Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

Judge, County Probate Court No. 1

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

Harris County
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked
Loyd H. WrightLoyd H. WrightRepublican
Jerry SimoneauxJerry SimoneauxDemocratic Incumbent
On ballot as
LOYD H. WRIGHT
JERRY SIMONEAUX
Current role
Attorney; former Judge, Harris County Probate Court No. 1
Presiding Judge, Harris County Probate Court No. 1 (since January 2019; re-elected 2022)
Background
  • Bachelor's degree, University of Houston (1977)
  • Graduate degree, University of Texas (1980)
  • Law degree, University of Houston (1981)
  • Lifelong resident of Harris County (per campaign)
  • B.A. in French and B.B.A. in management, University of Houston
  • J.D., South Texas College of Law (2001)
  • Founder, Texas Probate Law American Inn of Court (per campaign)
Experience
  • Ran again for Harris County Probate Court No. 1 (2022 rematch); lost to Jerry Simoneaux, 49.0% to 51.0%
  • Ran for re-election (November 2018); lost to Jerry Simoneaux, 45.2% to 54.8%
  • Judge, Harris County Probate Court No. 1 (elected 2010; re-elected 2014; left office December 31, 2018)
  • Probate and estate planning attorney, 43 years (per Harris County Republican Party page)
  • Local Administrative Statutory Probate Court Judge, Harris County, 2 years (per party page)
  • Assistant State Presiding Judge, Statutory Probate Courts (per official court page)
  • Associate Judge, Houston Municipal Courts (2015–2018) (per campaign)
  • Staff attorney, Probate Court No. 1 (2009–2010) (per campaign)
  • Founded and managed the Simoneaux Law Firm, later Simoneaux & Watson (per campaign)
Top priorities
  • "I believe in expediting courtroom matters and helping clients and attorneys find solutions to their legal problems"
  • Calls for probate judges "who are not agenda-driven for personal causes and recognize that they should be true public servants"
  • "Probate Court 1 is a service-first, technology-forward court ensuring swift and accessible justice for all."
  • Calls compassion "one of the most important traits of the court staff and judge"
  • First judge in Harris County to offer remote video hearings (per campaign)
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: Campaign site: wants probate judges "who are not agenda-driven for personal causes and recognize that they should be true public servants"
  • Court administration: "I believe in expediting courtroom matters and helping clients and attorneys find solutions to their legal problems"
  • Judicial philosophy: On his official court page: probate courts serve the whole community, "making compassion one of the most important traits of the court staff and judge"
  • Court administration: "Probate Court 1 is a service-first, technology-forward court ensuring swift and accessible justice for all."
Endorsements
  • The "C" Club of Houston
  • Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation
  • Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus
  • Bay Area Democratic Movement
  • Houston Black American Democrats
  • Houston Association of Women Attorneys
  • LGBTQ+ Victory Fund
Loyd H. Wright

Loyd H. Wright

Republican
On ballot as
LOYD H. WRIGHT
Current role
Attorney; former Judge, Harris County Probate Court No. 1
Background
  • Bachelor's degree, University of Houston (1977)
  • Graduate degree, University of Texas (1980)
  • Law degree, University of Houston (1981)
  • Lifelong resident of Harris County (per campaign)
Experience
  • Ran again for Harris County Probate Court No. 1 (2022 rematch); lost to Jerry Simoneaux, 49.0% to 51.0%
  • Ran for re-election (November 2018); lost to Jerry Simoneaux, 45.2% to 54.8%
  • Judge, Harris County Probate Court No. 1 (elected 2010; re-elected 2014; left office December 31, 2018)
  • Probate and estate planning attorney, 43 years (per Harris County Republican Party page)
  • Local Administrative Statutory Probate Court Judge, Harris County, 2 years (per party page)
Top priorities
  • "I believe in expediting courtroom matters and helping clients and attorneys find solutions to their legal problems"
  • Calls for probate judges "who are not agenda-driven for personal causes and recognize that they should be true public servants"
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: Campaign site: wants probate judges "who are not agenda-driven for personal causes and recognize that they should be true public servants"
  • Court administration: "I believe in expediting courtroom matters and helping clients and attorneys find solutions to their legal problems"
Endorsements
  • The "C" Club of Houston
Jerry Simoneaux

Jerry Simoneaux

Democratic Incumbent
On ballot as
JERRY SIMONEAUX
Current role
Presiding Judge, Harris County Probate Court No. 1 (since January 2019; re-elected 2022)
Background
  • B.A. in French and B.B.A. in management, University of Houston
  • J.D., South Texas College of Law (2001)
  • Founder, Texas Probate Law American Inn of Court (per campaign)
Experience
  • Assistant State Presiding Judge, Statutory Probate Courts (per official court page)
  • Associate Judge, Houston Municipal Courts (2015–2018) (per campaign)
  • Staff attorney, Probate Court No. 1 (2009–2010) (per campaign)
  • Founded and managed the Simoneaux Law Firm, later Simoneaux & Watson (per campaign)
Top priorities
  • "Probate Court 1 is a service-first, technology-forward court ensuring swift and accessible justice for all."
  • Calls compassion "one of the most important traits of the court staff and judge"
  • First judge in Harris County to offer remote video hearings (per campaign)
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: On his official court page: probate courts serve the whole community, "making compassion one of the most important traits of the court staff and judge"
  • Court administration: "Probate Court 1 is a service-first, technology-forward court ensuring swift and accessible justice for all."
Endorsements
  • Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation
  • Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus
  • Bay Area Democratic Movement
  • Houston Black American Democrats
  • Houston Association of Women Attorneys
  • LGBTQ+ Victory Fund