In Montgomery County, we believe that the foundation of our republic rests on one simple truth: every legal vote must be counted, and every voter must have total confidence in the results.
For years, conservatives across Texas have asked for more transparency in our elections. We have heard the concerns about “black box” voting machines and the need to verify electronic tabulations with real, physical paper ballots.
As your County Judge, I refused to just talk about election integrity – I took action. And I am proud to report that because of our efforts here in Montgomery County, the entire State of Texas has adopted a new standard for transparency.
The Problem: “Trust Us” Wasn’t Good Enough
Under previous state rules, the Texas Secretary of State would randomly select specific precincts for a partial manual count (audit) after the election. While this was a good start, it left a gap in public trust. Many residents in Montgomery County – and across the state – rightfully asked: “Why can’t we, at the local level, select the precincts to be audited?”
Local selection ensures that the state isn’t the only one “checking the homework.” It puts the power back in the hands of the county to randomly select additional precincts to verify that the machine count matches the paper ballots perfectly.
Taking the Lead
In late 2024, after listening to the concerns of voters and grassroots conservative organizations at our Election Integrity Workshops, I led the Montgomery County Commissioners Court to pass a resolution authorizing locally selected partial manual recounts.
We didn’t wait for permission to do the right thing. We directed our Elections Administrator to expand the audit process, ensuring that we could randomly draw precincts here in Conroe – in full view of the public – and hand-count those ballots to prove the accuracy of the machines.
A Statewide Victory for Conservatives
But we didn’t stop there. I took this fight directly to the Texas Secretary of State. I made the case that if this level of transparency is good for Montgomery County, it is good for all 254 counties in Texas.
The result? A massive win for election integrity.
Following our lead, the Secretary of State’s office implemented a new statewide requirement. For the first time, counties across Texas were required to perform partial manual counts in three additional precincts randomly selected by the county itself, in addition to the state-selected precincts.
Because Montgomery County stood firm, every county in Texas now has a more robust, locally driven audit process.
Why This Matters
This victory proves that conservative leadership works.
- Trust: By verifying the machine counts with hand counts of paper ballots, we strip away the mystery and restore faith in the system.
- Transparency: The selection process happens locally, meaning you don’t have to trust a bureaucrat in Austin; you can trust your local neighbors.
- Accountability: We have proven that the electronic tabulators in Montgomery County are accurate, ensuring that our citizens can trust that their voice is being heard.
Continuing the Fight
We must never grow complacent. As we look toward the 2026 Primary and General Elections, I promise to remain vigilant. Montgomery County will continue to be the gold standard for secure, transparent, and efficient elections in Texas.
We led the charge on tax relief. We led the charge on keeping businesses open. And now, we are leading the charge on securing your vote.
God Bless Texas and Montgomery County.
