Texas general election: November 3, 2026

Who is running for Criminal District Judge, 497th District Court in 2026?

Here are the candidates for Criminal District Judge, 497th District Court on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Harris County. What does this office do?

Judges may not promise how they would rule, so we show experience and record instead of issue positions. How to research a judge.

Peyton Peebles

Republican · Incumbent

Judge, 497th District Court, Harris County

Peyton Peebles is the sitting judge of the 497th District Court in Harris County, a newly created court to which Governor Greg Abbott appointed him in January 2025¹². He is seeking election against Democratic nominee Breanna Schwartz¹³.

Judge, 497th District Court (Criminal), Harris County, appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the newly created court in January 2025¹²
Appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the newly created 497th District Court, with Ballotpedia listing the appointment date as January 7, 2025¹². Unopposed in the March 3, 2026 Republican primary¹. This is his first election for the seat.

Breanna Schwartz

Democrat

Criminal defense attorney, Houston; former Harris County prosecutor

Breanna Schwartz is a Houston criminal defense attorney and former Harris County prosecutor¹. She is the Democratic nominee challenging incumbent Peyton Peebles for judge of the 497th District Court²³.

Criminal defense attorney, Houston¹
Former prosecutor, Harris County District Attorney's Office¹
JD, University of Houston, 2012²
No prior judicial office found in the sources reviewed
Schwartz was unopposed in the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary for the 497th District Court². No prior judicial office was found.

Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.