Caldwell County
County Judge
Hoppy Haden
Republican Incumbent- On ballot as
- HOPPY HADEN
- Current role
- Caldwell County Judge (since 2019) (per campaign)
- Background
- Small businessman and rancher (per campaign)
- Owner and operator, with his wife, of Clear Creek, Inc. Construction and Environmental Services (per campaign)
- Owner and operator, with his wife, of a 1200-acre working cattle ranch in Caldwell County (per campaign)
- Caldwell County resident for 31 years (per campaign)
- Past president, Lockhart Little League (per campaign)
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- Past chairman, Lockhart Chamber of Commerce (per campaign)
- Past chairman, Chisholm Trail Rodeo (per campaign)
- Co-founder, Caldwell County 500 Club (per campaign)
- Experience
- Republican primary (March 3, 2026): won, 2,122 to 1,336 over former County Judge Ken Schawe (per Post-Register)
- Top priorities
- "We will continue to work with the legislature to attempt to give counties more development authority."
- "we are underway with 32 road projects in Caldwell County to get ahead of the growth curve and help people get around safely."
- "We will continue to invest in law enforcement and also work with developers to put development agreements in place"
- Campaign site: "pass fiscally responsible budgets that prioritize taxpayers, supports law enforcement and first responders, and increases our quality of life"
- Tidbits
- Property taxes and budget: In a February 2026 newspaper questionnaire, he said investment had taken "the tax burden off individual property owners by enabling the county to lower its tax rate to its lowest level in decades."
- Growth and infrastructure: In a February 2026 newspaper questionnaire: "we are underway with 32 road projects in Caldwell County to get ahead of the growth curve and help people get around safely."
- Flooding and drainage: Campaign site lists a new emergency radio tower that lets "first responders to use their radios along the San Marcos River during times of flooding".
- Public safety: In a February 2026 newspaper questionnaire, he said the goal is "being able to provide our law enforcement with the salaries they need and the proper cutting edge equipment necessary".
- Endorsements
- State Representative Stan Gerdes, House District 17 (listed by campaign)
- Former State Representative John Cyrier, House District 17 (listed by campaign)
- Commissioner B.J. Westmoreland, Precinct 1, Caldwell County (listed by campaign)
- Commissioner Ed Theriot, Precinct 3, Caldwell County (listed by campaign)
- Constable Michael Bell, Precinct 3, Caldwell County (listed by campaign)
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- Constable Art Villarreal, Precinct 4, Caldwell County (listed by campaign)
- Criminal District Attorney Fred Weber, Caldwell County (listed by campaign)
- District Clerk Juanita Allen, Caldwell County (listed by campaign)
- Sheriff Mike Lane, Caldwell County (listed by campaign)
- Campaign website
- hoppyhaden.com
Open in the full comparison: Caldwell County