Hays County
County Judge
Michelle Gutierrez Cohen
Democratic- On ballot as
- Michelle Gutierrez Cohen
- Current role
- Hays County Commissioner, Precinct 2 (term 2023–2026) (per the county)
- Background
- Lists a BS, an MBA and a doctorate in management in organizational leadership
- More than 30 years of experience, including service in state government (per campaign)
- Lives in Kyle
- Raised in Hays County
- Family moved to Hays County in 1979 (per campaign)
- Experience
- Funding effort for the county's mobile vaccine clinic (per KUT)
- Democratic primary runoff (May 26, 2026): won, 58.31% over incumbent County Judge Ruben Becerra
- Top priorities
- Told Community Impact: "fiscal responsibility and transparency, infrastructure and smart growth, and public safety"
- Growth: wants "a comprehensive strategic plan" to manage growth "while safeguarding our resources"
- Data centers: "I will take the fight to the state legislature along with county allies"
- Campaign site: "Michelle will go to the mat to protect free and fair elections"
- Campaign site: "Water is our most critical resource"
- Tidbits
- Property taxes and budget: Campaign site: says she will "ensure our finances are managed with honesty, precision, and full transparency to the public"
- Growth and infrastructure: In a Community Impact Q&A: "Managing this growth is currently our biggest challenge." She proposes "a comprehensive strategic plan"
- Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
- Public safety: Campaign site: says she will work to keep communities safe "from crime, overreach, and ICE interference"
- Endorsements
- Representative Erin Zwiener, State Representative, House District 45 (listed by campaign)
- Senator Sarah Eckhardt, State Senator, Democratic Nominee for Texas Comptroller (listed by campaign)
- Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe, Hays County Commissioner, Pct. 1 (listed by campaign)
- Councilmember Lauralee Harris, City of Kyle (listed by campaign)
- Councilmember Mark McKinney, City of Kyle (listed by campaign)
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- Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes, City of Austin (listed by campaign)
- Anna Martinez Boling, Former Hays County Court at Law No 1. Judge, Former Hays County Democratic Party Chair (listed by campaign)
- Kathy Morris, Former Mayor of San Marcos (listed by campaign)
- Lucy Johnson, Former Mayor of the City of Kyle (listed by campaign)
- Kim Porterfield, Former City of San Marcos Councilmember (listed by campaign)
- Robert Rizo, Former City of Kyle Councilmember (listed by campaign)
- Donna Haschke, Former Hays County Democratic Party Chair (listed by campaign)
- Ana Cortez, Manor ISD Trustee (listed by campaign)
- Lori Moya, Former Austin ISD Trustee (listed by campaign)
- Campaign website
- michelle4hays.com
Open in the full comparison: Hays County