Galveston County voters pick a county judge on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The winner will preside over the Commissioners Court, the body that sets the county property tax rate and approves the county budget.

Republican incumbent Mark Henry faces Democrat Albert "Al" Smith. Henry was first elected in 2010, according to CW39 Houston.

The county judge is elected countywide and serves as the presiding officer of the Galveston County Commissioners Court, which includes four county commissioners. That court adopts the county budget, sets the county property tax rate, approves county contracts and oversees infrastructure and county facilities, according to CW39. For League City taxpayers, the outcome shapes how much they pay in county taxes and how county road, drainage and facility dollars get spent.

Who is Mark Henry?

Henry is a University of Houston graduate, a 21-year Air Force veteran and a business owner in Galveston County, according to CW39. He won the March Republican primary over Chris Kinard, according to The Decent Ballot voter guide.

Henry's campaign website says taxes were cut "nearly 50%" and the county earned its "first-ever Aaa bond rating" during his tenure. Those claims appear on his campaign site and have not been independently verified against county budget records in the available sources.

Who is Albert "Al" Smith?

Smith is the Democratic candidate. According to his campaign biography, he earned a bachelor's degree in education from Texas Southern University and a master's degree in special education administration from Prairie View A&M University. His campaign says he spent 15 years as an educator and served in the U.S. Marine Corps with the 10th Marine Regiment at Camp Lejeune.

Smith's stated priorities include housing, support for small businesses, expanding opportunity in historically underserved neighborhoods and mental and behavioral health services outside the jail system, according to The Decent Ballot.

Redistricting backdrop

The race comes against the backdrop of a redistricting fight. The Decent Ballot reports that the Commissioners Court redrew its own precinct lines in 2021 in a way a federal judge found violated the Voting Rights Act. The full Fifth Circuit reversed that ruling in 2024. Commissioners redrew precinct lines again in June 2026, and a challenge to that map was pending at the Texas Supreme Court as of late August, according to The Decent Ballot.

Where to find results

CW39's results tracker showed no vote totals for either candidate as of the evening of Nov. 2. CW39 reports that results will be updated as Galveston County reports returns on election night, linking to the county's election results page.

League City voters are also choosing a mayor and city council members on the same ballot.