Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

Family District Judge, 312th Judicial District

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

Harris County
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked
Jesus GuillenJesus GuillenRepublican
Teresa WaldropTeresa WaldropDemocratic Incumbent
On ballot as
JESUS GUILLEN
TERESA WALDROP
Current role
Assistant County Attorney representing the Department of Family and Protective Services
Presiding Judge, 312th Family District Court, Harris County (since January 1, 2023)
Background
  • J.D., South Texas College of Law (2014) (per State Bar)
  • Licensed in Texas since 2015 (per State Bar)
  • Licensed attorney for over ten years (per campaign)
  • Bachelor's degree in political science, University of Texas at Austin (1987)
  • Law degree, St. Mary's University School of Law (1991)
  • Board Certified in Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (2009) (per campaign)
  • Former president, Houston Association of Women Attorneys (per campaign)
Experience
  • Assistant County Attorney, Family and Juvenile Courts, seven years (per campaign)
  • Four years assigned to a Permanent Managing Conservatorship (PMC) court (per campaign)
  • Republican nominee, 309th District Court (2022); lost to Linda Marie Dunson, 48.2% to 51.8%
  • Elected November 8, 2022, defeating Quyen Pham 52.3% to 47.7%
  • Attorney, 31 years before taking the bench (per campaign)
  • Focused fully on family law from the end of 2000 (per campaign)
  • Graduate, National Judicial College's Court Administration Academy (June 2025) (per campaign)
Top priorities
  • "applying the law impartially, ensuring every person who enters the courtroom is treated with dignity and respect"
  • "maintaining a court that is efficient, professional, and grounded in sound legal principles"
  • Says family court decisions "must be made with fairness, integrity, and a careful adherence to the law"
  • "I believe judicial temperament, patience and professionalism matter. Every. Single. Courtroom. Day."
  • "a judge's role is to apply the law faithfully, ensure equal access to justice, and foster trust in the judicial system"
  • Wants "a courtroom that's respectful of everyone's time, especially during already stressful situations"
  • "keeping fairness, integrity, and efficiency front and center in the 312th Family District Court"
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: Campaign site: committed to "applying the law impartially, ensuring every person who enters the courtroom is treated with dignity and respect"
  • Court administration: Campaign site: committed to "maintaining a court that is efficient, professional, and grounded in sound legal principles"
  • Judicial philosophy: "I understand that a judge's role is to apply the law faithfully, ensure equal access to justice, and foster trust in the judicial system."
  • Court administration: "In 2024, the court I preside over achieved the highest overall clearance rate for family law cases in the district."
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 9
  • Houston Police Officers' Union (listed by campaign)
  • Run Sister Run (listed by campaign)
  • Mexican American Bar Association of Houston (listed by campaign)
  • Houston Lawyers Association (listed by campaign)
Campaign website
jesusguillenforjudge.com
teresawaldropforjudge.com
Jesus Guillen

Jesus Guillen

Republican
On ballot as
JESUS GUILLEN
Current role
Assistant County Attorney representing the Department of Family and Protective Services
Background
  • J.D., South Texas College of Law (2014) (per State Bar)
  • Licensed in Texas since 2015 (per State Bar)
  • Licensed attorney for over ten years (per campaign)
Experience
  • Assistant County Attorney, Family and Juvenile Courts, seven years (per campaign)
  • Four years assigned to a Permanent Managing Conservatorship (PMC) court (per campaign)
  • Republican nominee, 309th District Court (2022); lost to Linda Marie Dunson, 48.2% to 51.8%
Top priorities
  • "applying the law impartially, ensuring every person who enters the courtroom is treated with dignity and respect"
  • "maintaining a court that is efficient, professional, and grounded in sound legal principles"
  • Says family court decisions "must be made with fairness, integrity, and a careful adherence to the law"
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: Campaign site: committed to "applying the law impartially, ensuring every person who enters the courtroom is treated with dignity and respect"
  • Court administration: Campaign site: committed to "maintaining a court that is efficient, professional, and grounded in sound legal principles"
Endorsements
  • The "C" Club of Houston
Campaign website
jesusguillenforjudge.com
Teresa Waldrop

Teresa Waldrop

Democratic Incumbent
On ballot as
TERESA WALDROP
Current role
Presiding Judge, 312th Family District Court, Harris County (since January 1, 2023)
Background
  • Bachelor's degree in political science, University of Texas at Austin (1987)
  • Law degree, St. Mary's University School of Law (1991)
  • Board Certified in Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (2009) (per campaign)
  • Former president, Houston Association of Women Attorneys (per campaign)
Experience
  • Elected November 8, 2022, defeating Quyen Pham 52.3% to 47.7%
  • Attorney, 31 years before taking the bench (per campaign)
  • Focused fully on family law from the end of 2000 (per campaign)
  • Graduate, National Judicial College's Court Administration Academy (June 2025) (per campaign)
Top priorities
  • "I believe judicial temperament, patience and professionalism matter. Every. Single. Courtroom. Day."
  • "a judge's role is to apply the law faithfully, ensure equal access to justice, and foster trust in the judicial system"
  • Wants "a courtroom that's respectful of everyone's time, especially during already stressful situations"
  • "keeping fairness, integrity, and efficiency front and center in the 312th Family District Court"
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: "I understand that a judge's role is to apply the law faithfully, ensure equal access to justice, and foster trust in the judicial system."
  • Court administration: "In 2024, the court I preside over achieved the highest overall clearance rate for family law cases in the district."
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 9
  • Houston Police Officers' Union (listed by campaign)
  • Run Sister Run (listed by campaign)
  • Mexican American Bar Association of Houston (listed by campaign)
  • Houston Lawyers Association (listed by campaign)

Open in the full comparison: Harris County

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