Fort Bend Democrats Return Juli Mathew to November Ballot After Paula Miller Declared Ineligible

Fort Bend County Democrats selected incumbent Judge Juli Mathew as their nominee for County Court at Law No. 3 Monday night, choosing the sitting judge to return to the November ballot after Democratic primary winner Paula Maria Miller was declared ineligible because she failed to meet the state’s residency requirements.

The Fort Bend County Democratic Executive Committee voted 47-9 to nominate Judge Mathew over former Judge O’Neil Williams during a vacancy election conducted under the Texas Election Code. Sixty-one precinct chairs were present, exceeding the 42-member quorum required to conduct the meeting.

The vacancy election capped nearly three months of litigation stemming from Miller’s March 31 declaration of ineligibility. Democratic Chair Jennifer Cantu determined that publicly available records showed Miller did not satisfy the statutory requirement that candidates for county court-at-law judge reside in Fort Bend County for at least two years before the election.

Miller unsuccessfully sought relief from the First Court of Appeals before filing a petition for writ of mandamus and a motion for stay with the Texas Supreme Court. Because the Supreme Court had not issued a stay, Cantu told precinct chairs the declaration of ineligibility remained in effect, requiring the party to fill the vacancy.

“As such, only members of the County Executive Committee have a right to speak at this meeting,” Cantu said as she opened the proceedings. “The election was necessitated by a March 31, 2026 administrative declaration of ineligibility. Since that declaration was made, Ms. Miller filed a mandamus at the First Court of Appeals, which was denied by a three-justice panel on April 23, 2026.”

Cantu continued by explaining Miller filed a new mandamus petition with the Texas Supreme Court the following day. Texas’ First Court of Appeals denied Miller’s petition to remain on the ballot. Texas Chief Justice Terry Adams didn’t stop there. Adams warned Miller that the mandamus petition filed in her case contained citations and quotes that appear to be “AI-fabricated hallucinations.”

“To date, the Texas Supreme Court has chosen not to issue the requested stay, nor have they ruled on the mandamus application. This means that the declaration of ineligibility stands, and we move forward pursuant to the Texas Election Code.”

Cantu reminded precinct chairs that candidates had to satisfy the statutory qualifications for the office, including continuous Fort Bend County residency for the two years preceding the filing deadline, registration to vote in Fort Bend County by Dec. 8, 2025, being at least 25 years old, and having practiced law or served as a judge for the preceding four years. She also explained that nominations would come from the floor, no second would be required, ballots would be signed rather than secret, and a majority vote would determine the nominee.

Nominations

The first nomination came from precinct chair Ken McKee, who placed Mathew’s name before the committee.

“I’d like to nominate Juli Mathew for County Court at Law No. 3,” McKee said. “Juli is currently the incumbent. She has the experience and the knowledge to be in that position. She’s a trailblazer. I nominate Juli Mathew because she’s currently the incumbent, so she meets all the criteria that was put out by our chairwoman. She has the experience. She’s very active in the Democratic Party and helps us. I believe she’s a very good candidate for this, and so I nominate Juli Mathew.”

Precinct Chair Cynthia Bennett then nominated former Judge O’Neil Williams.

“I nominate Judge O’Neil Williams,” Bennett said. “He’s an exceptional candidate. He’s been a judge out here before, and I think he’s an exceptional candidate. He’s an outstanding person in the community. I think he’s outstanding. He serves his community well. He serves justice. He looks out for his community. He’s an outstanding person, and I think if you ask him to stand up, he’ll explain himself.”

Williams centers remarks on race and representation 

Williams chose to focus his two minutes on the “division in the party.” He began by saying he had hoped the party would never have to hold a vacancy election before quickly shifting to what he described as racial tensions within the Democratic primary.

He asked precinct chairs to imagine entering “a room full of people who did not look like you” seeking a nomination and hearing another candidate say, “Those people are trying to take your power away.” He said attendees should imagine the “stares” and “lack of applause” directed at “some Black person” who decided to run for the same office. 

Williams argued that the conflict surrounding the race stemmed from attacks during the primary campaign, accusing an unnamed candidate of “maliciously” attacking another candidate and calling police on another Democrat multiple times. He concluded by saying he was running because the court needed someone “more interested in the people of Fort Bend than they are in holding on to power” and someone who understands “people’s lives are at stake when they come into our court.”

Mathew: ‘I believe in our party’

Mathew highlighted both her judicial experience and community outreach, pointing to programs she has created while serving on the bench.

“I created Chai and Chat, where many of our precinct chairs have come through the court to see what local government is like,” Mathew said. “I created Kitchen to the Courthouse, where young girls can see women who have broken the glass ceiling.”

She reminded precinct chairs that many had watched her career develop firsthand.

“I’ve been in the community. I’ve been part of this community. I’ve been active with all of you. You have seen me day in and day out.

“When I first ran, I had a child who was six months old that I carried in a carrier right in front of all of you.”

Addressing the contentious primary campaign, Mathew said she remained committed to Democratic values.

“There’s been lies and accusations, but I believe in our party. I believe in justice for everyone.

“When I ran the first time, I said equality for everyone, and I still stand on those promises — equality for everyone.”

Mathew also argued she offered Democrats the strongest opportunity to retain the seat in November. She gave precinct chairs a paper showing her and other judges’ margins over Republican contenders.