ABOUT ME

I'm a retired, disabled Marine Corps veteran of multiple combat deployments. I'm a father, a community leader, and someone who has spent decades serving communities both online and in person. In my free time I enjoy video games, woodworking, Dungeons & Dragons, axe throwing, lifting weights, and Warhammer.

Meet Nick | Nick Pappas for Denton County Judge

Nick earned a high school diploma from Humble High School.

Nick is a retired, disabled Marine Corps veteran who completed multiple combat deployments.

Nick Pappas - Ballotpedia

Nick Pappas run for County Judge is first entry into politics.

2026 Texas General Election

A public county hospital with mental health and addiction treatment centers attached. Built with local, state, and federal money. Any new taxes start with businesses, and nobody making under $100K pays more. If funding falls short, audit existing county contracts before raising taxes on working families.

Nick Pappas for Denton County Judge | Priorities

Any new taxes start with businesses, and nobody making under $100K pays more. If funding falls short, audit existing county contracts before raising taxes on working families.

Proposes new taxes, beginning with businesses, while exempting people earning under $100,000 from higher taxes.

Calls for auditing existing county contracts before raising taxes on working families if funding falls short.

- Proposes new taxes, beginning with businesses, while exempting people earning under $100,000 from higher taxes.
- Calls for auditing existing county contracts before raising taxes on working families if funding falls short.

Economy

1.1

Weekend Commissioners Court sessions with public comment, at times working people can attend. Business brunch before court, community lunch after.

1.3

Livestream and archive every Commissioners Court meeting. Publish agendas and supporting documents in advance. Post the county budget and every county contract where the public can read them. Regular town halls and office hours.

Denton County needs a modern community support system that strengthens food security, expands shelter capacity, and builds real pathways out of homelessness. We should partner directly with Tarrant Area Food Bank North, local shelters, mental health providers, and transportation agencies so families and vulnerable residents can reliably reach the services they need.

Denton County needs a modern community support system that strengthens food security, expands shelter capacity, and builds real pathways out of homelessness. We should partner directly with Tarrant Area Food Bank North, local shelters, mental health providers, and transportation agencies so families and vulnerable residents can reliably reach the services they need. Data driven planning and shared outcome tracking ensure resources flow to the neighborhoods and programs with the highest documented need.

2.4

Around the clock shelter capacity, run with nonprofit partners.

2.5

Businesses donate surplus food instead of trashing it, with the county supporting and funding the logistics so the load doesn't fall on cities and ISDs.

Veterans
5.1

Veterans get the respect and care we earned. Care, housing, and jobs.

Proposes weekend Commissioners Court sessions with public comment, business brunches before court, and community lunches afterward.

Plans to livestream and archive Commissioners Court meetings, publish agendas and contracts, and hold regular town halls and office hours.

Calls for a community support system that strengthens food security, expands shelter capacity, and creates pathways out of homelessness.

Proposes around-the-clock shelter capacity operated with nonprofit partners.

Calls for county-supported logistics to help businesses donate surplus food rather than discard it.

Calls for veteran care, housing, and jobs.

- Proposes weekend Commissioners Court sessions with public comment, business brunches before court, and community lunches afterward.
- Plans to livestream and archive Commissioners Court meetings, publish agendas and contracts, and hold regular town halls and office hours.
- Calls for a community support system that strengthens food security, expands shelter capacity, and creates pathways out of homelessness.
- Proposes around-the-clock shelter capacity operated with nonprofit partners.
- Calls for county-supported logistics to help businesses donate surplus food rather than discard it.
- Calls for veteran care, housing, and jobs.

Public Services

4.3

Gun safety. "I support policies that would ensure children, felons, and those diagnosed as mentally ill or unstable do not have unrestricted access to guns." "If our warfighters have safe storage laws and red flag laws, why wouldn't anyone else?"

Denton County needs emergency plans, public safety staffing, and infrastructure systems that actually match the pace of our growth instead of pretending the old setup still works. We need to strengthen disaster preparedness, support first responders with real training and stable funding, and fix transportation, drainage, and mobility gaps using state recommended planning standards. We also need to address years of leadership failures by committing to transparent communication, compliance with state law, and public accountability.

Data driven planning and shared outcome tracking ensure resources flow to the neighborhoods and programs with the highest documented need. By expanding evidence based jail programs and improving reentry coordination, Denton County can reduce recidivism and build a safer, more stable community for everyone.

Public Safety
4.1

End the county's 287(g) agreement. Local law enforcement spends local resources on local safety.

Supports policies limiting gun access for children, people with felony convictions, and people diagnosed with mental illness or deemed unstable.

Calls for stronger disaster preparedness, stable funding, and training for first responders.

Advocates for expanding evidence-based jail programs and improving reentry coordination to reduce recidivism.

Calls for ending the county's 287(g) agreement so local law enforcement resources focus on local safety.

- Supports policies limiting gun access for children, people with felony convictions, and people diagnosed with mental illness or deemed unstable.
- Calls for stronger disaster preparedness, stable funding, and training for first responders.
- Advocates for expanding evidence-based jail programs and improving reentry coordination to reduce recidivism.
- Calls for ending the county's 287(g) agreement so local law enforcement resources focus on local safety.

Public Safety

1.2

Infrastructure projects finish on time and on budget, with the numbers public.

Calls for fixing transportation, drainage, and mobility gaps using state-recommended planning standards.

Calls for infrastructure projects to finish on time and on budget, with public financial reporting.

- Calls for fixing transportation, drainage, and mobility gaps using state-recommended planning standards.
- Calls for infrastructure projects to finish on time and on budget, with public financial reporting.

Transportation & Infrastructure

2.3

Three free meals a day for every kid. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, using federal grant dollars we already paid for.

Proposes three free meals daily for every child using available federal grant funding.

- Proposes three free meals daily for every child using available federal grant funding.

Education

2.1

A public county hospital with mental health and addiction treatment centers attached. Built with local, state, and federal money.

Proposes a public county hospital with attached mental-health and addiction-treatment centers, funded locally and by state and federal governments.

- Proposes a public county hospital with attached mental-health and addiction-treatment centers, funded locally and by state and federal governments.

Public Health

As of July 22, 2026, Nick Pappas’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

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Nick Pappas

Nick Pappas earned a high school diploma from Humble High School.

Nick's run for County Judge is first entry into politics.

- Calls for stronger disaster preparedness, stable funding, and training for first responders.
- Advocates for expanding evidence-based jail programs and improving reentry coordination to reduce recidivism.
- Calls for ending the county's 287(g) agreement so local law enforcement resources focus on local safety.

Nick Pappas's run for County Judge is first entry into politics.

Nick Pappas is a retired, disabled Marine Corps veteran who completed multiple combat deployments.

ABOUT ME

I'm a retired, disabled Marine Corps veteran of multiple combat deployments. I'm a father, a community leader, and someone who has spent decades serving communities both online and in person.

Nick Pappas is a retired, disabled Marine Corps veteran who served in multiple combat deployments.

In the News
The Dallas Morning News: Candidate Q&A: Denton County Judge, Democrat
North Texas Daily: Democratic candidates answer questions at forum ahead of March 2026 election
KXAN: Full TV interview from my earlier run for governor, before I chose to focus on Denton County (also aired on KETK)
Pappas for Denton

Nick Pappas previously ran for governor and later focused on Denton County.

Priorities | Nick Pappas for Denton County Judge

Proposes that new taxes begin with businesses and that taxes not increase for people earning under $100,000.

Calls for auditing county contracts before raising taxes on working families if funding falls short.

- Proposes that new taxes begin with businesses and that taxes not increase for people earning under $100,000.
- Calls for auditing county contracts before raising taxes on working families if funding falls short.

Around the clock shelter capacity, run with nonprofit partners.

Businesses donate surplus food instead of trashing it, with the county supporting and funding the logistics so the load doesn't fall on cities and ISDs.

Calls for a community-support system that strengthens food security, expands shelter capacity, and creates pathways out of homelessness.

Supports around-the-clock shelter capacity operated with nonprofit partners.

Supports county-funded logistics for businesses to donate surplus food rather than discard it.

- Calls for a community-support system that strengthens food security, expands shelter capacity, and creates pathways out of homelessness.
- Supports around-the-clock shelter capacity operated with nonprofit partners.
- Supports county-funded logistics for businesses to donate surplus food rather than discard it.

Denton County needs emergency plans, public safety staffing, and infrastructure systems that actually match the pace of our growth instead of pretending the old setup still works. We need to strengthen disaster preparedness, support first responders with real training and stable funding, and fix transportation, drainage, and mobility gaps using state recommended planning standards.

Supports policies limiting gun access for children, felons, and people diagnosed as mentally ill or unstable, including safe-storage and red-flag laws.

Supports stronger disaster preparedness, stable funding, and training for first responders.

Supports expanding evidence-based jail programs and improving reentry coordination to reduce recidivism.

Calls for ending Denton County's 287(g) agreement.

- Supports stronger disaster preparedness, stable funding, and training for first responders.
- Supports expanding evidence-based jail programs and improving reentry coordination to reduce recidivism.
- Calls for ending Denton County's 287(g) agreement.

The Court also approved an amendment increasing the County’s contribution to the Lakeside Parkway project from $4.27 million to an amount not to exceed $9.488 million. This more than doubled the original commitment. No explanation, justification, or discussion of why the cost increased was provided on the record. When millions of additional public dollars are committed, residents deserve to hear what changed, why the increase is necessary, and how future costs will be controlled.

Court Watch: Commissioners Court brief, February 3, 2026 | Nick Pappas for Denton County Judge

Calls for using state-recommended planning standards to address transportation, drainage, and mobility gaps.

Calls for public explanations of major infrastructure cost increases and plans to control future costs.

- Calls for using state-recommended planning standards to address transportation, drainage, and mobility gaps.
- Calls for public explanations of major infrastructure cost increases and plans to control future costs.

Three free meals a day for every kid. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, using federal grant dollars we already paid for.

Proposes three free daily meals for every child using federal grant dollars.

- Proposes three free daily meals for every child using federal grant dollars.

Proposes a public county hospital with attached mental health and addiction treatment centers.

- Proposes a public county hospital with attached mental health and addiction treatment centers.

Nick Pappas is a retired Marine Corps veteran who served on multiple combat deployments.

In the News
The Dallas Morning News: Candidate Q&A: Denton County Judge, Democrat
North Texas Daily: Democratic candidates answer questions at forum ahead of March 2026 election
KXAN: Full TV interview from my earlier run for governor, before I chose to focus on Denton County (also aired on KETK)

Proposes prioritizing businesses for new taxes, exempting people earning under $100,000 from tax increases, and auditing county contracts before raising taxes on working families.

Community Support

Denton County needs a modern community support system that strengthens food security, expands shelter capacity, and builds real pathways out of homelessness. We should partner directly with Tarrant Area Food Bank North, local shelters, mental health providers, and transportation agencies so families and vulnerable residents can reliably reach the services they need. Data driven planning and shared outcome tracking ensure resources flow to the neighborhoods and programs with the highest documented need.

Supports partnerships with food banks, shelters, mental health providers, and transportation agencies to expand food security, shelter, and homelessness services.

Proposes county-supported logistics to help businesses donate surplus food rather than discard it.

- Supports partnerships with food banks, shelters, mental health providers, and transportation agencies to expand food security, shelter, and homelessness services.
- Proposes around-the-clock shelter capacity operated with nonprofit partners.
- Proposes county-supported logistics to help businesses donate surplus food rather than discard it.

Public Safety
4.2

Expand evidence based jail programs and improve reentry coordination.

Community Support

Denton County needs a modern community support system that strengthens food security, expands shelter capacity, and builds real pathways out of homelessness. We should partner directly with Tarrant Area Food Bank North, local shelters, mental health providers, and transportation agencies so families and vulnerable residents can reliably reach the services they need. Data driven planning and shared outcome tracking ensure resources flow to the neighborhoods and programs with the highest documented need. By expanding evidence based jail programs and improving reentry coordination, Denton County can reduce recidivism and build a safer, more stable community for everyone.

Public Safety
4.3

Gun safety. "I support policies that would ensure children, felons, and those diagnosed as mentally ill or unstable do not have unrestricted access to guns." "If our warfighters have safe storage laws and red flag laws, why wouldn't anyone else?"

Calls for stronger disaster preparedness and stable funding and training for first responders.

Calls for ending Denton County's 287(g) agreement so local law enforcement resources focus on local safety.

Supports policies limiting gun access for children, felons, and people "diagnosed as mentally ill or unstable."

- Calls for stronger disaster preparedness and stable funding and training for first responders.
- Calls for ending Denton County's 287(g) agreement so local law enforcement resources focus on local safety.
- Supports expanding evidence-based jail programs and improving reentry coordination to reduce recidivism.
- Supports policies limiting gun access for children, felons, and people "diagnosed as mentally ill or unstable."

Court Watch Edition — February 3, 2026 | Nick Pappas for Denton County Judge

Calls for transportation, drainage, and mobility improvements using state-recommended planning standards.

Calls for publicly available financial data on infrastructure projects and explanations for project cost increases.

- Calls for transportation, drainage, and mobility improvements using state-recommended planning standards.
- Calls for publicly available financial data on infrastructure projects and explanations for project cost increases.

Proposes providing every child with three free meals daily using federal grant funding.

- Proposes providing every child with three free meals daily using federal grant funding.

2.1

A public county hospital with mental health and addiction treatment centers attached. Built with local, state, and federal money. Any new taxes start with businesses, and nobody making under $100K pays more. If funding falls short, audit existing county contracts before raising taxes on working families.

Proposes a public county hospital with attached mental health and addiction treatment centers funded locally, by the state, and federally.

- Proposes a public county hospital with attached mental health and addiction treatment centers funded locally, by the state, and federally.

Nick Pappas is a retired, disabled Marine Corps veteran of multiple combat deployments. He is a father. In his free time, he enjoys video games, woodworking, Dungeons & Dragons, axe throwing, lifting weights, and Warhammer.

Nick is a retired, disabled Marine Corps veteran.

Nick previously ran for governor in 2026 but did not win.

Candidates set as filing closes for Denton County primaries

Supports creating a modern community support system to enhance food security, expand shelter capacity, and address homelessness through partnerships with local organizations and data-driven planning.

Advocates for transparent communication, compliance with state law, and public accountability to create a reliable and honest county government.

Supports livestreaming and archiving Commissioners Court meetings, publishing agendas and supporting documents in advance, and ensuring public access to the county budget and contracts, along with regular town halls and office hours.

Supports county funding for logistics to facilitate food donation from businesses, reducing the burden on cities and school districts.

Supports expanding evidence-based jail programs and improving reentry coordination.

Supports policies to ensure that children, felons, and those diagnosed with mental illness do not have unrestricted access to guns, advocating for safe storage laws and red flag laws.

Supports strengthening disaster preparedness and fixing transportation, drainage, and mobility gaps using state recommended planning standards.

For Candidate Nick Pappas on Issue public-health:  
Proposes a public county hospital with mental health and addiction treatment centers, funded by local, state, and federal money, and suggests auditing existing county contracts before raising taxes on working families if funding falls short.

Buket Urgen

Mauricio Mendez

Andy Eads

- Presides over commissioners court, county’s policy-making body. Helps adopt county budget, sets county tax rates, oversees building and maintaining county infrastructure, and other county government operations.
- Serves as judge of county court, taking on misdemeanor criminal and small civil cases, probate matters, and appeals from the justice of the peace court.
- Performs administration duties, ranging from hearings for beer and wine license applications to calling elections. Can serve as budget officer in counties with a smaller population.
- Serves as county’s emergency management director, with authority to designate an assistant to emergency management issues as emergency management coordinator.
- Represents county at ceremonial occasions and on various boards and committees, including Election Commission, Workforce Governing Board, and Bail Bond Board.
- County Judges are elected in a partisan, county-wide election to a four-year term. Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, have been a Texas resident for at least 12 consecutive months, a county resident for at least six consecutive months, and registered to vote in that county.
- The annual salary for county judges range from $47,425 to $198,921, set by the county’s commissioners court.

Leads your county’s policy-making board.