Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

District Judge, 501st Judicial District

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

Fort Bend County
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked
Richard T. BellRichard T. BellRepublican Incumbent
Latosha McGill ClaytonLatosha McGill ClaytonDemocratic
On ballot as
RICHARD T. BELL
LATOSHA MCGILL CLAYTON
Current role
Judge, 501st District Court (appointed; since December 1, 2025)
Associate Judge, 505th District Court, Fort Bend County (since 2021)
Background
  • J.D., South Texas College of Law (May 1997)
  • Bachelor of Arts in business, Southwestern University (1994)
  • Licensed in Texas since November 1997
  • J.D., Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University (2004)
  • B.S. in Biological Science, Sam Houston State University
  • Licensed in Texas since May 2005
  • Former middle school science teacher, Fort Bend ISD (five years, before law school)
  • Fort Bend County resident for over 40 years (per campaign)
  • Attended Fort Bend ISD schools (per campaign)
Experience
  • Appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott November 24, 2025; took office December 1, 2025
  • Associate Judge, 387th District Court, Fort Bend County, from 2015 (per campaign)
  • Family law attorney, nearly twenty years before joining the bench (per court's website)
  • Adjunct professor, University of Houston Law Center (per court's website)
  • Past president, Fort Bend County Bar Association (per campaign)
  • Republican primary (March 3, 2026): unopposed
  • Legal enforcement attorney, Harris County Domestic Relations Office (joined 2012)
  • Owner, The McGill Law Firm (seven years); family, criminal and personal injury law
  • Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): won, 63.5% over Jamie Kaye Jordan
Top priorities
  • Campaign: "committed to upholding the rule of law, protecting public safety, and ensuring that every person who enters his courtroom is treated with fairness, dignity, and respect"
  • "Judge Bell presides over cases fairly and efficiently, giving families and children the stability and protection they need."
  • "Judge Bell requires professionalism be displayed at all times in his court and leads by example."
  • "Families First: Dedicated to ensuring every family is heard, respected, and treated with fairness and dignity"
  • "Impartial Justice: Committed to applying the law fairly while using discretion and compassion where it matters most."
  • "Believes every person who enters the courtroom deserves fairness, respect, and understanding."
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: Campaign site: "Judge Bell ensures that everyone receives a fair trial from a knowledgeable judge."
  • Court administration: Campaign site: "Judge Bell requires professionalism be displayed at all times in his court and leads by example."
  • Judicial philosophy: Campaign site: "Committed to applying the law fairly while using discretion and compassion where it matters most."
  • Court administration: No public statement found
Endorsements
  • Fort Bend Business Coalition
  • Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation
  • Houston Lawyers Association (listed by campaign)
  • Black Rosenberg Richmond Area Democrats (listed by campaign)
  • Asian American Democrats of Texas (listed by campaign)
Campaign website
judgebell.org
voteclaytonforjudge.com
Richard T. Bell

Richard T. Bell

Republican Incumbent
On ballot as
RICHARD T. BELL
Current role
Judge, 501st District Court (appointed; since December 1, 2025)
Background
  • J.D., South Texas College of Law (May 1997)
  • Bachelor of Arts in business, Southwestern University (1994)
  • Licensed in Texas since November 1997
Experience
  • Appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott November 24, 2025; took office December 1, 2025
  • Associate Judge, 387th District Court, Fort Bend County, from 2015 (per campaign)
  • Family law attorney, nearly twenty years before joining the bench (per court's website)
  • Adjunct professor, University of Houston Law Center (per court's website)
  • Past president, Fort Bend County Bar Association (per campaign)
  • Republican primary (March 3, 2026): unopposed
Top priorities
  • Campaign: "committed to upholding the rule of law, protecting public safety, and ensuring that every person who enters his courtroom is treated with fairness, dignity, and respect"
  • "Judge Bell presides over cases fairly and efficiently, giving families and children the stability and protection they need."
  • "Judge Bell requires professionalism be displayed at all times in his court and leads by example."
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: Campaign site: "Judge Bell ensures that everyone receives a fair trial from a knowledgeable judge."
  • Court administration: Campaign site: "Judge Bell requires professionalism be displayed at all times in his court and leads by example."
Endorsements
  • Fort Bend Business Coalition
Campaign website
judgebell.org
Latosha McGill Clayton

Latosha McGill Clayton

Democratic
On ballot as
LATOSHA MCGILL CLAYTON
Current role
Associate Judge, 505th District Court, Fort Bend County (since 2021)
Background
  • J.D., Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University (2004)
  • B.S. in Biological Science, Sam Houston State University
  • Licensed in Texas since May 2005
  • Former middle school science teacher, Fort Bend ISD (five years, before law school)
  • Fort Bend County resident for over 40 years (per campaign)
  • Attended Fort Bend ISD schools (per campaign)
Experience
  • Legal enforcement attorney, Harris County Domestic Relations Office (joined 2012)
  • Owner, The McGill Law Firm (seven years); family, criminal and personal injury law
  • Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): won, 63.5% over Jamie Kaye Jordan
Top priorities
  • "Families First: Dedicated to ensuring every family is heard, respected, and treated with fairness and dignity"
  • "Impartial Justice: Committed to applying the law fairly while using discretion and compassion where it matters most."
  • "Believes every person who enters the courtroom deserves fairness, respect, and understanding."
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: Campaign site: "Committed to applying the law fairly while using discretion and compassion where it matters most."
  • Court administration: No public statement found
Endorsements
  • Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation
  • Houston Lawyers Association (listed by campaign)
  • Black Rosenberg Richmond Area Democrats (listed by campaign)
  • Asian American Democrats of Texas (listed by campaign)
Campaign website
voteclaytonforjudge.com

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