Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

Judge, County Probate Court No. 4

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

Harris County
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked
Kevin FultonRepublican
James S. HorwitzJames S. HorwitzDemocratic Incumbent
On ballot as
KEVIN FULTON
JAMES S. HORWITZ
Current role
Attorney; owner, Fulton Law Group
Presiding Judge, Harris County Probate Court No. 4 (on the bench since January 1, 2019)
Background
  • J.D., Western State University (2001) (per State Bar)
  • Licensed in Texas since 2007 (per State Bar)
  • United States military service: Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Provide Comfort
  • Undergraduate and graduate studies, University of Houston
  • J.D., University of Houston (1977)
  • Founder, Law Offices of James S. Horwitz, P.C. (1977, after law school)
Experience
  • Republican nominee, 209th District Court (2022); lost to incumbent Brian Warren, 48.3% to 51.7%
  • Ran for Texas House District 126 (March 6, 2018 Republican primary); finished second with 35.9%
  • Re-elected November 8, 2022; defeated Will Archer, 51.3% to 48.7%
  • Elected November 2018; defeated incumbent Christine Riddle Butts
  • Attorney, over 40 years: estate planning, guardianship, probate and mental health matters (per candidate)
  • Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): won, 58.5% to 41.5% over Lema Mousilli
Top priorities
Not found
  • Says the court works remotely weekly, "allowing individuals with uncontested matters to appear by zoom"
  • "Harris County needs steady and experienced hands to navigate the issues of probate today and into the future"
  • "I also want to continue to publicize the work that our Court accomplishes throughout Harris County, Texas."
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: No public statement found
  • Court administration: No public statement found
  • Judicial philosophy: No public statement found
  • Court administration: Campaign site: "We have held thousands of hearings via Zoom." He says the court "will continue to utilize these systems well into the future"
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
Show all 33
  • Houston Chronicle Editorial Board (primary)
  • Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, Houston City Council member (listed by campaign)
  • Abbie Kamin, former Houston City Council Member (listed by campaign)
  • Adrian Garcia, Harris County Commissioner (listed by campaign)
  • Martina Cartwright, Attorney, Professor at Thurgood Marshall Law School (listed by campaign)
  • Cheryl Cash, Attorney, TSU General Counsel and Professor at Thurgood Marshall Law School (listed by campaign)
  • Neal Manne, Managing Attorney for Susman Godfrey Law Firm (listed by campaign)
  • Steve Kherker, Managing Attorney for Kherkher Garcia Law Firm (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Judge Christine Butts, Former Judge for Harris County Probate Court # 4 (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Craig Washington, Attorney and Former United States House of Representative member (listed by campaign)
  • Annise Parker, former Mayor for the City of Houston (listed by campaign)
  • Robin Bass, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 415 (listed by campaign)
  • Katherine Mitchum, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 0665 (listed by campaign)
  • Zafar "Zaf" Tahir, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 0444 (listed by campaign)
  • Katherine O'Harra, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 0214 (listed by campaign)
  • William Pesota, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 578 (listed by campaign)
  • Elena Diiorio, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 128 (listed by campaign)
  • Flora Gill, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 744 (listed by campaign)
  • Ray Paige, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 0930 (listed by campaign)
  • Almeda Dent, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 0275 (listed by campaign)
  • West Houston Democrats (listed by campaign)
  • Mexican American Bar Association (MBAH) (listed by campaign)
  • Area 5 Democrats (listed by campaign)
  • The Greater Heights Democratic Club (listed by campaign)
  • The Latino Labor Leadership Council of Southeast Texas (listed by campaign)
  • Harris County Tejano Democrats (listed by campaign)
  • Houston Police Officers Union (listed by campaign)
  • Asian American Democratic Club (listed by campaign)
Campaign website
Not found
reelectjudgehorwitz.com

Kevin Fulton

Republican
On ballot as
KEVIN FULTON
Current role
Attorney; owner, Fulton Law Group
Background
  • J.D., Western State University (2001) (per State Bar)
  • Licensed in Texas since 2007 (per State Bar)
  • United States military service: Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Provide Comfort
Experience
  • Republican nominee, 209th District Court (2022); lost to incumbent Brian Warren, 48.3% to 51.7%
  • Ran for Texas House District 126 (March 6, 2018 Republican primary); finished second with 35.9%
Top priorities
Not found
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: No public statement found
  • Court administration: No public statement found
Endorsements
  • The "C" Club of Houston
Campaign website
Not found
James S. Horwitz

James S. Horwitz

Democratic Incumbent
On ballot as
JAMES S. HORWITZ
Current role
Presiding Judge, Harris County Probate Court No. 4 (on the bench since January 1, 2019)
Background
  • Undergraduate and graduate studies, University of Houston
  • J.D., University of Houston (1977)
  • Founder, Law Offices of James S. Horwitz, P.C. (1977, after law school)
Experience
  • Re-elected November 8, 2022; defeated Will Archer, 51.3% to 48.7%
  • Elected November 2018; defeated incumbent Christine Riddle Butts
  • Attorney, over 40 years: estate planning, guardianship, probate and mental health matters (per candidate)
  • Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): won, 58.5% to 41.5% over Lema Mousilli
Top priorities
  • Says the court works remotely weekly, "allowing individuals with uncontested matters to appear by zoom"
  • "Harris County needs steady and experienced hands to navigate the issues of probate today and into the future"
  • "I also want to continue to publicize the work that our Court accomplishes throughout Harris County, Texas."
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: No public statement found
  • Court administration: Campaign site: "We have held thousands of hearings via Zoom." He says the court "will continue to utilize these systems well into the future"
Endorsements
  • Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation
  • Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus
  • Bay Area Democratic Movement
  • Houston Black American Democrats
  • Houston Association of Women Attorneys
Show all 33
  • Houston Chronicle Editorial Board (primary)
  • Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, Houston City Council member (listed by campaign)
  • Abbie Kamin, former Houston City Council Member (listed by campaign)
  • Adrian Garcia, Harris County Commissioner (listed by campaign)
  • Martina Cartwright, Attorney, Professor at Thurgood Marshall Law School (listed by campaign)
  • Cheryl Cash, Attorney, TSU General Counsel and Professor at Thurgood Marshall Law School (listed by campaign)
  • Neal Manne, Managing Attorney for Susman Godfrey Law Firm (listed by campaign)
  • Steve Kherker, Managing Attorney for Kherkher Garcia Law Firm (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Judge Christine Butts, Former Judge for Harris County Probate Court # 4 (listed by campaign)
  • Hon. Craig Washington, Attorney and Former United States House of Representative member (listed by campaign)
  • Annise Parker, former Mayor for the City of Houston (listed by campaign)
  • Robin Bass, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 415 (listed by campaign)
  • Katherine Mitchum, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 0665 (listed by campaign)
  • Zafar "Zaf" Tahir, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 0444 (listed by campaign)
  • Katherine O'Harra, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 0214 (listed by campaign)
  • William Pesota, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 578 (listed by campaign)
  • Elena Diiorio, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 128 (listed by campaign)
  • Flora Gill, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 744 (listed by campaign)
  • Ray Paige, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 0930 (listed by campaign)
  • Almeda Dent, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 0275 (listed by campaign)
  • West Houston Democrats (listed by campaign)
  • Mexican American Bar Association (MBAH) (listed by campaign)
  • Area 5 Democrats (listed by campaign)
  • The Greater Heights Democratic Club (listed by campaign)
  • The Latino Labor Leadership Council of Southeast Texas (listed by campaign)
  • Harris County Tejano Democrats (listed by campaign)
  • Houston Police Officers Union (listed by campaign)
  • Asian American Democratic Club (listed by campaign)
Campaign website
reelectjudgehorwitz.com

Open in the full comparison: Harris County

Not every voter sees every race. Your districts depend on your address. Candidate photos link to their source.
Information comes from public sources and campaign websites and may contain errors. Report errors to admin@stg-fortbendranchersball-staging.kinsta.cloud.

All counties and races