District Judge, 168th Judicial District

R. Wayne Pritchard

Republican

On ballot as: R. Wayne Pritchard
Current role: Attorney in private practice in El Paso; patent attorney and engineer
Background: Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering, Texas A&M University (1979)
Law degree, St. Mary's University School of Law (1987)
Licensed in Texas since 1987
Chemical engineer, Reynolds Metals Company, Corpus Christi (1979–1987) (per candidate)
Experience: Attorney in El Paso for 39 years, mostly as a solo practitioner (per candidate)
Specialty: intellectual property law, including patents, trademarks and copyrights (per campaign)
Admitted before the U.S. Patent Office, Texas state courts and federal courts in West Texas (per campaign)
Admitted before the Fifth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court (per campaign)
Republican primary (March 2026): unopposed
Top priorities: "I promise to move my docket along making sure that every person is given a fair opportunity to be heard"
Campaign site: "A judge should give everyone a fair opportunity to present their case"
Tidbits: Judicial philosophy: Campaign site: "A judge should give everyone a fair opportunity to present their case"
Court administration: In a KVIA questionnaire: "Too often, the legal system seems to take too long. I promise to move my docket along making sure that every person is given a fair opportunity to be heard."
Endorsements: None found in our research
Campaign website: pritchardforjudge.com

Bernardo Cruz

Democratic

On ballot as: Bernardo Cruz
Current role: Assistant County Attorney, El Paso County
Background: Bachelor's in business administration, UTEP
Law degree, Seattle University School of Law (2016)
Licensed in Texas since 2018
Born in El Paso; Cathedral High School graduate
Former banker in downtown El Paso, before law school (per candidate)
Experience: Attorney, ACLU of Texas, El Paso (from 2018)
Columbia Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm in Yakima, Washington; represented farm workers (start of legal career)
Has served on the board of Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, including as board president
Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): finished second, 34%
Democratic primary runoff (May 26): won, 54.6%
Top priorities: "my priority would be to ensure the efficient resolution of cases in a manner that respects parties' legal rights"
Campaign site: "Everyone who enters the courtroom deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their background"
Campaign site: "A judge is first and foremost a public servant"
Tidbits: Judicial philosophy: In the League of Women Voters guide, says a judge's responsibility "is to listen to both sides, apply the law fairly, remain impartial, and make sure every person who comes before the court is treated with dignity and respect"
Court administration: In an April 2026 El Paso Matters Q&A: "my priority would be to ensure the efficient resolution of cases in a manner that respects parties' legal rights"
Endorsements: U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar (primary runoff)
County Attorney Christina Sanchez (primary runoff)
Former District Attorney Jaime Esparza (primary runoff)
Campaign website: bernardocruzforjudge.com