Paula Maria Miller, a Democratic candidate for County Court at Law #3, has been declared ineligible to appear on the November 3 general election ballot.
A notice of Declaration of Ineligibility was released by the Fort Bend County Democratic Party on March 31. The decision is based on state law requiring that a candidate for judge of a statutory county court must have lived in the county for at least two years prior to the election or appointment.
Publicly available records, including property records, vehicle registration data, assumed name filings, homestead exemption filings, address histories, as well as voter records, show no strong evidence of a clear and measurable residency for Miller.
Under Texas Election Code § 1.015, “residence” is defined as domicile, requiring both physical presence and intent to remain.
The evidence to prove a consistent pattern of residency in Fort Bend County is not in Miller’s favor. She applied for a homestead exemption in Harris County on December 30, 2024. Her car is registered to an address in Houston. Property records show the address she claims in Richmond is owned by a third party. Perhaps the most glaring evidence shows Miller voted in Harris County in November 2024, further proof her residency is ineligible under the Texas Election Code.
The current Presiding Judge of County Court at Law No. 3, and Miller’s primary opponent, Juli Mathew, may have an opportunity to keep her seat.
Fort Bend County precinct chairs will vote on the matter. According to the Texas Election Code, if a vacancy occurs between December 3, 2025, and August 21, 2026, the appropriate state, district, county, or precinct executive committee members who are elected in the 2026 primary elections (or appointed) to a new term starting June 15, 2026, may nominate a candidate for the unexpired term after the new party officers take office.
Mathew released a statement Friday: “If selected, I would be honored to appear on the ballot for the general election in November and continue the work we have done to strengthen the administration of justice in Fort Bend County. Serving this community as judge has been the privilege of my professional life, and I remain committed to upholding the rule of law and maintaining the public’s trust in our courts.”
If chosen, Mathew will face Republican Jessica Jaramillo in the November general election.