Surendran Pattel

Surendran Pattel

Democratic Party

Candidate, Texas 240th District Court

Texas 240th District Court

Tenure

2023 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

2

Predecessor: Frank Fraley (D)

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Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 8, 2022

Next election

March 3, 2026

Education

Bachelor's

University of Calicut, 1992

Other

University of Houston Law Center, 2010

Law

University of Calicut, 1995

Personal

Profession

Lawyer

Surendran Pattel (Democratic Party) is a judge of the Texas 240th District Court. He assumed office on January 1, 2023. His current term ends on January 1, 2027.

Pattel (Democratic Party) is running for re-election for judge of the Texas 240th District Court. He is on the ballot in the Democratic primary on March 3, 2026.^[source]

Biography

Surendran Pattel earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Calicut in 1992, later earning a law degree from the same university in 1995. Pattel also earned a degree from the University of Houston Law Center in 2010. His career experience includes working as a lawyer.

Pattel has been affiliated with the following organizations.

• Fort Bend Bar Association, member
• Harris County Bar Association, member
• State Bar of Texas, member
• State Bar College, member
• Exchange Club of Sugar Land, member
• Malayalee Association of Greater Houston

Elections

2026

See also: Municipal elections in Fort Bend 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 240th District Court

Incumbent Surendran Pattel (D) is running in the Democratic primary for Texas 240th District Court on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Surendran Pattel

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

Republican primary for Texas 240th District Court

Frank Fraley (R) and Asha Reddi (R) are running in the Republican primary for Texas 240th District Court on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Frank Fraley
	Submit photo	Asha Reddi

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	There are no incumbents in this race.
= 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 is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

2022

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

General election

General election for Texas 240th District Court

Surendran Pattel defeated Edward Krenek in the general election for Texas 240th District Court on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Surendran Pattel (D)	50.0	121,762
	Submit photo	Edward Krenek (R)	50.0	121,568

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 243,330
= 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 240th District Court

Surendran Pattel defeated incumbent Frank Fraley in the Democratic primary for Texas 240th District Court on March 1, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Surendran Pattel	55.0	19,303
		Frank Fraley	45.0	15,822

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 35,125
= 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 240th District Court

Edward Krenek advanced from the Republican primary for Texas 240th District Court on March 1, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Edward Krenek	100.0	33,128

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 33,128
= 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.

2020

See also: Municipal elections in Fort Bend County, Texas (2020)

General election

General election for Texas 505th District Court

Kali Morgan defeated incumbent David Perwin in the general election for Texas 505th District Court on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kali Morgan (D)	52.6	176,529
		David Perwin (R)	47.4	159,298

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 335,827
= 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 runoff election

Democratic primary runoff for Texas 505th District Court

Kali Morgan defeated Surendran Pattel in the Democratic primary runoff for Texas 505th District Court on July 14, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kali Morgan	61.5	23,871
		Surendran Pattel	38.5	14,974

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 38,845 (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 Texas 505th District Court

Kali Morgan and Surendran Pattel advanced to a runoff. They defeated Daniel Lee in the Democratic primary for Texas 505th District Court on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kali Morgan	44.6	25,528
✔		Surendran Pattel	30.3	17,316
	Submit photo	Daniel Lee	25.1	14,356

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 57,200
= 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 505th District Court

Incumbent David Perwin advanced from the Republican primary for Texas 505th District Court on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		David Perwin	100.0	46,251

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 46,251
= 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

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

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2022

Surendran Pattel completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Pattel's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a trial and appellate attorney with 26 years experience in both my native India and in Texas; I have practiced law in the Houston area (Fort Bend, Harris and Brazoria counties) for the past decade. In addition, I am a certified mediator.

In addition to my bachelor’s and law degrees, I have a master’s degree in international law from the University of Houston Law Center. I have written a number of locally published articles dealing with everyday legal concerns, as well as a highly regarded published paper on acts of aggression.

I have my own practice, the PKS Law Firm, PLLC, and I live with my wife and two daughters in Rosenberg. I consider myself a community activist, having served as an officer of the Maylayalee Association of Greater Houston.

Also, I am an active participant in Exchange club of Sugar Land, known and respected for its projects on behalf of victims of domestic violence and its promotion of academic achievement among area young people.

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?

• Firm and fair, that is my mantra. I am committed to the ideals of being firm on law and fair in terms of justice. American courts belong to the people, and judges must serve as custodians of the highest ideals of equity and fair play.
• Compassion is a vital component of justice. Without sympathy and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others — without an understanding and embrace of basic humanity — those charged with the delivery of courtroom justice cannot succeed.
• In the end, a judge’s most important function is to protect our rights, all the while recognizing that one person’s rights cannot — must not — trample on the rights of others. It is a balancing act that requires a combination of knowledge, confidence, wisdom and diplomacy.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As an attorney and a judicial candidate, I am passionate about the law, justice and equality under the law. As an elected public servant, I would be determined to run my courtroom in as efficient a manner as possible, committed to the ideal of reducing court backlogs.

None of this is meant to suggest that I would ever advocate a rush to judgment. At the same time, we must never forget the legal maxim “justice deferred is justice denied.” Every person who enters an American courtroom — be he/she the defendant or a plaintiff — is entitled to our immediate respectful attention.

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

It is hard to imagine a more accomplished role model for all Americans than the late, great Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. As both outstanding lawyer and distinguished jurist, Ginsberg was a dynamic, determined and committed spokeswoman for American ideals and values.

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

In my view, all elected officials (and appointees, for that matter) should bring patience, integrity and compassion to their respective jobd

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

First and foremost, I try to be a decent, kind human being, compassionate and understanding. I am determined to succeed, and I persevere in all that I attempt. As a judge, I would be committed to my ideals, determined to the extent of my ability to do so, to deliver justice with compassion and equality under the law.

What legacy would you like to leave?

First of all, I want to be remembered as a good, caring family man and a good friend. Professionally I want to be known as a man who did everything in his power to achieve his goals and to help his community. As a judge I would hope to have an impact on reducing court backlogs, at the same time, deliver justice with compassion. I would want to remembered for honoring the Constitution and living up to the highest standards of public service.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I was born into a hardscrabble existence in my native India. While I had a loving and supportive family, education was not a priority. Still, I managed to work my way through college and law school. Furthermore, once I began to practice law, I was determined to help my nephew, the son of my widowed sister. In the end, input him through law school, too. The struggle to succeed was real; the rewards have been immeasurable.

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

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg

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.

2020

Surendran Pattel did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

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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