Who is running for Criminal District Judge, 183rd District Court in 2026?

Attorney; former Judge, 507th District Court

Julia Maldonado served as judge of the 507th District Court (Harris County) from 2017 to 2024, after which she lost renomination in the 2024 Democratic primary¹. She was born in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, earned an accounting degree from the University of Houston-Downtown and a J.D. from Thurgood Marshall School of Law, and founded the J. Maldonado Law Firm¹. She is the Democratic nominee for the 183rd District Court against incumbent Republican Lance Long¹.

• Judge, 507th District Court (Harris County family court), elected 2016 (defeating incumbent Alyssa Lemkuil), re-elected 2020, left office December 31, 2024 after losing the March 2024 Democratic primary to Lillian Alexander¹
• Founder, J. Maldonado Law Firm, P.C.; background includes criminal defense work as a practicing attorney¹
• B.A. in Accounting, University of Houston-Downtown; J.D., Thurgood Marshall School of Law¹
• First elected to the 507th District Court in November 2016, re-elected in November 2020, then defeated in the March 2024 Democratic primary and left office December 31, 2024¹. She won the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary for the 183rd District Court against Katie Wilson, 50.1% to 49.9%, and is on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot¹².
• Bar poll: The Houston Bar Association's 2026 Judicial Preference Poll, a non-binding poll of HBA members on contested judicial races that the HBA says is not an endorsement, was open as of September 27, 2026, with results due October 9, 2026; no results were published as of this writing³.

Judge, 183rd District Court (Harris County)

Lance Long was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the 183rd District Court on December 31, 2024, filling the seat left by Kristin Guiney, and took office January 1, 2025¹. He is seeking a full term against Democratic nominee Julia Maldonado¹.

• Judge, 183rd District Court (Harris County criminal district court), since January 1, 2025¹
• Appointed by Governor Greg Abbott (R) to the 183rd District Court on December 31, 2024, to replace Kristin Guiney, and took office January 1, 2025¹. Advanced unopposed from the Republican primary on March 3, 2026, and is on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot for a full term¹².
• Bar poll: The Houston Bar Association's 2026 Judicial Preference Poll, a non-binding poll of HBA members on contested judicial races that the HBA says is not an endorsement, was open as of September 27, 2026, with results due October 9, 2026; no results were published as of this writing³.