Tom Nowak

Tom Nowak

Republican Party

Candidate, Texas 366th District Court

Texas 366th District Court

Tenure

2019 - Present

Term ends

2026

Years in position

6

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Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 8, 2022

Next election

March 3, 2026

Appointed

September 19, 2019

Education

High school

North Mesquite High School

Bachelor's

Texas A&M University

Law

Baylor University

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Air Force

Service / branch

U.S. Air Force Reserve

Personal

Religion

Roman Catholic

Profession

Attorney

Contact

Personal website

Personal X

Tom Nowak (Republican Party) is a judge of the Texas 366th District Court. He assumed office on October 3, 2019. His current term ends on December 31, 2026.

Nowak (Republican Party) is running for re-election for judge of the Texas 366th District Court. He is on the ballot in the Republican primary on March 3, 2026.^[source]

Biography

Tom Nowak was born in Krakow, Poland. He moved to Texas in 1985. He graduated from North Mesquite High School. Nowak has served in the United States Air Force Reserve since 2012 and reached the rank of captain. He earned a B.A. in history and political science from Texas A&M University in 2002 and a J.D. from Baylor University School of Law in 2005. Nowak’s career experience includes working as a criminal law specialist with Henley and Henley Law and as an assistant district attorney with the Dallas County District Attorney's Office.

Elections

2026

See also: Municipal elections in Collin 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 Democratic primary scheduled for March 3, 2026, was canceled.

Republican primary

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Republican primary for Texas 366th District Court

Incumbent Tom Nowak (R) is running in the Republican primary for Texas 366th District Court on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Tom Nowak

---

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

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2022

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

General election

The general election was canceled. Incumbent Tom Nowak won election in the general election for Texas 366th District Court.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas 366th District Court

Incumbent Tom Nowak advanced from the Republican primary for Texas 366th District Court on March 1, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tom Nowak	100.0	49,948

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 49,948
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2020

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

General election

General election for Texas 366th District Court

Incumbent Tom Nowak defeated Sam Johnson in the general election for Texas 366th District Court on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tom Nowak (R)	56.3	258,666
		Sam Johnson (D)	43.7	200,736

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 459,402
= 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 366th District Court

Sam Johnson advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas 366th District Court on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sam Johnson	100.0	56,037

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 56,037
= 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 366th District Court

Incumbent Tom Nowak advanced from the Republican primary for Texas 366th District Court on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tom Nowak	100.0	57,106

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 57,106
= 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

See also: Texas intermediate appellate court elections, 2018

General election

General election for Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 11

Cory Carlyle defeated John Browning in the general election for Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 11 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Cory Carlyle (D)	52.7	627,198
		John Browning (R)	47.3	563,864

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,191,062
= 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 Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 11

Cory Carlyle advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 11 on March 6, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Cory Carlyle

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= 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 Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 11

John Browning defeated Tom Nowak and Dan Wyde in the Republican primary for Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 11 on March 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Browning	57.1	83,875
		Tom Nowak	28.4	41,788
	Submit photo	Dan Wyde	14.5	21,290

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 146,953
= 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

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

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2022

Tom Nowak did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Tom Nowak completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Nowak's responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm an immigrant refugee from communism living the American Dream. I am Board Certified in Criminal Law and have handled thousands of cases as a prosecutor and defense attorney prior to my appointment. I am a current Air Force JAG officer (Maj Select) and handle various legal matters for the USAF in the Reserves. My wife and I are proud parents of 2 kids. I have experience in criminal, civil, CPS, family, juvenile, and probate matters. which means I have all of the necessary and expected qualifications for the bench I am seeking. I'm active and dedicated to my community and country.

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?

• Experience
• Integrity
• Leadership

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Criminal Practice and jurisprudence has been an immense part of my career. It is, and will remain, an integral part of my future career as well. However, do not limit myself to just one aspect of the law. As judge, I am required to be proficient in other areas and I have enjoyed learning and ruling on matters such as civil and family cases. The newness of the other areas of law make it interesting and gives me a passion for the work. Hunting down the correct answer and letting lawyers argue their points without having their expertise is exciting and fun. The job is an enjoyable one because of those passions.

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

The person elected to this office must be a hard worker. Relentless in the pursuit of justice. demanding of fairness from all parties. tough when it comes to people trying to take advantage of others or gaming the system. They must be prepared to make quick decisions that are consistent. If they are, they will succeed at providing the services citizens expect. Moving cases through the system whether it be by trial or agreement is the core responsibility of the judge. The judge has to do that while making sure to balance the rights and freedoms of the parties involved. Upholding the Constitution is at the center of all decisions for one accepted into this role.

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

I lived in Poland during the Solidarity movement for more freedom before immigrating to the US as a young boy. I still remember seeing the government trying to beat back the cause of freedom out of my bedroom window. I had a first-hand experience with how important our freedoms can be. I always say that I remember waiting in line for bread and meat, and that I know what tear gas smells like being used against people seeking their rights. I say it because it has formed who I am and what I believe. I am blessed and honored to be living the American Dream. This country and all it has given me is the reason I serve, whether it's with the Air Force or as a judge. I was 6 when I left my home thinking I would never see it again. I didn't realize I would find a new home here in America. Freedom and prosperity helped free my former country and made it a better place. I will always work to make sure that America does not fall back into that same position.

What is your favorite book? Why?

I'm a complete American Revolutionary War history nerd. Hence, I really only read non-fiction books dealing with that time period. The book that is currently at the top of my list and has been for years is Ron Chernow's Alexander Hamilton. I certainly enjoyed the book before it became a hit Broadway musical because it deals with an immigrant trying to make his way in his new home here in America. He certainly made mistakes which are a cautionary roadmap of issues to avoid, but also provides a roadmap of success. Relentless pursuit of what is right and and a never yielding desire to do the work necessary for victory.

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

When I came to this country my family started out with nothing. I'm blessed that my parents worked hard to provide the best they could for my sister and me. However, I'm no stranger to the harsh realities of life. We didn't always have much, but we are proof that ANYONE can succeed here if given enough time, sweat, persistence, and yes, tears. Often people use their economic circumstance as an excuse. It's something I cannot accept as true given where I came from, how we started, and where I ended up.

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

There are a number of things that a District Court judge is responsible for. For instance, we sit on a number of policy and rule making boards dealing with justice throughout the county and state. In addition to resolving cases, we resolve issues like permitting bond companies, courthouse security and juror procedures, budgets, juvenile justice issues, administrative tasks. We are expected to lead other attorneys with continuing legal education. We must manage various staffs involved in the justice system as well. Probation departments are the most well known departments that fall under a District Court's responsibilities but there are more such as the juvenile system, auditors, and security staffs among others. These issues and responsibilities often take up considerable amounts of time. My experience and training with the Air Force provides me the structure and skills to manage these tasks with clarity and ease. Managing personnel is a huge task made easier because of my experiences.

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

This court needs the best and most qualified judge to keep up with the pace of growth in Collin County. As we increase in numbers, the case load will only increase. I am the only candidate with the skills and qualifications to succeed in that role. My year on the bench is a testament to the amount of work that can be accomplished successfully with someone like me in the role of Judge. I am running to continue to serve the people of Collin County as I have for the past year. It has been my biggest honor to serve in the role of Judge and I look forward to providing the best service for years to come.

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

Yes. It's vitally important to have practical experience in many facets of the law. For instance, 70% of the docket of this court is made up of criminal matters. I am Board Certified in Criminal Law, have tried over 100 cases to juries, and have handled thousands of cases as both a prosecutor and defense attorney. My opponent has 0 experience in this facet of the law. My years working for the government helped prepare me for the role of judge. Seeing other judges in my prior roles and interacting on a daily basis gave me an opportunity to see what works and what doesn't. Having run for an office before, gives me insight into what people are looking for when it comes to a judge. I know what the expectations are because I've been there before, making it easier to deliver.

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