Fran Watson
Fran Watson (Democratic Party) is a judge of the Harris County Probate Court No. 5 in Texas. Watson's current term ends on December 31, 2028.
Watson (Democratic Party) ran for re-election for judge of the Harris County Probate Court No. 5 in Texas. Watson won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Elections
2024
See also: Municipal elections in Harris County, Texas (2024)
General election
General election for Harris County Probate Court No. 5
Incumbent Fran Watson defeated Ray Black Jr. in the general election for Harris County Probate Court No. 5 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Fran Watson (D) | 50.4 | 732,651 |
| Ray Black Jr. (R) | 49.6 | 719,634 | ||
| Total votes: 1,452,285 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Harris County Probate Court No. 5
Incumbent Fran Watson defeated Troy Moore and Chavon Carr in the Democratic primary for Harris County Probate Court No. 5 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Fran Watson | 55.0 | 82,141 |
| Troy Moore | 25.8 | 38,477 | ||
| Chavon Carr | 19.2 | 28,699 | ||
| Total votes: 149,317 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Harris County Probate Court No. 5
Ray Black Jr. advanced from the Republican primary for Harris County Probate Court No. 5 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ray Black Jr. | 100.0 | 140,948 | |
| Total votes: 140,948 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Watson in this election.
2018
- See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Texas State Senate District 17
Incumbent Joan Huffman defeated Rita Lucido and Lauren LaCount in the general election for Texas State Senate District 17 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Joan Huffman (R) | 51.4 | 158,263 |
 | Rita Lucido (D) | 46.8 | 143,978 | |
 | Lauren LaCount (L) | 1.8 | 5,396 | |
| Total votes: 307,637 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary runoff election
Democratic primary runoff for Texas State Senate District 17
Rita Lucido defeated Fran Watson in the Democratic primary runoff for Texas State Senate District 17 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Rita Lucido | 57.8 | 10,476 |
| Fran Watson | 42.2 | 7,659 | |
| Total votes: 18,135 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 17
Rita Lucido and Fran Watson advanced to a runoff. They defeated Ahmad Hassan in the Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 17 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Rita Lucido | 48.9 | 17,603 |
| ✔ | | Fran Watson | 35.1 | 12,621 |
 | Ahmad Hassan | 16.0 | 5,739 | |
| Total votes: 35,963 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 17
Incumbent Joan Huffman defeated Kristin Tassin in the Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 17 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joan Huffman | 72.6 | 36,668 |
 | Kristin Tassin | 27.4 | 13,808 | |
| Total votes: 50,476 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Fran Watson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Fran Watson participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on March 27, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Fran Watson's responses follow below.[1]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | 1) Education 2) Healthcare |
” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | Social Justice and Inequity. Criminal Justice Labor Health I am personally passionate about these policy areas because it is the intersection of these where good sound policy can take significant steps in breaking the cycle of poverty. For instance, if we raise the minimum wage, that makes strides in Equal pay, because women, particularly women of color are overrepresented in the low wage jobs.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[3]
|
” |
Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Fran Watson answered the following:
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
| “ | I look up to Barbara Jordan. The late Congresswoman navigated the hall of the Texas Senate providing qualified representation and ensuring that bill introduced helped elevate the quality of life of all Texans. The first black woman to serve in the Texas Senate, I hope to follow in her footsteps. I also look up to progressive women who are serving at various levels of government.[3] | ” |
| “ | The anthology: "Traffic at the Crossroads: Multiple Oppressions"[3] | ” |
| “ | The ability to put the people before ego. There is a serious issue if it comes to the point where the question is "what is in it for me?"[3] | ” |
| “ | Consensus building. Coalition building. A heart for public service.[3] | ” |
| “ | To set policy that works to elevate the quality of life for Texans. Ensure equitable systems are in place and be good stewards of Texans' tax dollars.[3] | ” |
| “ | That I centered the voices of those most often unheard.[3] | ” |
| “ | The Challenger explosion. I was 9.[3] | ” |
| “ | Drive-thru cashier at Wendy's. 3 years.[3] | ” |
| “ | I brought my best friend with me.[3] | ” |
| “ | Christmas Eve. Our family hosts and the house is full of laughter and joy![3] | ” |
| “ | The Color Purple. The main character's navigation through a life of trials, tribulations, and nuance is fascinating to me.[3] | ” |
| “ | Escapade by Janet Jackson[3] | ” |
Political philosophy
Watson stated the following about her political philosophy in a biographical submission to Ballotpedia:[4]
| “ | I am running for State Senate because I believe in People First. And the People Deserve Better. The people deserve a Senator who will support legislation and solutions that elevate the quality of life for the 800,000 + residents in SD17. Instead the people have a Senator who works on passing laws that isolate Texans and target vulnerable communities. The people deserve a Senator who will work to strengthen the public education system, provide a living wage, and not allow the government to seize local control. Instead, the people have a Senator that champions bills that cripple working class families, blocks chances for Equal pay, and makes the hand of government larger than necessary.
The people deserve a Champion who will break down barriers, not create more. I have a record of speaking up for and working on behalf of the communities I serve, organizations I’ve led and the legal clients I represent. Sending me to Austin as your next State Senator will mean having champion working to re-shift the focus in Austin and once again put the People First. I have a passion for equality and believes everyone deserves a life of dignity, equal access, and fair treatment. Like many Texans, my life was met with some personal challenges. From losing my mother at age 13 to a drug overdose, to getting expelled from high school, to breaking both of my legs and being temporarily disabled, I understand how lack of access can hinder people from succeeding. These experiences are a driving force for me to work to ensure everyone has equal access and the opportunity to succeed.[3] |
” |
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Fran Watson's responses," March 27, 2018
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Information submitted on Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form on December 20, 2017
Federal courts:
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas
State courts:
Texas Supreme Court • Texas Court of Appeals • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals • Texas District Courts • Texas County Courts • Texas County Courts at Law • Texas Statutory Probate Courts • Texas Justice of the Peace Courts
State resources:
Courts in Texas • Texas judicial elections • Judicial selection in Texas
