CCL 14 · Incumbent: Jessica N. Padilla
County Criminal Court at Law No. 14
The inversion race: R incumbent Padilla defends a countywide bench in a county Democrats have swept since 2018.
The desk’s rating
Toss-up
Democrat
Yahaira Quezada
Won March D primary with 54.6% over James Hu
- Cash on hand
- $5K
- Raised
- None
- Spent
- None
Republican · Incumbent
Jessica N. Padilla
Republican incumbent seeking reelection
- Cash on hand
- $6K
- Raised
- None
- Spent
- None
Money
Jessica N. Padilla holds a narrow cash edge.
Cash on hand as reported in each campaign’s latest filing (as of Dec 31, 2025). Full finance records
The desk’s notes
One of the most interesting judicial matchups of 2026. A D challenger faces a R incumbent judge in a county-level race where Democrats have structural advantage. Padilla assumed office Jan 1, 2023; Quezada defeated James Hu in the D primary with 55% of the vote.
All-women matchup.
More in Courts
All courts races495th District Court
Tiffany Hill
$3K
Lori DeAngelo
Inc.$29K
Share of cash on hand
Abbott appointed DeAngelo when this court was created. Hill is a former associate judge.
Baseline, 2024
228th District Court
Alyson Almaguer
$2K
Caroline Dozier
Inc.$24K
Share of cash on hand
Dozier got the bench from Abbott after Judge Aguilar died in office. Almaguer is a felony district court chief at the DA's office.
Baseline, 2024
183rd District Court
Julia Maldonado
$18K
Lance Long
Inc.$444
Share of cash on hand
Lance Long holds one of the few Republican criminal district benches in the county; Maldonado runs with the structural D lean behind her.
Baseline, 2024