Who is running for District Judge, 298th Judicial District in 2026?

Attorney in private practice (Dallas)

Clark B. Will is a trial attorney who says he has more than 45 years of civil litigation experience, served in the U.S. Army from 1981 to 1987, and has been a Dallas County election judge for ten years¹². He is the Republican nominee for the 298th District Court²³. He faces Democrat Ashley Smith in the November 3, 2026 general election³.

• Attorney; his campaign site states 45+ years of civil litigation in state and federal court, six years as a U.S. Army JAG officer, and ten years as a Dallas County election judge¹
• Bachelor's degree, University of Texas, 1977; law degree, St. Mary's Law School, 1980; U.S. Army, 1981 to 1987²
• Advanced from the March 3, 2026 Republican primary as the nominee for the open 298th District Court seat². Not previously a judge.

Partner, Fee, Smith & Sharp LLP (Dallas)

Ashley Smith is a civil trial attorney who joined the Dallas firm Fee, Smith & Sharp in 2019 and became a partner in 2023, after practice at three Houston-area firms¹. She won the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary for the 298th District Court². She faces Republican Clark B. Will in the November 3, 2026 general election³.

• Partner, Fee, Smith & Sharp LLP (joined 2019, partner 2023); earlier at three Houston-area law firms handling personal injury and wrongful death cases for both plaintiffs and defendants; named a Super Lawyers Rising Star three years running¹
• Law degree, Texas Tech University School of Law¹
• Won the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary against Tracie Shelby Williams for the seat Judge Emily Tobolowsky is leaving²¹. Not previously a judge.