Melissa Vara
Melissa Vara (Democratic Party) is a judge for Number 15 of the Bexar County Court of Law in Texas. She assumed office in 2018. Her current term ends on December 31, 2026.
Vara (Democratic Party) is running for re-election for the Number 15 judge of the Bexar County Court of Law in Texas. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. She advanced from the Democratic primary on March 3, 2026.
Biography
Melissa Vara graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School. She earned an undergraduate degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. degree from St. Mary's University School of Law. Her career experience includes practicing criminal law, family law, estate planning, and tax.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Municipal elections in Bexar County, Texas (2026)
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Bexar County Court at Law No. 15
Incumbent Melissa Vara (D) is running in the general election for Bexar County Court at Law No. 15 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Melissa Vara (D) | |
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Democratic primary for Bexar County Court at Law No. 15
Incumbent Melissa Vara (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for Bexar County Court at Law No. 15 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Melissa Vara | 100.0 | 137,829 |
| Total votes: 137,829 | |||
| = 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
The Republican primary scheduled for March 3, 2026, was canceled.
Endorsements
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2022
See also: Municipal elections in Bexar County, Texas (2022)
General election
General election for Bexar County Court at Law No. 15
Incumbent Melissa Vara defeated Robert Pate in the general election for Bexar County Court at Law No. 15 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Melissa Vara (D) | 58.3 | 302,117 |
| Robert Pate (R) | 41.7 | 215,880 | ||
| Total votes: 517,997 | |||
| = 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 Bexar County Court at Law No. 15
Incumbent Melissa Vara advanced from the Democratic primary for Bexar County Court at Law No. 15 on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Melissa Vara | 100.0 | 81,226 |
| Total votes: 81,226 | |||
| = 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 Bexar County Court at Law No. 15
Robert Pate advanced from the Republican primary for Bexar County Court at Law No. 15 on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Robert Pate | 100.0 | 64,800 | |
| Total votes: 64,800 | |||
| = 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 Bexar County Court at Law No. 15
Melissa Vara defeated incumbent Bob Behrens in the general election for Bexar County Court at Law No. 15 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Melissa Vara (D) | 59.1 | 315,084 |
| Bob Behrens (R) | 40.9 | 218,339 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 2 | ||
| Total votes: 533,425 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = 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 Bexar County Court at Law No. 15
Melissa Vara defeated Cesar Garcia in the Democratic primary for Bexar County Court at Law No. 15 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Melissa Vara | 70.4 | 52,401 |
 | Cesar Garcia | 29.6 | 22,015 | |
| Total votes: 74,416 | |||
| = 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 Bexar County Court at Law No. 15
Incumbent Bob Behrens defeated Jessica Gonzalez in the Republican primary for Bexar County Court at Law No. 15 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Bob Behrens | 57.8 | 31,944 | |
| Jessica Gonzalez | 42.2 | 23,358 | ||
| Total votes: 55,302 | |||
| = 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
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Melissa Vara has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. If you are Melissa Vara, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
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2022
Melissa Vara did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Melissa Vara completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Vara's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
My top priorities would be to run a more efficient court, have a sound judicial temperament, and maintain a strong work ethic to ensure that tax payer dollars are spent effectively. These changes will make Bexar County Court at Law #15 more professional, compassionate and fair, bringing a much needed change to the court.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
The judicial code of conduct prohibits me from taking a stance on public policies, but I strongly advocate for everyone to participate in the democratic process.
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.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
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Personal |
Footnotes
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
