Judge Lori Chambers Gray seeks re-election to Harris County bench

Judge Lori Chambers Gray, a Democrat, is running for re-election to the 262nd District Court bench in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. The court hears felony criminal cases in Harris County, which includes the unincorporated community of Spring.

Gray, a native Houstonian who has served on the 262nd District Court since Jan. 1, 2019, said in her candidate questionnaire that she is seeking another term to continue what she described as a balanced approach to justice that prioritizes public safety, expands access to mental health resources and ensures fairness for everyone in the courtroom.

Candidate information

Party: Democratic
Office sought: Texas District Court Judge, District 262
Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of North Texas; Master of Arts, Texas Southern University; Juris Doctor, South Texas College of Law
Family: Married with two children and two grandchildren
Background: One of the "Houston 19," a group of 19 Black women elected to the Harris County bench on Nov. 6, 2018

Experience and public service

Gray said in her candidate questionnaire that she practiced law for 28 years in state and federal courts before taking the bench.

She attended M.C. Williams High School in Houston, where speech and debate inspired her to pursue law, according to a 2022 Lawdragon profile. She studied communications in college and worked at a radio station. After law school, she managed a radio station licensed to Prairie View A&M University before founding her own law office, according to the profile.

Gray said in the Lawdragon interview that she was about the 10th or 11th African American graduate of South Texas College of Law.

On the bench, Gray serves as co-presiding judge of the competency restoration docket and chairs the Harris County Treatment Court Committee, according to her campaign website. In 2025, she was appointed mental health liaison for the Harris County felony criminal courts, according to the website. She also founded the Next Chapter reading program, according to the website.

On the issues

Mental health access and treatment: Gray called access to mental health services and treatment a pressing issue and said investing in mental health addresses public safety concerns. Her plans include continuing and increasing mental health forums in communities and expanding the court's mental health docket with more information about community resources, according to her response to the League of Women Voters of Houston voters guide.

Youth violence: Gray said she plans to continue the Tackling Crime in the Red Zone initiative with the NFL Alumni Houston Chapter and the NFL Players Association Houston Chapter to educate and motivate youth, according to her voters guide response.

What sets her apart: Asked in her candidate questionnaire what distinguishes her from other candidates, Gray said her 28 years of practice in state and federal courts "cultivated the judicial patience, refined trial skills, community engagement, and dedication to legal scholarship required to serve effectively on the bench."