Joe Lopez (Texas)
Joe Lopez (Democratic Party) is a judge of the Texas 49th District Court. He assumed office in 2014. His current term ends on December 31, 2026.
Lopez (Democratic Party) is running for re-election for judge of the Texas 49th District Court. He declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on March 3, 2026.[source]
Biography
Lopez received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and his J.D. from the University of Houston.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Municipal elections in Webb County, Texas (2026)
General election
The primary will occur on March 3, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Texas 49th District Court
Incumbent Joe Lopez (D) is running in the Democratic primary for Texas 49th District Court on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Joe Lopez | ||
| ||||
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Endorsements
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2022
See also: Municipal elections in Webb County, Texas (2022)
General election
The general election was canceled. Incumbent Joe Lopez won election in the general election for Texas 49th District Court.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas 49th District Court
Incumbent Joe Lopez advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas 49th District Court on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Joe Lopez | 100.0 | 16,813 | |
| Total votes: 16,813 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for Texas 49th District Court
Incumbent Joe Lopez won election in the general election for Texas 49th District Court on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Joe Lopez (D) | 100.0 | 43,675 | |
| Total votes: 43,675 | |||
| = 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 49th District Court
Incumbent Joe Lopez advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas 49th District Court on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Joe Lopez | 100.0 | 18,703 | |
| Total votes: 18,703 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Selection method
- See also: Partisan election of judges
The judges of the Texas District Courts are chosen in partisan elections. They serve four-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to continue serving.[2]
Though Texas is home to more than 400 district courts, the courts are grouped into nine administrative judicial regions. Each region is overseen by a presiding judge who is appointed by the governor to a four-year term. According to the state courts website, the presiding judge may be a "regular elected or retired district judge, a former judge with at least 12 years of service as a district judge, or a retired appellate judge with judicial experience on a district court."[3]
Qualifications
To serve on the district courts, a judge must be:
- a U.S. citizen;
- a resident of Texas;
- licensed to practice law in the state;
- between the ages of 25 and 75;*[4]
- a practicing lawyer and/or state judge for at least four years; and
- a resident of his or her respective judicial district for at least two years.[2]
*While no judge older than 74 may run for office, sitting judges who turn 75 are permitted to continue serving until their term expires.[2]
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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2022
Joe Lopez did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
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Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Martindale.com, "Joe Lopez," accessed August 22, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Texas," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ Texas Courts Online, "Administrative Judicial Regions," accessed September 12, 2014
- ↑ Texas State Historical Association, "Judiciary," accessed September 12, 2014
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
