Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

Judge, County Court at Law No. 1

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

Fort Bend County
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked
Chris MoralesChris MoralesRepublican Incumbent
Nireasha MurrayNireasha MurrayDemocratic
On ballot as
CHRIS MORALES
NIREASHA MURRAY
Current role
Judge, Fort Bend County Court at Law No. 1 (elected 2014; re-elected 2018 and 2022)
Attorney, The N. Murray Law Firm in Richmond
Background
  • J.D., South Texas College of Law (2006)
  • Texas law license (since November 2006)
  • Bachelor's degree, Texas A&M University (2003)
  • Born in Houston
  • Raised in Richmond; attended B.F. Terry High School (per his Ballotpedia survey)
  • J.D., Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University (2014)
  • Texas law license (since November 2014)
  • Bachelor's degree, University of Houston (2008)
  • Raised in Missouri City (per campaign)
  • Graduate, High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice (2004) (per campaign)
Experience
  • Oversees Fort Bend County's Misdemeanor Mental Health Court (per court website)
  • Administrative Judge, County Courts at Law (chosen by fellow judges, 2017) (per campaign)
  • Former assistant district attorney, Fort Bend County
  • Later attorney, Houston law firm; own practice
  • Adjunct professor, University of Houston Law Center (per campaign)
Show all 7
  • Election winner, November 2014 (over Tameika Carter)
  • Republican primary (March 3, 2026): unopposed
  • Practice areas: criminal, probate, education, juvenile, family and mental health law (per campaign)
  • Guardian ad litem work (per campaign)
  • Advocate, Houston Federation of Teachers (per campaign)
  • Two Texas Education Agency teaching certifications (per campaign)
  • Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): unopposed
Top priorities
  • "My philosophy on the bench is simple. Follow the law as it is written."
  • "Swift justice matters: when cases move, victims see accountability and everyone sees consequences."
  • "In my court, every juvenile is required to earn a diploma or GED because education is a lifelong asset that no one can take away."
  • "Fairness for all; ensuring every individual is treated with dignity, equal opportunity, and due legal process."
  • "Committed to lawful, community-focused decisions that protect Fort Bend residents and ensure accountability."
  • "Understanding that real justice balances firmness with empathy, supporting families, and strengthening the Fort Bend community."
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: In a 2026 Ballotpedia survey: "My philosophy on the bench is simple. Follow the law as it is written."
  • Court administration: In a 2026 Ballotpedia survey: "Swift justice matters: when cases move, victims see accountability and everyone sees consequences."
  • Judicial philosophy: In a 2026 Ballotpedia survey: "Understanding that real justice balances firmness with empathy, supporting families, and strengthening the Fort Bend community."
  • Court administration: No public statement found
Endorsements
  • Fort Bend Business Coalition
  • Houston Police Officers' Union
  • Texas Latino Conservatives PAC (listed by campaign)
  • Houston Latino Family Magazine (listed by campaign)
  • Vincent Morales, Jr., Commissioner, Precinct 1 (listed by campaign)
Show all 31
  • Becky Haas, Mayor of Richmond (listed by campaign)
  • Bill Benton, Mayor of Rosenberg (listed by campaign)
  • Don McCoy, Mayor of Fulshear (listed by campaign)
  • Chad Nesvadba, Mayor of Needville (listed by campaign)
  • Robin Elackatt, Mayor of Missouri City (listed by campaign)
  • Joe Gurecky, former Mayor of Rosenberg (listed by campaign)
  • Tommy Kuykendall, former Mayor of Fulshear (listed by campaign)
  • Allen Owen, former Mayor of Missouri City (listed by campaign)
  • Joe Zimmerman, former Mayor of Sugar Land (listed by campaign)
  • Barry C. Beard, City of Richmond Commissioner (listed by campaign)
  • Carl Drozd, City of Richmond Commissioner (listed by campaign)
  • Amy Mitchell, former Sugar Land City Council Member (listed by campaign)
  • Harish Jajoo, former Sugar Land City Council Member (listed by campaign)
  • Mandi Bronsell, former LCISD Board Trustee (listed by campaign)
  • Chad Norvell, Constable Pct. 1 (listed by campaign)
  • Jon Welch, LCISD Board Trustee (listed by campaign)
  • James Patterson, former Fort Bend County Commissioner (listed by campaign)
  • John Healey, former Fort Bend County District Attorney (listed by campaign)
  • Mike Gibson, former Fort Bend County Republican Party Chair (listed by campaign)
  • Jacey Jetton, former State Representative (listed by campaign)
  • Pastor Anne King, Global Children's Pastor at River Pointe Church, Richmond (listed by campaign)
  • Cynthia Durbin, former Fort Bend County Senior Juvenile Probation Officer (listed by campaign)
  • Patricia Wosnitzky, former Fort Bend County Adult Community Service and Correction Department Senior Officer (listed by campaign)
  • Brian Patterson, former Fort Bend County Adult Community Service and Correction Department Senior Officer (listed by campaign)
  • Sandy Grigar, former Fort Bend County Adult Community Service and Correction Department Senior Officer (listed by campaign)
  • Jorden Maljovec, candidate for Fort Bend County Court at Law No. 2 (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation
  • Asian American Democrats of Texas (listed by campaign)
  • Black Richmond Rosenberg Area Democrats (listed by campaign)
Campaign website
judgemorales.com
votenmurrayforjudge.com
Chris Morales

Chris Morales

Republican Incumbent
On ballot as
CHRIS MORALES
Current role
Judge, Fort Bend County Court at Law No. 1 (elected 2014; re-elected 2018 and 2022)
Background
  • J.D., South Texas College of Law (2006)
  • Texas law license (since November 2006)
  • Bachelor's degree, Texas A&M University (2003)
  • Born in Houston
  • Raised in Richmond; attended B.F. Terry High School (per his Ballotpedia survey)
Experience
  • Oversees Fort Bend County's Misdemeanor Mental Health Court (per court website)
  • Administrative Judge, County Courts at Law (chosen by fellow judges, 2017) (per campaign)
  • Former assistant district attorney, Fort Bend County
  • Later attorney, Houston law firm; own practice
  • Adjunct professor, University of Houston Law Center (per campaign)
Show all 7
  • Election winner, November 2014 (over Tameika Carter)
  • Republican primary (March 3, 2026): unopposed
Top priorities
  • "My philosophy on the bench is simple. Follow the law as it is written."
  • "Swift justice matters: when cases move, victims see accountability and everyone sees consequences."
  • "In my court, every juvenile is required to earn a diploma or GED because education is a lifelong asset that no one can take away."
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: In a 2026 Ballotpedia survey: "My philosophy on the bench is simple. Follow the law as it is written."
  • Court administration: In a 2026 Ballotpedia survey: "Swift justice matters: when cases move, victims see accountability and everyone sees consequences."
Endorsements
  • Fort Bend Business Coalition
  • Houston Police Officers' Union
  • Texas Latino Conservatives PAC (listed by campaign)
  • Houston Latino Family Magazine (listed by campaign)
  • Vincent Morales, Jr., Commissioner, Precinct 1 (listed by campaign)
Show all 31
  • Becky Haas, Mayor of Richmond (listed by campaign)
  • Bill Benton, Mayor of Rosenberg (listed by campaign)
  • Don McCoy, Mayor of Fulshear (listed by campaign)
  • Chad Nesvadba, Mayor of Needville (listed by campaign)
  • Robin Elackatt, Mayor of Missouri City (listed by campaign)
  • Joe Gurecky, former Mayor of Rosenberg (listed by campaign)
  • Tommy Kuykendall, former Mayor of Fulshear (listed by campaign)
  • Allen Owen, former Mayor of Missouri City (listed by campaign)
  • Joe Zimmerman, former Mayor of Sugar Land (listed by campaign)
  • Barry C. Beard, City of Richmond Commissioner (listed by campaign)
  • Carl Drozd, City of Richmond Commissioner (listed by campaign)
  • Amy Mitchell, former Sugar Land City Council Member (listed by campaign)
  • Harish Jajoo, former Sugar Land City Council Member (listed by campaign)
  • Mandi Bronsell, former LCISD Board Trustee (listed by campaign)
  • Chad Norvell, Constable Pct. 1 (listed by campaign)
  • Jon Welch, LCISD Board Trustee (listed by campaign)
  • James Patterson, former Fort Bend County Commissioner (listed by campaign)
  • John Healey, former Fort Bend County District Attorney (listed by campaign)
  • Mike Gibson, former Fort Bend County Republican Party Chair (listed by campaign)
  • Jacey Jetton, former State Representative (listed by campaign)
  • Pastor Anne King, Global Children's Pastor at River Pointe Church, Richmond (listed by campaign)
  • Cynthia Durbin, former Fort Bend County Senior Juvenile Probation Officer (listed by campaign)
  • Patricia Wosnitzky, former Fort Bend County Adult Community Service and Correction Department Senior Officer (listed by campaign)
  • Brian Patterson, former Fort Bend County Adult Community Service and Correction Department Senior Officer (listed by campaign)
  • Sandy Grigar, former Fort Bend County Adult Community Service and Correction Department Senior Officer (listed by campaign)
  • Jorden Maljovec, candidate for Fort Bend County Court at Law No. 2 (listed by campaign)
Campaign website
judgemorales.com
Nireasha Murray

Nireasha Murray

Democratic
On ballot as
NIREASHA MURRAY
Current role
Attorney, The N. Murray Law Firm in Richmond
Background
  • J.D., Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University (2014)
  • Texas law license (since November 2014)
  • Bachelor's degree, University of Houston (2008)
  • Raised in Missouri City (per campaign)
  • Graduate, High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice (2004) (per campaign)
Experience
  • Practice areas: criminal, probate, education, juvenile, family and mental health law (per campaign)
  • Guardian ad litem work (per campaign)
  • Advocate, Houston Federation of Teachers (per campaign)
  • Two Texas Education Agency teaching certifications (per campaign)
  • Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): unopposed
Top priorities
  • "Fairness for all; ensuring every individual is treated with dignity, equal opportunity, and due legal process."
  • "Committed to lawful, community-focused decisions that protect Fort Bend residents and ensure accountability."
  • "Understanding that real justice balances firmness with empathy, supporting families, and strengthening the Fort Bend community."
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: In a 2026 Ballotpedia survey: "Understanding that real justice balances firmness with empathy, supporting families, and strengthening the Fort Bend community."
  • Court administration: No public statement found
Endorsements
  • Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation
  • Asian American Democrats of Texas (listed by campaign)
  • Black Richmond Rosenberg Area Democrats (listed by campaign)
Campaign website
votenmurrayforjudge.com

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