Mary Lou Alvarez

Mary Lou Alvarez

Democratic Party

Candidate, Texas 45th District Court

Texas 45th District Court

Tenure

2019 - Present

Term ends

2026

Years in position

7

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Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 8, 2022

Next election

March 3, 2026

Education

Bachelor's

Stanford University, 1998

Bachelor's

Stanford University

Law

Seton Hall University, 2003

Law

Seton Hall University, School of Law

Personal

Birthplace

Karnes City, TX

Religion

Christian: Catholic

Profession

Judge

Contact

Personal LinkedIn

Mary Lou Alvarez (Democratic Party) is a judge of the Texas 45th District Court. She assumed office on January 1, 2019. Her current term ends on December 31, 2026.

Alvarez (Democratic Party) is running for re-election for judge of the Texas 45th District Court. She is on the ballot in the Democratic primary on March 3, 2026.^[source]

Biography

Mary Lou Alvarez was born in Karnes City, Texas. She earned a bachelor's degree from Stanford University in 1998 and a law degree from Seton Hall University in 2003. Her career experience includes working as a staff attorney at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc.

Elections

2026

See also: Municipal elections in Bexar 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.

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Democratic primary

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Democratic primary for Texas 45th District Court

Incumbent Mary Lou Alvarez (D) and Maria Diaz (D) are running in the Democratic primary for Texas 45th District Court on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Mary Lou Alvarez
	Submit photo	Maria Diaz

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary

The Republican primary scheduled for March 3, 2026, was canceled.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

2022

See also: Municipal elections in Bexar County, Texas (2022)

General election

General election for Texas 45th District Court

Incumbent Mary Lou Alvarez defeated Patricia Jay in the general election for Texas 45th District Court on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mary Lou Alvarez (D)	56.5	294,087
		Patricia Jay (R)	43.5	226,797

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 520,884
= 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.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas 45th District Court

Incumbent Mary Lou Alvarez defeated Maria Diaz in the Democratic primary for Texas 45th District Court on March 1, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mary Lou Alvarez	68.1	58,805
	Submit photo	Maria Diaz	31.9	27,596

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 86,401
= 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 45th District Court

Patricia Jay advanced from the Republican primary for Texas 45th District Court on March 1, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Patricia Jay	100.0	66,008

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 66,008
= 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.

Endorsements

To view Alvarez's endorsements in the 2022 election, please click here.

2018

General election

General election for Texas 45th District Court

Mary Lou Alvarez defeated incumbent Stephani Walsh in the general election for Texas 45th District Court on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mary Lou Alvarez (D)	56.9	304,922
	Submit photo	Stephani Walsh (R)	43.1	230,997

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 535,919
= 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.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas 45th District Court

Mary Lou Alvarez advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas 45th District Court on March 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mary Lou Alvarez	100.0	70,272

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 70,272
= 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 45th District Court

Incumbent Stephani Walsh advanced from the Republican primary for Texas 45th District Court on March 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Stephani Walsh	100.0	51,719

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 51,719
= 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

Judges of the county courts are elected in partisan elections by the county they serve and serve four-year terms, with vacancies filled by a vote of the county commissioners.

Qualifications
To serve on a county court, a judge must:

• be at least 25 years old;
• be a resident of his or her respective county for at least two years; and
• have practiced law or served as a judge for at least four years preceding the election.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Mary Lou Alvarez has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. If you are Mary Lou Alvarez, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

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2022

Mary Lou Alvarez completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Alvarez's responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a Mother, Judge, Attorney, Engineer and Community Educator.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I am committed to providing Justice without Exception to every person, in every case. Every person will be treated fairly, with dignity and respect, while the boundaries of a serious Courtroom and the integrity of the Judiciary are maintained.
• I want to ensure that issues of Domestic Violence, particularly in the context of custody litigation, are addressed with competency, expertise and the best practices that our Courts have to offer.
• Our most vulnerable children, especially our foster children, have their needs addressed by the Court that are statutorily required to look after their needs and best interests.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Maintaining access to the courts for all people, ensuring that issues of domestic violence are appropriately addressed in court ordered solutions, and making sure that the needs of our most vulnerable foster children are met so they can move into independence as healthy young adults.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

There are so many trailblazing scientists who I have been influenced by during my time at Stanford University. As an Engineer, I often think of the first Latina to receive her PhD in Thermo Dynamics from Stanford University in 2003- Dr. Judith Segura, who I remain friends with today and I am honored that she is the Godmother to my children. As a Catholic Mother, the Virgin Mary is the Saint that influences my motherhood, charity and compassion in all ways. As a Judge, the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's work- both as an advocate of equal rights and her opinions as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court have influenced my judicial philosophy. and work ethic.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Reading To Kill a Mocking Bird would help understand my philosophy in that we all have to be challenged every day to think outside of the perspective we have been handed and to be sure we are analyzing reality in a way that is just for everyone.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

A servants heart- a true desire to serve the community where you live and raise your children is the most important characteristic that an elected official can bring to their service. Following that, humility to know that it is with the people's trust and great duty that you are serving.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Experience, having done it the job as a Judge for one term already. Prior to being elected Judge of the 45th Civil District Court, I worked as a attorney for Texas Rio Grande Legal Aide- where I often represented vulnerable clients needing justice before the court.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To preside over the cases brought before the Court and to do so with a sincere desire to treat people fairly and be sure that Justice without Exception prevails.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I was in grade school when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded and I remember the teachers crying and bringing in a television so we could watch and learn what had happened. I remember the shock of knowing that people were alive, making history one minute- and dead making history the next. I remember being shocked at how quickly reality changed.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I can't remember exactly- but I worked two jobs for about a year and a half through two summers as my first employment experience. I worked as a Server at a Buffet and in the other, I was the first female to sell athletic shoes at a local shoe retailer. I started working at 16 years old and I have worked my whole life, only being unemployed for for about three months to study for the Texas Bar after graduating from Seton Hall Law School in New Jersey. During my life, I have worked as a server, a secretary, an engineer, a federal law clerk, an associate attorney, a staff attorney and an attorney owner of my own practice. I now serve as one of your District Court Judges, but I am most proud of my career as a Mother to two wonderful children.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

A Trial Judge has great influence in Family Law cases to establish parameters for interaction and can help get a family to a healthy place post separation. That takes time, patience and diligence to develop the expertise the craft that Court Order. If it is done right, it can be so beneficial to the litigants and most importantly to their children.

How would you describe your legal philosophy?

My legal philosophy is tied to the legal interpretation within the context of applied ethics and morality. I do struggle with the critical theories of law, ensuring the interpretation and application of our laws is truly fair to all groups of people. I have all three legal philosophies intertwined in my work as a jurist.

Is there a particular judge, past or present, whom you admire?

The late Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg

Do you believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge?

Yes

Have you ever been rated by a Bar Association? If so, what was the rating?

No. I am admitted and in good standing with the State Bar of Texas.

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

My desire to serve our community has and motivates my decision to run for District Judge. During my time serving as your District Judge, I have been able to provide training critical to improving outcomes in civil court and meet the needs of our most vulnerable children. I remain motivated to serve our community and make sure our judiciary remains strong and dedicated to providing justice without exception.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for a judge to have previous experience in government or politics?

No. I believe it is beneficial for a Judge to have had experience in the Courtroom. A Trial Judge's job is to preside over the Courtroom.

What is your primary concern about today's legal system in your state?

At this point, in my career as a relatively young Judge in practice, my biggest concern is that we are not doing enough to protect the Judiciary. I am concerned that we do not recognize that as an institution, the Judiciary is weakened every time an Officer of the Court (Attorney) fails to prepare for a hearing, a client who has paid for representation is left without preparation and the Judiciary is attacked meaninglessly by political factions who simply do not like or understand the outcome of a hearing

What do you consider the greatest opportunity for the legal system in your state?

To address the needs of the litigants and to leave the Courtroom in a better state than when they entered.

Would you be interested in serving on a higher court in the future? If so, which court appeals to you?

No. My interest and my expertise and my desires are all to help people at the Trial Court Level.

Do you believe that Bar Association ratings are an accurate reflection of a judge’s ability?

It would depend on the Bar Association and the rating system.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Footnotes

Texas courts

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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