Jefferson County, Texas

Criminal District Judge, Jefferson County

2 candidates are tracked for Criminal District Judge, Jefferson County on the November 3, 2026 ballot: John "Johnny" B. Stevens, Jr. and Luke Nichols. Candidate information follows official Jefferson County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

March 3 primary result: John "Johnny" B. Stevens, Jr. won the Democratic nomination outright and Luke Nichols won the Republican nomination outright, per the county's official primary sample ballots; they meet on the November 3 ballot.

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

Texas › Jefferson County › Criminal District Judge, Jefferson County

John "Johnny" B. Stevens, Jr.

Democratic

Biography

John B. "Johnny" Stevens Jr. is the incumbent Jefferson County Criminal District Judge, on the bench since 2007, per KFDM. Before becoming judge, he worked as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, an associate attorney at Provost & Umphrey, LLP, and began his legal career as an assistant criminal district attorney, per 12News Now. John "Johnny" B. Stevens, Jr. appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Criminal District Judge, Jefferson County, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.

Luke Nichols

Republican

Biography

Nichols has more than 15 years of experience as an Assistant District Attorney in the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office, per 12News. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.

Next on your ballotJudge, County Court at Law No. 1

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Criminal District Judge, Jefferson County in 2026?

When is the Criminal District Judge, Jefferson County 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County and state election office filings, last verified October 2, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Jefferson County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Judge, County Court at Law No. 2 Judge, County Court at Law No. 3 District Judge, 58th Judicial District See all 26 Jefferson County races

Candidate profiles

John "Johnny" B. Stevens, Jr., full profile Luke Nichols, full profile Official Texas election office