Cox leads Schramm in Harris County Probate Court 3 race

Judge Jason Cox leads in the Harris County Probate Court No. 3 race with 821,456 votes, or 62.7%, to Republican Ronald Schramm's 489,394 votes, or 37.3%, according to unofficial results from Harris County Clerk Elections Department. All 1,224 reporting units had reported as of Nov. 4. Cox, a Democrat, led by 332,062 votes, a margin of 25.4 percentage points. The totals are not yet certified, and this article does not declare a winner.

What was at stake

Harris County Probate Court No. 3 handles probate, guardianship and mental health cases. The court is one of five statutory probate courts in Harris County, all located at the Harris County Civil Courthouse at 201 Caroline Street in Houston, according to Texas Legal Giants.

The key issues:

• Cox said in a candidate questionnaire that he helped create and expand the county's Assisted Outpatient Treatment program, which he said received a $2.7 million federal grant. He also said he founded the Harris County Civil Mental Health Committee.
• Cox said the most significant difference between the candidates was professional background. He said he practiced probate law for about 15 years before taking the bench and has presided over one of the busiest mental health dockets in Texas.
• Schramm listed retired attorney as his occupation on his Texas Secretary of State candidate filing, according to The Ballot Brief.

The court's decisions affect Harris County families navigating estates, guardianships and mental health proceedings.

A little history

Cox was first elected to the bench in 2018 and took office in January 2019. He said in a candidate questionnaire that he was seeking a third term. Before becoming a judge, Cox said he practiced probate law for about 15 years. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University and the University of Houston Law Center, according to his questionnaire responses. Cox also teaches as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law Center.

What's next

The results remain unofficial until the Harris County Commissioners Court completes the local canvass. Under Texas law, the canvass must occur no later than Nov. 17, according to a Texas Secretary of State election advisory.

Election results: Harris County Probate Court-at-Law Judge - Court 3 (Texas General Election, 2026-11-03)

Source: Harris County Clerk Elections Department. Results current as of Nov. 4, 2026, 8:39 a.m. CST. Reporting: 1,224 of 1,224. Unofficial results; every reporting unit has reported.