Texas Democrats: Use This Guide to Vote for Judges During the Runoff Election in July
Learn about the experience and qualifications of the 16 Democratic judicial candidates competing in eight primary runoff races in Texas on July 14.
June 18, 2020 at 04:31 PM
7 minute read
Photo: Shutterstock.com
Eight of the 23 judicial benches that appear on primary election runoff ballots are on the Democratic side of the aisle.
Texas Lawyer is publishing Q&As with the judicial candidates who are competing in primary runoffs. Early voting runs from June 29 to July 10. Election day is July 14. The runoff date was delayed from May to July because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Here are the Q&As for the Texas Democratic judicial candidates on the battle.
Read more: Texas Voters: Meet the Candidates Running for Judge in July Primary Runoffs
Houston Area
Houston's 14th Court of Appeals
Photo: ShutterstockMeet Tamika 'Tami' Craft and Cheri Thomas, Democratic Runoff Candidates for Judge of Texas' 14th Court of Appeals
The two Democratic candidates in the primary runoff for Houston's Fourteenth Court of Appeals are dueling about their experience—or lack thereof.
In election Q&As for Texas Lawyer, Tamika "Tami" Craft and Cheri Thomas, who both want the vote to become the Place 7 justice candidate, have given arguments about why they're better than their opponent.
Whoever wins will compete against Republican incumbent Justice Ken Wise in November.
Houston's 164th Civil District Court
Photo: ALMIndicted Houston Judge Battles Democratic Challenger in July Runoff Election
An incumbent judge who is under indictment and is battling for her bench maintains that her 12 years of judicial experience better qualify her in the race. But her challenger claims that someone needs to restore integrity and ethics to Harris County's 164th Civil District Court.
Judge Alexandra Smoots-Thomas and Cheryl Elliott Thornton are the two candidates in the Democratic Primary runoff race for the Houston-based court.
Whoever wins will face Republican candidate Michael Landrum in the November election.
339th Criminal District Court in Houston
L-R:Candance White, Te'iva Bell. Courtesy photos.Te'iva Bell and Candance White Seek The Vote For Houston's 339th District Court
In the Democratic race for the 339th Criminal District Court in Houston, candidate Te'iva Bell claims that her criminal law experience sets her apart, while opponent Candance White stresses her broad range of experience including work as a municipal court judge.
Bell and White seek the Democratic nomination for the Houston-based criminal court.
Whoever wins will face incumbent Judge Jesse McClure, a Republican, in the November election.
505th District Court in Richmond
Kali Morgan of Fresno, and Richmond trial and appellate litigator Surendran K. Pattel, competing in the race for the 505th District Court in Richmond. Courtesy photos.Kali Morgan and Surendran K. Pattel Seek Democratic Nomination for Judge of Texas' 505th District Court
One Democratic candidate in the runoff for Fort Bend County's 505th District Court is running on her family law experience, while her opponent says his multicultural background will better serve the area's diverse population.
Kali Morgan and Surendran K. Pattel are candidates in the Democratic runoff for the Richmond-based family district court.
Whoever wins will run against Republican candidate David S. Perwin in November's general election.
Dallas
Dallas County Criminal District Court No. 3
Photo: Rob Crandall/Shutterstock.comTeresa Jan Hawthorne, Audra Ladawn Riley Face Off for Judge of Dallas County Criminal District Court No. 3
The Democratic runoff for Dallas County's Criminal District Court No. 3 has become a competition of which candidate has the most relevant criminal law experience.
Teresa Jan Hawthorne and Audra Ladawn Riley are competing for the Democratic nomination for the criminal court bench in Dallas.
The runoff victor will win the bench, as there's no Republican opponent running in November.
West Texas
El Paso County's 383rd District Court
Lucila Flores, and Lyda Ness Garcia. Courtesy photosMeet the Lawyers Campaigning for Judge of Texas' 383rd District Court: Democrats Lucila Flores and Lyda Ness Garcia
Which candidate has the most family law experience is a campaign issue in the runoff for the 383rd District Court.
Seeking the Democratic party's nomination, candidates Lucila Flores and Lyda Ness Garcia are preparing for the runoff election in July.
Whoever wins the runoff will compete in November against Republican candidate Phyllis Martinez Gonzalez.
El Paso County's 388th District Court
Marlene Gonzalez, left, and judge Laura Strathmann, right. Courtesy photos'She Lacks the Judicial Temperament': Incumbent Judge Battles Challenger in Democratic Race for Texas' 388th District Court
Allegations of dirty campaigning have arisen in the Democratic runoff for the 388th District Court in El Paso.
Incumbent Judge Laura Strathmann is defending her seat against challenger Marlene Gonzalez, who has raised campaign issues centered on the alleged inefficiency of Strathmann's court. But Strathmann fired back, alleging in an election questionnaire that Gonzalez has called her racist, and told voters that Strathmann isn't Hispanic and can't understand El Paso's Hispanic majority.
Gonzalez denied it.
Whoever wins the runoff will win the seat, since there's no Republican candidate running in November.
South Texas
138th District Court in Brownsville
Photo: Rob Crandall/Shutterstock.comMeet the Candidates for Judge of Brownsville's 138th District Court: Helen Delgadillo and Gabriel Gabby Garcia
Democratic candidate Helen Delgadillo argues she's better qualified for Cameron County's 138th District Court because she's gained the experience and honed the temperament she needs during her years as a public school teacher, lawyer and municipal court judge.
Delgadillo and Gabriel Gabby Garcia are the two Democrats competing in the primary runoff for the 138th District Court of Cameron County.
There is no Republican candidate in November, which means the runoff winner will take the bench.
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