Denton County, Texas

Denton County Judge

2 candidates are tracked for Denton County Judge on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Andy Eads and Nick Pappas. Candidate information follows official Denton County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

March 3 primary result: Andy Eads was unopposed for the Republican nomination and Nick Pappas was unopposed for the Democratic nomination; both meet on the November 3 ballot, per the county's official primary candidate list and Denton Record-Chronicle coverage.

What this office does

County judge (county executive). In Texas and a few other states the county judge is the county's chief executive and presides over the commissioners court, the county's governing board. The office prepares the budget, runs county administration and emergency management and, in smaller counties, still hears some probate and misdemeanor matters. It is an administrative office more than a courtroom one.

This race. Every voter in Denton County votes on this seat. The sitting officeholder, Andy Eads, is on the ballot.

Texas › Denton County › Denton County Judge

Andy Eads

Republican Incumbent

Top priorities

Funding and designing road projects such as SH114 and reconstructing Highway 380 for safety
Building government partnerships with leaders at all levels
Attracting business investment and economic development to the county

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Andy Eads is the incumbent Denton County Judge and a former real estate agent who was named Rookie of the Year at RE/MAX DFW, per his official county biography. He served on the Denton County Commissioners Court as the Precinct 4 commissioner beginning in 2007 before his election as county judge, per the same source.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Nick Pappas

Democratic

Top priorities

Accountability and fixing county infrastructure problems
Supporting residents and community services
Protecting fair elections and voting access

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Nick Pappas is a retired, disabled Marine Corps veteran who served multiple combat deployments between 2005 and 2022, per his campaign site. He is running for Denton County Judge on a platform focused on government accountability and infrastructure.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotDenton County Commissioner, Precinct 2

See your full ballot

Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Denton County Judge in 2026?

When is the Denton County Judge election in Texas?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Texas are on the Texas election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Denton County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Denton County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Texas election office, or see the full Denton County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Denton County ballot

33 tracked races in Denton County, Texas. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Denton County Commissioner, Precinct 4 Denton County Clerk Denton County District Clerk See all 33 Denton County races

Candidate profiles

Andy Eads, full profile Nick Pappas, full profile Official Texas election office