffner points to several factors he believes contribute to higher grocery costs, including tariffs on imported goods and the cost of transporting food.
Tariffs can increase the cost of imported products, including some fruits and vegetables. Transportation costs also matter because groceries must be moved from farms and processing facilities to stores.
Many of these factors are influenced by federal policies, leaving local officials with limited direct control over grocery prices.
But Kuffner says county leaders can still make decisions that help families manage the cost of living.
Two things voters should look for1. Find out which candidates support assistance programs
Kuffner encourages voters to look closely at candidates’ plans for helping residents who are struggling to afford basic needs.
“Listen very carefully to what the candidates have to say about the things that our local government does to provide assistance to people who need it,” Kuffner said.
For voters, that means asking candidates which assistance programs they support, who would qualify for help and how those programs would be funded.
2. Look at plans to lower other household expenses
Grocery prices are only one part of a family’s budget. Housing, health care, transportation and utility bills can also leave families with less money for food.
Kuffner said county government can help in areas such as health care and other essential services.
“Where the county can make a difference is by providing health services, and making household costs more affordable. Like, electricity and providing transportation assistance. Even lowering the price of housing, itself” Kuffner said.
Voters can ask candidates whether they would invest in services that help residents manage those costs, what they would prioritize and how they would pay for those programs.
County leaders cannot control every factor that affects grocery prices. But their budget decisions can influence the services and assistance available to residents.
Where do the candidates stand?
Ahead of the election, KPRC 2 reached out to candidates running for Harris County commissioner and Harris County judge to ask where they stand on food affordability and assistance for residents facing rising costs.
Steve Radack – Harris County Commissioner Precinct 4 Candidate
“The county can help address food affordability by keeping property taxes low, reducing wasteful spending, and finding creative ways to get food to people in need. For example, the county could partner with food banks to process wild hogs into inspected meat for distribution, a program I activated during my most recent tenure. Additionally, there should be a focus on redirecting money spent on promotional materials, billboards, and bus wraps toward more meaningful services. During my 32 years in public service, I worked to prevent unnecessary tax increases that would have cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Ultimately, the county should prioritize residents’ basic needs and responsible spending rather than costly self-promotion.”
Commissioner Lesley Briones – Harris County Precinct 4 (re-election)
“The affordability crisis is real, and working families across Harris County are feeling the pain every day. Rising grocery prices are forcing people to choose between filling the fridge, paying rent, and keeping the lights on. Americans deserve a government focused on people, not partisan politics. In the face of unprecedented instability and cuts at the state and federal levels, my Harris County Precinct 4 team and I are doubling down on our commitment to supporting our community. Nearly 40% of Houston and Harris County households are food insecure, almost three times the national average. In Precinct 4, greater Sharpstown has the highest rate of food insecurity. Through our partnerships with Tejano Center’s La Tiendita, Second Servings of Houston, and Common Market, Harris County Precinct 4 offers free, fresh food markets and weekly food distributions at our community centers to ensure that families have nutritious meals on their table. Over the summer, in partnership with The Houston Food Bank’s Kids’ Cafe and Brighter Bites, we expanded our free meals program so children had healthy food when school is out and family budgets are stretched thinnest. Local government has a responsibility to step up; we stand ready to serve and will always prioritize people over politics.”
Richard Vega – Harris County Commissioner Precinct 2 Candidate
Many families across Harris County are struggling with food insecurity, a challenge made even more difficult by rising grocery prices that place an increasing burden on household budgets.
As a pastor, I understand the importance of working together to meet the needs of our communities. Over the years, I have organized numerous events to help families facing immediate challenges. As County Commissioner, I will strengthen partnerships with local food banks, churches, nonprofits, and farmers to expand food distribution, improve access to fresh produce, and connect families with available assistance programs.
I support efforts to reduce food waste by connecting food retailers with local food banks and nonprofits, while promoting community workshops on budgeting, meal planning, and nutrition to help families stretch their grocery dollars. I will also work with community partners to identify gaps in food assistance and evaluate the effectiveness of these efforts. We must build on the strong foundation of our faith-based organizations and community partners to help families meet their immediate needs while creating sustainable solutions that provide lasting support.
My goal is to bring people and resources together to address immediate food needs, improve access to affordable, nutritious food, and help families across Harris County build greater financial stability.
Commissioner Adrian Garcia – Harris County Precinct 2 (re-election)
“Addressing social determinants of health has been a priority of mine from day one. The fact that Precinct 2 has the highest mortality rate by 20 years and coincidentally has the highest healthy food deserts is not lost on me, which is why I am very proud of my work to reduce costs and food insecurity.
“This has been accomplished by my congregate meal program that delivers thousands of meals to seniors and vulnerable populations in Precinct 2. I also created a strategic partnership with Finca Tres Robles’ urban farm to create a nonprofit farm and grocery store along with a Precinct 2 program to deliver fresh eggs to those same families.
“These programs combined with my mobile health clinics have delivered real savings to people struggling to get by in this crippling Trump economy.”
Orlando Sanchez – Candidate for Harris County Judge
“Harris County families are feeling the pressure of rising costs every day, and food affordability is absolutely a growing concern for our residents. Higher grocery prices, combined with property tax bills that have skyrocketed in recent years, are squeezing household budgets. When families must choose between putting food on the table and paying other essential bills, it affects the entire community – our schools, our neighborhoods, and our local economy. As someone who emigrated to Houston as a child and has served this county for decades, I understand that government should not make life harder for the people who pay the bills. County government must control its own spending, eliminate waste, and prioritize core services so that taxpayers can keep more of what they earn.
Economic hardship places real strain on individuals and families who come into contact with the justice system. Financial pressure can contribute to stress, instability, and sometimes involvement in the courts, whether through minor offenses driven by desperation, challenges meeting bail or fine obligations, or difficulty navigating probation and court requirements while working multiple jobs or caring for children. As a former Harris County probation officer, I saw firsthand how lack of resources can complicate rehabilitation and compliance. A justice system that works must be efficient, fair, and focused on public safety while recognizing that prolonged case backlogs or excessive costs fall hardest on those least able to absorb them. Strong families and stable communities reduce the burdens on our courts and jails.
Within the role of Harris County Judge, I will work to ensure fair and equal treatment for individuals experiencing financial hardship by prioritizing efficient court operations, adequate staffing and resources for the justice system, and results oriented budgeting that supports public safety without unnecessary waste. The County Judge leads Commissioners Court in setting the budget and policy direction for county departments, including support for the courts, Sheriff’s Office, prosecutors, and related services. I will insist on measurable performance, faster case processing where appropriate, and accountability, so that justice is delivered promptly and evenly, regardless of a person’s economic circumstances. Treating people fairly includes making sure the system itself is not needlessly expensive or delayed for those already struggling. We must fully support law enforcement and the courts while demanding that every taxpayer dollar produces real results.
Harris County residents should know that economic hardship is not an abstract issue. It is a kitchen-table reality for too many of our neighbors. My perspective is shaped by experience: as a Cuban immigrant who built a life here, as a veteran, as a former City Council member and 12-year County Treasurer who returned money to the general fund through efficiencies, and as a candidate focused on lower costs, safer communities, and accountable government.
Education remains one of the most powerful tools to break the cycle of poverty and open opportunity. Public safety, flood protection, and fiscal discipline are not partisan talking points, they are the foundation for families to thrive. As County Judge, I will put Harris County families first by rooting out waste, lowering the property tax burden, completing projects taxpayers have already funded, and delivering measurable results. Together we can build a county where hard work is rewarded and every resident has a fair chance.”
Dr. Letitia Plummer – Candidate for Harris County Judge
1. Is food affordability a growing concern?
“Yes. Families don’t need the news to tell them, though it helps when a story confirms what they’re living. They see it at the checkout counter. Grocery prices in the Houston area are up roughly 28 percent since 2019, and fruits and vegetables jumped more than 7 percent last year alone. Two in five Harris County households struggle to keep nutritious food on the table. In homes with children, it’s half.
Families didn’t cause this. Republican policy choices did, and they landed hardest on the most vulnerable. Washington cut SNAP. Austin refuses to expand Medicaid, so a family that gets sick pays the hospital before it pays the grocer. And when county taxes go up without a full accounting, that money comes out of the same grocery budget. That’s why I opposed this year’s tax increase.”
2. How does economic hardship affect people in the justice system?
“One clarification for your audience first. The office I’m running for is called Harris County Judge, but it’s the county’s chief executive, not a judicial seat. The County Judge presides over Commissioners Court and leads emergency operations when disaster hits.
To your question: hardship turns a small problem into a life sentence. A missed shift because you were in court. A missed court date because you had no ride and no child care. A fine you can’t pay that grows into a warrant. An eviction filing that follows you for years. A mental health crisis answered by a patrol car instead of a clinician.
Too many families in this county are one missed paycheck from a crisis. Many work two and three jobs to keep a roof over their head, with no health insurance and no homeowners or renters insurance. Those of us blessed with financial security may never live that reality, but my constituents tell me these stories, and I am listening. I want a county where a mom or dad can come home at night and tell their kids, ‘Everything’s going to be all right’ and mean it.
Thirty years of Republican economic policy in Texas has widened the gap between the very rich and everyone else into a gulf. None of it has made Harris County safer. Hunger and poverty lead to poor health and delayed care, and untreated illness, especially mental illness, too often ends in our jail. Stable families are safe families.”
3. How can the office ensure fair treatment?
“The County Judge leads Commissioners Court, which writes the budget for the jail, the public defender, pretrial services and much of the courts’ operations. Fairness gets funded or starved in that budget. A budget shows you a government’s priorities, and mine puts people first. As County Judge, I will:
Fund public defense so people get a lawyer early, whatever is in their bank account.
Expand mental health response. On City Council, I won unanimous approval for Mobile Crisis Outreach Teams so police don’t handle non-violent mental health calls.
Keep eviction defense funded, because losing housing is how one bad month becomes homelessness.
Demand a safe, humane jail.
Apply one standard of justice from Tanglewood to the Third Ward.”
4. Anything else for residents?
“I’ve run a small business for more than 25 years. I know what rising costs do to a payroll and a household budget at the same time. During COVID, I launched Feed the Need with Houston chefs to get meals to seniors and hungry families. I also proposed container grocery stores, because too many of our working-class neighborhoods have no affordable place to buy fresh food. That’s the work I want to keep doing. Harris County needs a government that opens its books, spends every dollar carefully and makes Austin pay its fair share instead of passing the bill down to you.
That’s the real difference between my opponent and me. Orlando still runs on Ronald Reagan’s line that the nine most terrifying words in English are ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.’ After 30 years of Republicans running Texas, I’d update it. The eight scariest words now are ‘I’m a Republican, and I’m here to help.’ Reagan liked to borrow John Adams’ line that facts are stubborn things. Here’s one: Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the country under Orlando’s party.
My campaign is about where Harris County needs to be years from now. This county shouldn’t be punished for thinking differently or drained of its economic power by Austin. Representative government answers to the people. The people hold the government in check, and the government holds the powerful in check.”
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