Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

JESSICA N. PADILLA

Candidate · November 3, 2026 general election

Jessica N. Padilla

Jessica N. Padilla

Republican Incumbent
On ballot as
JESSICA N. PADILLA
Current role
Judge, Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 14 (elected 2022; since January 1, 2023)
Background
  • B.A., Stephen F. Austin State University
  • J.D., South Texas College of Law
  • Sixth-generation Texan (per campaign)
Experience
  • Indigent defense, more than a decade (per campaign)
  • Served as a defense attorney with the STAR Drug Court (per campaign)
  • Harris County District Attorney's Office; start of career (per campaign)
Top priorities
  • "committed to efficiency, fairness, and ensuring that the judicial process moves forward without unnecessary delay"
  • "removing obstacles that hinder progress or access to resources"
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: Campaign site: her work emphasizes accountability and "removing obstacles that hinder progress or access to resources."
  • Court administration: Campaign site: "she has worked tirelessly to eliminate the backlog in her court and has consistently maintained one of the lowest dockets among the county's criminal courts."
Endorsements
  • The "C" Club of Houston
  • Houston Police Officers' Union
Campaign website
judgejessicapadilla.com