Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

Judge, County Court at Law No. 9

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

Bexar County
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked
Daphne Previti AustinDaphne Previti AustinRepublican
Jessica A. GonzalezJessica A. GonzalezDemocratic
On ballot as
Daphne Previti Austin
Jessica A. Gonzalez
Current role
Attorney
Criminal defense attorney
Background
  • B.A. in international relations, University of Delaware (1989)
  • J.D., St. Mary's University School of Law (1996)
  • Licensed Texas attorney (since 1997)
  • Board certified in juvenile law
  • Lives in San Antonio
  • B.A. in history, Old Dominion University (2000)
  • Law degree, St. Mary's University School of Law (2004)
  • Licensed Texas attorney (since 2004)
  • Volunteer, Junior League of San Antonio (per candidate)
  • Executive board member, San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (per candidate)
Experience
  • Collaborative Council of the Judicial Commission on Mental Health (2018–2025) (per candidate)
  • Judge, 289th District Court (elected 2014; served 2015–2018; lost 2018 reelection race)
  • Creator and presiding judge, boys' mental health court (while on the bench; per candidate)
  • Juvenile law referee, 436th District Court (appointed 2010)
  • Bexar County District Attorney's Office (more than ten years), followed by private practice
  • Defense attorney for adults and juveniles accused of crimes (last 13 years, per candidate)
  • Prosecutor, Bexar County District Attorney's office (nearly eight years)
  • As a prosecutor, helped draft legislation denying bail in certain family violence cases (per candidate)
  • Democratic primary (March 2026): won three-way race
Top priorities
  • "The judge's role is to referee ruling on the offerings of the offense and defense."
  • "Our citizens deserve to have timely resolution of their legal issues."
  • "I am ready to serve and will hit the ground running."
  • Says "an independent, fair, and competent judiciary will interpret and apply the laws that govern"
  • Says she hopes "to bring a speciality court to address the needs of young offenders in Bexar County"
  • Cites her "commitment to due process and promise to protect the fundamental rights of all persons"
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "The judge's role is to referee ruling on the offerings of the offense and defense."
  • Court administration: Campaign site: "Our citizens deserve to have timely resolution of their legal issues."
  • Judicial philosophy: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire, cites the canon that "an independent, fair, and competent judiciary will interpret and apply the laws that govern"
  • Court administration: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire, says she hopes "to bring a speciality court to address the needs of young offenders in Bexar County"
Endorsements
None found in our research
None found in our research
Daphne Previti Austin

Daphne Previti Austin

Republican
On ballot as
Daphne Previti Austin
Current role
Attorney
Background
  • B.A. in international relations, University of Delaware (1989)
  • J.D., St. Mary's University School of Law (1996)
  • Licensed Texas attorney (since 1997)
  • Board certified in juvenile law
  • Lives in San Antonio
Experience
  • Collaborative Council of the Judicial Commission on Mental Health (2018–2025) (per candidate)
  • Judge, 289th District Court (elected 2014; served 2015–2018; lost 2018 reelection race)
  • Creator and presiding judge, boys' mental health court (while on the bench; per candidate)
  • Juvenile law referee, 436th District Court (appointed 2010)
  • Bexar County District Attorney's Office (more than ten years), followed by private practice
Top priorities
  • "The judge's role is to referee ruling on the offerings of the offense and defense."
  • "Our citizens deserve to have timely resolution of their legal issues."
  • "I am ready to serve and will hit the ground running."
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "The judge's role is to referee ruling on the offerings of the offense and defense."
  • Court administration: Campaign site: "Our citizens deserve to have timely resolution of their legal issues."
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
electdaphne.com
Jessica A. Gonzalez

Jessica A. Gonzalez

Democratic
On ballot as
Jessica A. Gonzalez
Current role
Criminal defense attorney
Background
  • B.A. in history, Old Dominion University (2000)
  • Law degree, St. Mary's University School of Law (2004)
  • Licensed Texas attorney (since 2004)
  • Volunteer, Junior League of San Antonio (per candidate)
  • Executive board member, San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (per candidate)
Experience
  • Defense attorney for adults and juveniles accused of crimes (last 13 years, per candidate)
  • Prosecutor, Bexar County District Attorney's office (nearly eight years)
  • As a prosecutor, helped draft legislation denying bail in certain family violence cases (per candidate)
  • Democratic primary (March 2026): won three-way race
Top priorities
  • Says "an independent, fair, and competent judiciary will interpret and apply the laws that govern"
  • Says she hopes "to bring a speciality court to address the needs of young offenders in Bexar County"
  • Cites her "commitment to due process and promise to protect the fundamental rights of all persons"
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire, cites the canon that "an independent, fair, and competent judiciary will interpret and apply the laws that govern"
  • Court administration: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire, says she hopes "to bring a speciality court to address the needs of young offenders in Bexar County"
Endorsements
None found in our research