Montgomery County will keep the same man in its top elected post for another four years. Republican incumbent Mark Keough has won reelection as county judge after Democratic challenger James Graf conceded the race on Tuesday, clearing the way for Keough to begin a third term in January.
Graf made his concession statement Tuesday night, on Election Day, according to click2houston.com, which reported that Keough has served as county judge since 2019. The station also reported that the winner will serve a four-year term beginning in January 2027, with the county judge presiding over Commissioners Court, the body that oversees county spending, infrastructure, public safety and emergency management.
Unofficial vote counts reported after Election Day varied depending on the source. One snapshot published by montgomerycountypolicereporter.com showed Keough leading with 166,182 votes, or 65.47%, while a separate snapshot from the same outlet listed Keough with 121,267 votes, or 64.41%, and Graf with 66,995 votes, or 35.59%. The outlet noted that results were unofficial until canvassed, meaning neither figure represents a certified final tally.
A Familiar Face at the County Courthouse
Keough was first elected Montgomery County judge in 2018 and took office in January 2019, according to Montgomery County. Before stepping into that role, he represented District 15 in the Texas House of Representatives, serving two terms in the Legislature during the 84th and 85th sessions, per the county's own account.
The 2026 general election followed a competitive Republican primary earlier in the year. Keough defeated fellow Republican Wayne Mack by 1,519 votes in that March contest, pulling in 38,632 votes, or 51%, to Mack's 37,113 votes, or 49%, according to unofficial results reported by Community Impact. That primary victory was itself described as the start of a bid for Keough's third term as county judge.
Campaign Themes on Taxes, Infrastructure and Growth
On the campaign trail, the station's report notes that Keough ran on his record of lowering county tax rates, investing in infrastructure and supporting law enforcement. Graf, by contrast, emphasized long-term financial planning, transparency and preparing the county for continued population growth, the same account states.
Keough's campaign website lists fiscal responsibility, limited government, personal liberty and the sanctity of life among his core values, according to FOX 26 Houston. With Graf's concession now in hand, Keough is positioned to carry that platform into a third term overseeing one of the fastest-growing counties in the Houston region, starting when the new term begins in January 2027.
