Who is running for Criminal District Judge, 486th District Court (Unexpired Term) in 2026?

Judge, 486th District Court (Harris County)

Governor Greg Abbott appointed Vanessa Velasquez judge of the 486th District Court in Harris County on July 13, 2026, for a term expiring December 31, 2026¹. She previously served as a Harris County assistant district attorney and as judge of the 183rd District Court from her 2005 appointment by Governor Rick Perry until she lost re-election in 2018, then served as a senior district judge¹²³. She is unopposed in the November 3, 2026 general election for the remainder of the term⁴.

• Judge, 486th District Court (Harris County), since July 2026, appointed by Governor Greg Abbott¹
• Senior district court judge, Eleventh Administrative Judicial Region, 2019 to 2026¹³
• Judge, 183rd District Court (Harris County), 2005 to 2018: appointed by Governor Rick Perry in 2005, won the 2010 general election with 57% against Democrat Michael Gomez, was unopposed in 2014, and lost to Democrat Chuck Silverman in 2018, 46.2% to 53.8%²³
• Former assistant district attorney, Harris County District Attorney's Office, and former defense attorney¹²
• Member, State Bar of Texas, Texas Center for the Judiciary, and Texas Association of Retired Former and Senior Judges¹
• B.A. in Political Science, University of Houston; J.D., South Texas College of Law¹
• Appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the 486th District Court on July 13, 2026, for a term expiring December 31, 2026¹. The seat was not on the March 2026 primary ballot; she is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot for the unexpired portion of the term⁴.