Samantha Davis seeks District 313 juvenile court bench

Samantha Y. Davis, a Democrat, is running for Texas District Court Judge in District 313. She faces Republican Amy Strickling in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

Asked in our candidate questionnaire why she is seeking the office, Davis said: "I'm running because the 313th needs a judge who has already done this work and understands it from every angle, not someone learning it for the first time. Since 2019, I have served as the Harris County Juvenile Referee and Associate Judge, presiding over detention hearings, trials, and DFPS and adoption matters in the Harris County Juvenile District Courts, including the 313th."

Candidate information

Party: Democrat

Education: Davis said in our questionnaire: "J.D., Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Undergraduate degree, University of Houston-Downtown."

Family: "I am a proud mother, daughter, sister and friend to many," Davis said in our questionnaire.

Family in politics or government: No, according to Davis.

Experience and public service

Davis said in our questionnaire that her work history includes: "Harris County Juvenile Referee and Associate Judge, 2019 to present. Before that, I was a solo practitioner from 1999 to 2019, concentrating in juvenile law, family law, DFPS cases, adoptions, and personal injury, with additional experience in probate, civil, and criminal matters."

She added: "I represented juvenile clients charged with violations of Texas law, and parents and children involved with DFPS. I was certified as an Attorney Ad Litem in Civil, Family, Juvenile, Probate, and Tax Courts, and I am a Certified Mediator."

Asked about previous offices, Davis said in our questionnaire: "Harris County Juvenile Referee and Associate Judge, Harris County Juvenile District Courts (appointed, 2019 to present). I have not previously held elected office."

Davis said on her campaign website that she is a member of the Houston Lawyers Association and the Association of Women Attorneys. She also serves on the Executive Board of the Greater Channel Chapter of Jack and Jill, Inc.

On the issues

Asked what accomplishments show she can handle the job, Davis said in our questionnaire: "For more than six years I have presided over detention hearings, trials, and DFPS, adoption, and immigration-related matters in the Harris County Juvenile District Courts, including the 313th. Before that, I spent 20 years in practice representing juveniles, parents, and children … and became a Certified Mediator. I have built a record of applying the law fairly and consistently, treating every child and family with dignity, and balancing accountability with real opportunities for rehabilitation."

Asked what sets her apart from other candidates, Davis said: "I am the candidate who is already doing this work … I have also seen this court from every vantage point: as defense counsel for juveniles, as an advocate for parents and children in DFPS cases, as a neutral Attorney Ad Litem, and now as a sitting judge. Children and families have no choice but to be in this court, and delay or inconsistency has lasting consequences for them. I am ready to serve this docket well on day one."

Asked about the best advice she has received, Davis said in our questionnaire: "Positive representation when working with families and juveniles has a significant impact on society's future."