This sample ballot may not include all local party roles or measures on the official ballot. The listed candidates serve only within their party, and the propositions do not change the law.

2026 Texas General Election

2026 Texas Primary Election

Democrat

Republican

2026 Texas Primary Runoff

Melanie M. Lira

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Rafael Perez

Walter Ley

Melanie is an Immigration Staff Attorney at The Treviño Law Firm. She previously served as a Bexar County Court-Appointed Attorney and ran her own immigration law firm, Lira | Cazares Defense Firm, PLLC, where she reserved 40% of her cases for pro bono representation.

Meet Melanie Lira – CanvasRebel Magazine

Melanie M. Lira is currently Judge of County Court-at-Law 7. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term.

Election results 2022: Local Bexar County races, Democrat and ...

As of January 22, 2026, Melanie M. Lira’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Legal Experience

Judicial Philosophy

Created a consistent docket to enhance judicial administration.

As a candidate, decreased the backlog in judicial administration.

For Candidate Melanie M. Lira on Issue judicial-administration: Took back family violence cases.

Judicial Administration

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement

- A County Court-At-Law judge handles misdemeanors, such as assault of a family member, property theft between $750 and $2,500, and using force against a law enforcement officer. They also handle civil cases where the amount in question does not exceed $200,000. 
- County Court-At-Law judges conduct arraignments, pre-trial hearings, and jury trials, as well as accept guilty pleas. 
- They are elected in a partisan, county-wide election to a four-year term. 
- Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 25 years old, have been a Texas and county resident for at least 24 consecutive months, a practicing lawyer and/or judge in Texas for at least four years, and registered to vote in that county.
- The annual salary for County Court-At-Law Judges ranges from $174,000 to $244,500, depending on years of service and how much they receive as a county supplement.

Handles civil and criminal cases from District Courts.