Harris County
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Tami C. PierceRepublican IncumbentStephanie MoralesDemocratic
On ballot as
TAMI C. PIERCE
STEPHANIE MORALES
Current role
Judge, 180th District Court, Harris County (appointed Oct. 6, 2025)
Criminal defense attorney; owner, The Morales Law Firm (per campaign)
Background
- Bachelor of Arts, Northeast Louisiana University
- J.D., Thurgood Marshall School of Law
- Former police officer, investigator and patrol sergeant (before law school; per campaign)
- Lives in Humble
- B.S. in biology, Texas A&M University (2011)
- J.D., South Texas College of Law (2014)
- Master of Laws (LL.M.) in international law (2017) (per campaign)
- Grew up in the Rio Grande Valley (per campaign)
Experience
- Appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott, Oct. 6, 2025; term expires Dec. 31, 2026
- Attorney and owner, Pierce Law Firm, Kingwood (before her appointment)
- Former Assistant District Attorney, Polk, San Jacinto and Liberty counties
- Republican nominee, this court (2022); lost to incumbent DaSean Jones, 534,460 votes to 534,011
- Defense practice: misdemeanor and felony cases; juveniles in juvenile court (per campaign)
- Former Harris County Assistant District Attorney; misdemeanor and felony cases in adult and juvenile court (per campaign)
- Board member, Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (per campaign)
- Democratic nominee, Texas House District 138 (2022 and 2024); lost both general elections
Top priorities
- "Follow the law as written, not politics."
- "I will listen to the facts, apply the law, and decide without fear or favor."
- "Bail should reflect the seriousness of the offense, a defendant's history, and risk to the community."
- "I will run an efficient, respectful docket that moves cases while safeguarding due process."
- "Ensure Public Safety"
- "Reduce Court Backlog": "the court backlog must be reduced through stronger case management"
- "Create a Youthful Offenders Court" for eligible young adults, "centered on rehabilitation, education, and mental health support"
Tidbits
- Judicial philosophy: Campaign site: "I will listen to the facts, apply the law, and decide without fear or favor."
- Court administration: Campaign site: "I will run an efficient, respectful docket that moves cases while safeguarding due process."
- Judicial philosophy: Campaign site: believes "a judge should protect the rights of both victims and defendants, uphold the law with integrity, and ensure justice is served without bias"
- Court administration: Campaign site: "the court backlog must be reduced through stronger case management"
Endorsements
- Houston Police Officers' Union
- "C" Club of Houston
- Houston Association of Women Attorneys
- Houston Black American Democrats
- Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus
- Greater Heights Democratic Club (primary)
- Rep. Penny Morales Shaw (listed by campaign)
- Council Member Joaquin Martinez (listed by campaign)
- Rep. Alma Allen (listed by campaign)
Tami C. Pierce
Republican Incumbent- On ballot as
- TAMI C. PIERCE
- Current role
- Judge, 180th District Court, Harris County (appointed Oct. 6, 2025)
- Background
- Bachelor of Arts, Northeast Louisiana University
- J.D., Thurgood Marshall School of Law
- Former police officer, investigator and patrol sergeant (before law school; per campaign)
- Lives in Humble
- Experience
- Appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott, Oct. 6, 2025; term expires Dec. 31, 2026
- Attorney and owner, Pierce Law Firm, Kingwood (before her appointment)
- Former Assistant District Attorney, Polk, San Jacinto and Liberty counties
- Republican nominee, this court (2022); lost to incumbent DaSean Jones, 534,460 votes to 534,011
- Top priorities
- "Follow the law as written, not politics."
- "I will listen to the facts, apply the law, and decide without fear or favor."
- "Bail should reflect the seriousness of the offense, a defendant's history, and risk to the community."
- "I will run an efficient, respectful docket that moves cases while safeguarding due process."
- Tidbits
- Judicial philosophy: Campaign site: "I will listen to the facts, apply the law, and decide without fear or favor."
- Court administration: Campaign site: "I will run an efficient, respectful docket that moves cases while safeguarding due process."
- Endorsements
- Houston Police Officers' Union
- "C" Club of Houston
- Houston Association of Women Attorneys
- Campaign website
- fiercewithpierce.com
Stephanie Morales
Democratic- On ballot as
- STEPHANIE MORALES
- Current role
- Criminal defense attorney; owner, The Morales Law Firm (per campaign)
- Background
- B.S. in biology, Texas A&M University (2011)
- J.D., South Texas College of Law (2014)
- Master of Laws (LL.M.) in international law (2017) (per campaign)
- Grew up in the Rio Grande Valley (per campaign)
- Experience
- Defense practice: misdemeanor and felony cases; juveniles in juvenile court (per campaign)
- Former Harris County Assistant District Attorney; misdemeanor and felony cases in adult and juvenile court (per campaign)
- Board member, Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (per campaign)
- Democratic nominee, Texas House District 138 (2022 and 2024); lost both general elections
- Top priorities
- "Ensure Public Safety"
- "Reduce Court Backlog": "the court backlog must be reduced through stronger case management"
- "Create a Youthful Offenders Court" for eligible young adults, "centered on rehabilitation, education, and mental health support"
- Tidbits
- Judicial philosophy: Campaign site: believes "a judge should protect the rights of both victims and defendants, uphold the law with integrity, and ensure justice is served without bias"
- Court administration: Campaign site: "the court backlog must be reduced through stronger case management"
- Endorsements
- Houston Black American Democrats
- Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus
- Greater Heights Democratic Club (primary)
- Rep. Penny Morales Shaw (listed by campaign)
- Council Member Joaquin Martinez (listed by campaign)
- Rep. Alma Allen (listed by campaign)
- Campaign website
- stephaniefortexas.com
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