Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

Justice, 1st Court of Appeals District, Place 3

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

State of Texas
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked
Todd FrankfortTodd FrankfortRepublican
Veronica Rivas-MolloyVeronica Rivas-MolloyDemocratic Incumbent
On ballot as
TODD FRANKFORT
VERONICA RIVAS-MOLLOY
Current role
Family law attorney in private practice, Houston
Justice, First Court of Appeals, Place 3 (elected November 2020; in office since January 1, 2021)
Background
  • Native Houstonian
  • Board Certified, Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • Teaches family law at Thurgood Marshall School of Law
  • Honors graduate, UTEP (Criminal Justice and Spanish)
  • Law degree magna cum laude, University of Houston Law Center
  • First-generation immigrant; raised on the El Paso–Juárez border
Experience
  • 30+ years in private practice (per campaign)
  • Family law practice: marital property, divorce, custody, family law appeals (per campaign)
  • Earlier: real estate and commercial litigation (per campaign)
  • Former law clerk, U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein, Jr.
  • Practiced at Baker Botts and Jones Walker (20-year litigation and appellate career)
  • Volunteer prosecutor, City of Houston
Top priorities
  • "It is not my job to change the law; that is what the legislature is for."
  • "I prioritize transparency and accessibility throughout the judicial process"
  • "ensure that the law is the basis for every ruling"
  • "a steadfast commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law"
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: Campaign site: "I share the conservative values of judicial restraint and strict interpretation of the laws as written and will not allow judges to legislate from the bench."
  • Court administration: Campaign site: "I prioritize transparency and accessibility throughout the judicial process"
  • Judicial philosophy: Her campaign site says she "approaches every case with impartiality, respect for precedent, and dedication to ensuring that every litigant receives a fair hearing"
  • Court administration: No public statement found
Endorsements
  • Houston Police Officers' Union
  • Houston Chronicle Editorial Board (primary runoff)
  • Kenny Webster – Talk Radio Host (listed by campaign)
  • Conservative Republicans of Harris County (listed by campaign)
  • Conservative Republicans of Texas (listed by campaign)
Show all 63
  • The Link Letter (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Conservative Review (listed by campaign)
  • Kingwood Tea Party (listed by campaign)
  • Katy Christian Magazine (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Homeschool Coalition (listed by campaign)
  • Houston Region Business Coalition (HRBC) (listed by campaign)
  • C-Club (listed by campaign)
  • Spring Branch Republicans (listed by campaign)
  • Young Republicans of Houston (listed by campaign)
  • Brazoria County Conservatives (listed by campaign)
  • Young Republicans Gulf Coast (listed by campaign)
  • Bay Area Conservatives PAC (listed by campaign)
  • POLICE Inc (listed by campaign)
  • Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas (CLEAT) – Harris County Employees Organization (listed by campaign)
  • The BLUES, World’s Largest Police Magazine (listed by campaign)
  • Galveston Municipal Police Association (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA) (listed by campaign)
  • Mexican American Sheriff’s Organization (MASO) (listed by campaign)
  • Houston Metro Police Union Lodge 98 (listed by campaign)
  • League City POA FOP Lodge 555 (listed by campaign)
  • South 7 Meetup Club (listed by campaign)
  • The Bluesheet (listed by campaign)
  • BIZPAC (listed by campaign)
  • Dr. Steven Hotze (listed by campaign)
  • Terry Lowry, The What’s Up Radio Program (listed by campaign)
  • Gary Polland (listed by campaign)
  • Dr. Robin Armstrong, Republican National Committeeman (listed by campaign)
  • Debbie Georgatos, Republican National Committeewoman (listed by campaign)
  • Harris County Commissioner Tom Ramsey (listed by campaign)
  • State Representative Valoree Swanson (listed by campaign)
  • State Representative Charles Cunningham (listed by campaign)
  • Former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman (listed by campaign)
  • Former Court of Criminal Appeals Justice Michelle Slaughter (listed by campaign)
  • Julie Pickren, State Board of Education (listed by campaign)
  • Galveston County Commissioner Hank Dugie (listed by campaign)
  • Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen (listed by campaign)
  • Harris County Constable Phil Sandlin (listed by campaign)
  • Brazoria County Sheriff Bo Stallman (listed by campaign)
  • Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne (listed by campaign)
  • Galveston County Constable Justin West (listed by campaign)
  • Galveston County Constable Paul Edinburgh (listed by campaign)
  • League City Councilman Sean Sanders (listed by campaign)
  • Norma Jeter, President of Conservative Coalition of Harris County (listed by campaign)
  • Dawn McDonald, State Republican Executive Committee, Senate District 6 (listed by campaign)
  • Keith Nielsen, State Republican Executive Committee, Senate District 6 (listed by campaign)
  • Ralph Fite, State Republican Executive Committee, Senate District 7 (listed by campaign)
  • Deborah Fite, State Republican Executive Committee, Senate District 7 (listed by campaign)
  • Gaylyn Devine, State Republican Executive Committee, Senate District 11 (listed by campaign)
  • Ken Moore, State Republican Executive Committee, Senate District 11 (listed by campaign)
  • Melinda Morris, State Republican Executive Committee, Senate District 13 (listed by campaign)
  • Brenda Estis, State Republican Executive Committee, Senate District 15 (listed by campaign)
  • Sakki Joseph, State Republican Executive Committee, Senate District 18 (listed by campaign)
  • Tom Nobis, Harris Republican Precinct Chairman (listed by campaign)
  • Elizabeth Day, Brazoria County Precinct Chairman (listed by campaign)
  • Jeff L. McGeorge, President of Cherry Tree Republicans (listed by campaign)
  • Shannon Brinkley, SD4 Co-Vice Chair (listed by campaign)
  • Rodney Sims, Harris County Precinct Chair 502 (listed by campaign)
  • Russell Rush, Harris County Precinct Chair 155 (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation
  • Houston Association of Women Attorneys
  • Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus
  • Bay Area Democratic Movement
Todd Frankfort

Todd Frankfort

Republican
On ballot as
TODD FRANKFORT
Current role
Family law attorney in private practice, Houston
Background
  • Native Houstonian
  • Board Certified, Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • Teaches family law at Thurgood Marshall School of Law
Experience
  • 30+ years in private practice (per campaign)
  • Family law practice: marital property, divorce, custody, family law appeals (per campaign)
  • Earlier: real estate and commercial litigation (per campaign)
Top priorities
  • "It is not my job to change the law; that is what the legislature is for."
  • "I prioritize transparency and accessibility throughout the judicial process"
  • "ensure that the law is the basis for every ruling"
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: Campaign site: "I share the conservative values of judicial restraint and strict interpretation of the laws as written and will not allow judges to legislate from the bench."
  • Court administration: Campaign site: "I prioritize transparency and accessibility throughout the judicial process"
Endorsements
  • Houston Police Officers' Union
  • Houston Chronicle Editorial Board (primary runoff)
  • Kenny Webster – Talk Radio Host (listed by campaign)
  • Conservative Republicans of Harris County (listed by campaign)
  • Conservative Republicans of Texas (listed by campaign)
Show all 63
  • The Link Letter (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Conservative Review (listed by campaign)
  • Kingwood Tea Party (listed by campaign)
  • Katy Christian Magazine (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Homeschool Coalition (listed by campaign)
  • Houston Region Business Coalition (HRBC) (listed by campaign)
  • C-Club (listed by campaign)
  • Spring Branch Republicans (listed by campaign)
  • Young Republicans of Houston (listed by campaign)
  • Brazoria County Conservatives (listed by campaign)
  • Young Republicans Gulf Coast (listed by campaign)
  • Bay Area Conservatives PAC (listed by campaign)
  • POLICE Inc (listed by campaign)
  • Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas (CLEAT) – Harris County Employees Organization (listed by campaign)
  • The BLUES, World’s Largest Police Magazine (listed by campaign)
  • Galveston Municipal Police Association (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA) (listed by campaign)
  • Mexican American Sheriff’s Organization (MASO) (listed by campaign)
  • Houston Metro Police Union Lodge 98 (listed by campaign)
  • League City POA FOP Lodge 555 (listed by campaign)
  • South 7 Meetup Club (listed by campaign)
  • The Bluesheet (listed by campaign)
  • BIZPAC (listed by campaign)
  • Dr. Steven Hotze (listed by campaign)
  • Terry Lowry, The What’s Up Radio Program (listed by campaign)
  • Gary Polland (listed by campaign)
  • Dr. Robin Armstrong, Republican National Committeeman (listed by campaign)
  • Debbie Georgatos, Republican National Committeewoman (listed by campaign)
  • Harris County Commissioner Tom Ramsey (listed by campaign)
  • State Representative Valoree Swanson (listed by campaign)
  • State Representative Charles Cunningham (listed by campaign)
  • Former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman (listed by campaign)
  • Former Court of Criminal Appeals Justice Michelle Slaughter (listed by campaign)
  • Julie Pickren, State Board of Education (listed by campaign)
  • Galveston County Commissioner Hank Dugie (listed by campaign)
  • Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen (listed by campaign)
  • Harris County Constable Phil Sandlin (listed by campaign)
  • Brazoria County Sheriff Bo Stallman (listed by campaign)
  • Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne (listed by campaign)
  • Galveston County Constable Justin West (listed by campaign)
  • Galveston County Constable Paul Edinburgh (listed by campaign)
  • League City Councilman Sean Sanders (listed by campaign)
  • Norma Jeter, President of Conservative Coalition of Harris County (listed by campaign)
  • Dawn McDonald, State Republican Executive Committee, Senate District 6 (listed by campaign)
  • Keith Nielsen, State Republican Executive Committee, Senate District 6 (listed by campaign)
  • Ralph Fite, State Republican Executive Committee, Senate District 7 (listed by campaign)
  • Deborah Fite, State Republican Executive Committee, Senate District 7 (listed by campaign)
  • Gaylyn Devine, State Republican Executive Committee, Senate District 11 (listed by campaign)
  • Ken Moore, State Republican Executive Committee, Senate District 11 (listed by campaign)
  • Melinda Morris, State Republican Executive Committee, Senate District 13 (listed by campaign)
  • Brenda Estis, State Republican Executive Committee, Senate District 15 (listed by campaign)
  • Sakki Joseph, State Republican Executive Committee, Senate District 18 (listed by campaign)
  • Tom Nobis, Harris Republican Precinct Chairman (listed by campaign)
  • Elizabeth Day, Brazoria County Precinct Chairman (listed by campaign)
  • Jeff L. McGeorge, President of Cherry Tree Republicans (listed by campaign)
  • Shannon Brinkley, SD4 Co-Vice Chair (listed by campaign)
  • Rodney Sims, Harris County Precinct Chair 502 (listed by campaign)
  • Russell Rush, Harris County Precinct Chair 155 (listed by campaign)
Campaign website
frankfortforjudge.com
Veronica Rivas-Molloy

Veronica Rivas-Molloy

Democratic Incumbent
On ballot as
VERONICA RIVAS-MOLLOY
Current role
Justice, First Court of Appeals, Place 3 (elected November 2020; in office since January 1, 2021)
Background
  • Honors graduate, UTEP (Criminal Justice and Spanish)
  • Law degree magna cum laude, University of Houston Law Center
  • First-generation immigrant; raised on the El Paso–Juárez border
Experience
  • Former law clerk, U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein, Jr.
  • Practiced at Baker Botts and Jones Walker (20-year litigation and appellate career)
  • Volunteer prosecutor, City of Houston
Top priorities
  • "a steadfast commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law"
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: Her campaign site says she "approaches every case with impartiality, respect for precedent, and dedication to ensuring that every litigant receives a fair hearing"
  • Court administration: No public statement found
Endorsements
  • Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation
  • Houston Association of Women Attorneys
  • Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus
  • Bay Area Democratic Movement
Campaign website
veronicarivasmolloy.com