El Paso County
District Judge, 168th Judicial District
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
Open in the full comparison: El Paso County