Houston Judge George Powell is now assured he'll appear on the Democratic Primary ballot after his opponent lost an appeal in an election dispute stemming from a shortfall in Powell's application filing fee.

Natalia Cornelio, who's challenging Powell for the 351st District Court in Harris County, sought a writ of mandamus to overturn a trial court decision that ordered the Harris County Democratic Party to certify Powell as a candidate, and put his name on the primary ballot.

But the Fourteenth Court of Appeal on Thursday ruled that Cornelio didn't qualify for mandamus relief.