Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

District Attorney, 268th Judicial District

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

Fort Bend County
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked
Shawn McDonaldShawn McDonaldRepublican
Brian M MiddletonBrian M MiddletonDemocratic Incumbent
On ballot as
SHAWN MCDONALD
BRIAN M MIDDLETON
Current role
Attorney in private practice in Sugar Land (criminal law)
Fort Bend County District Attorney (elected November 2018; since January 2019)
Background
  • Bachelor of Science in criminal justice, University of North Carolina at Charlotte (per campaign)
  • Law degree, St. Mary's University (2000)
  • Licensed to practice law in Texas since 2001
  • Board certified in criminal law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • Clerked for the Presiding Judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (per campaign)
Show all 7
  • Has taught criminal law and trial advocacy at Thurgood Marshall School of Law (per his Ballotpedia survey)
  • Has served on the board of Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers (per campaign)
  • Bachelor of Arts in economics, University of Houston (1994)
  • Law degree with honors, Thurgood Marshall School of Law (1997)
  • Lamar High School graduate (1990)
  • Graduate, Wharton County Police Academy (per campaign)
  • Licensed to practice law in 1997
Show all 7
  • Licensed peace officer
  • Born in Houston
Experience
  • Associate Municipal Court Judge, Sugar Land (confirmed by Sugar Land City Council, June 2021)
  • Special Prosecutor (appointed), Sandra Bland case (per campaign)
  • Criminal defense practice, Sugar Land, opened 2006 (per campaign)
  • Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office, from 2004 (per campaign)
  • Felony prosecutor, Henderson County; start of career (per campaign)
  • First chair in nearly 100 jury trials (per campaign)
  • Earlier worked in the Texas Attorney General's Habeas Corpus Division
  • Earlier a briefing attorney, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
  • Former assistant district attorney, Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office
  • Founder, Middleton Law Firm (2003)
  • Served as municipal prosecutor, Meadows Place, Wallis and Jersey Village
Show all 7
  • Served as a judge, Jacinto City
  • 2022 Texas Prosecutor of the Year, State Bar of Texas and Texas District & County Attorneys Association (per campaign)
Top priorities
  • "My top priority is community safety, working side by side with law enforcement and keeping victims at the center of the process" (Community Impact Q&A)
  • "I'll reduce unnecessary dismissals, bring serious cases before juries and ensure pre-trial diversion is reserved for appropriate cases"
  • Campaign site: "Reduce case backlogs, eliminate unnecessary case dismissals, and ensure swift prosecution"
  • Says he will "hold regular community forums" and "publicly report the office's performance"
  • Top priority: "Reduce crime, reduce harm and help youth." (Community Impact Q&A)
  • "The county is urbanizing, and I will work to ensure policies and resources are properly implemented to maintain public safety."
  • Campaign site lists three priorities: "Tough on violent crime", "Protecting families from domestic violence" and "Championing justice for all"
  • Says he will continue community outreach, "including the District Attorney's Citizens Academy"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a Community Impact Q&A: "Fort Bend County is growing rapidly, and our justice system has to keep pace." "A growing county shouldn't mean a growing backlog or victims waiting longer for justice."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: In a Community Impact Q&A: "My top priority is community safety, working side by side with law enforcement and keeping victims at the center of the process"
  • Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a Community Impact Q&A: "Study and determine the community impact of each new development, including forecasting and funding sufficient law enforcement resources"
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: In a Community Impact Q&A, his top priority: "Reduce crime, reduce harm and help youth."
Endorsements
  • Fort Bend County Conservatives PAC (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
  • Texas Organizing Project PAC
  • Fort Bend Business Coalition
Campaign website
mcdonaldforda.com
middletonforda.com
Shawn McDonald

Shawn McDonald

Republican
On ballot as
SHAWN MCDONALD
Current role
Attorney in private practice in Sugar Land (criminal law)
Background
  • Bachelor of Science in criminal justice, University of North Carolina at Charlotte (per campaign)
  • Law degree, St. Mary's University (2000)
  • Licensed to practice law in Texas since 2001
  • Board certified in criminal law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • Clerked for the Presiding Judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (per campaign)
Show all 7
  • Has taught criminal law and trial advocacy at Thurgood Marshall School of Law (per his Ballotpedia survey)
  • Has served on the board of Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers (per campaign)
Experience
  • Associate Municipal Court Judge, Sugar Land (confirmed by Sugar Land City Council, June 2021)
  • Special Prosecutor (appointed), Sandra Bland case (per campaign)
  • Criminal defense practice, Sugar Land, opened 2006 (per campaign)
  • Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office, from 2004 (per campaign)
  • Felony prosecutor, Henderson County; start of career (per campaign)
  • First chair in nearly 100 jury trials (per campaign)
Top priorities
  • "My top priority is community safety, working side by side with law enforcement and keeping victims at the center of the process" (Community Impact Q&A)
  • "I'll reduce unnecessary dismissals, bring serious cases before juries and ensure pre-trial diversion is reserved for appropriate cases"
  • Campaign site: "Reduce case backlogs, eliminate unnecessary case dismissals, and ensure swift prosecution"
  • Says he will "hold regular community forums" and "publicly report the office's performance"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a Community Impact Q&A: "Fort Bend County is growing rapidly, and our justice system has to keep pace." "A growing county shouldn't mean a growing backlog or victims waiting longer for justice."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: In a Community Impact Q&A: "My top priority is community safety, working side by side with law enforcement and keeping victims at the center of the process"
Endorsements
  • Fort Bend County Conservatives PAC (listed by campaign)
Campaign website
mcdonaldforda.com
Brian M Middleton

Brian M Middleton

Democratic Incumbent
On ballot as
BRIAN M MIDDLETON
Current role
Fort Bend County District Attorney (elected November 2018; since January 2019)
Background
  • Bachelor of Arts in economics, University of Houston (1994)
  • Law degree with honors, Thurgood Marshall School of Law (1997)
  • Lamar High School graduate (1990)
  • Graduate, Wharton County Police Academy (per campaign)
  • Licensed to practice law in 1997
Show all 7
  • Licensed peace officer
  • Born in Houston
Experience
  • Earlier worked in the Texas Attorney General's Habeas Corpus Division
  • Earlier a briefing attorney, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
  • Former assistant district attorney, Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office
  • Founder, Middleton Law Firm (2003)
  • Served as municipal prosecutor, Meadows Place, Wallis and Jersey Village
Show all 7
  • Served as a judge, Jacinto City
  • 2022 Texas Prosecutor of the Year, State Bar of Texas and Texas District & County Attorneys Association (per campaign)
Top priorities
  • Top priority: "Reduce crime, reduce harm and help youth." (Community Impact Q&A)
  • "The county is urbanizing, and I will work to ensure policies and resources are properly implemented to maintain public safety."
  • Campaign site lists three priorities: "Tough on violent crime", "Protecting families from domestic violence" and "Championing justice for all"
  • Says he will continue community outreach, "including the District Attorney's Citizens Academy"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a Community Impact Q&A: "Study and determine the community impact of each new development, including forecasting and funding sufficient law enforcement resources"
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: In a Community Impact Q&A, his top priority: "Reduce crime, reduce harm and help youth."
Endorsements
  • Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
  • Texas Organizing Project PAC
  • Fort Bend Business Coalition
Campaign website
middletonforda.com

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