Every November, Americans are given a rare and precious opportunity; the chance to speak, through the ballot box, about the kind of community, state, and country we want to build together. This November is no different. From the County Judge’s office in Conroe to seats on school boards, water districts, and beyond, the candidates elected this fall will shape decisions that touch our daily lives, including how our roads are built, how our tax dollars are spent, how our neighborhoods are kept safe, and how our county responds when disaster strikes.
Voting Is How We Protect What We Value
Local government is often called the level of government closest to the people, and for good reason. Decisions made by your County Judge, Commissioners Court, and other local officials directly affect your property taxes, the roads you drive on every day, the safety of your neighborhood, and how quickly your community recovers after a hurricane or flood. Unlike national politics, which can feel distant and abstract, local elections put the outcome squarely in your hands, and in the hands of your neighbors.
Choosing not to vote does not protect you from the outcome of an election; it simply hands that decision to someone else. When conservative and moderate voters who believe in fiscal responsibility, public safety, and steady, common-sense leadership stay home, the results can shift in ways that don’t reflect the values of the majority. Every seat on the ballot, from County Judge down to local special districts, is an opportunity to make sure Montgomery County’s government continues to reflect the priorities of the families, taxpayers, and business owners who call this county home.
A Voice in Every Race, Every Level of Government
This November’s ballot in Montgomery County includes contests that will shape county government, judicial seats, and other local offices for years to come. Early voting typically runs for roughly two weeks before Election Day, with Election Day itself falling on November 3 this year. Taking just a few minutes to research the candidates and cast an informed ballot, whether by mail if you qualify, during early voting, or on Election Day, is one of the most direct ways any resident can influence the direction of their community.
Whether the issue you care most about is keeping taxes low, funding law enforcement, managing growth responsibly, or preparing for the next storm, the officials chosen this November will be the ones making those calls. Your voice, multiplied by thousands of your neighbors casting informed votes, is what keeps local government accountable and aligned with the community it serves.
Re-Elect Judge Mark Keough for Montgomery County Judge
Among the most consequential races on this year’s ballot is the contest for Montgomery County Judge. Judge Mark Keough, first elected in 2018 and now serving his second term, is the county’s 41st County Judge and has led Montgomery County through a period of extraordinary growth, natural disasters, and economic change. Before serving as County Judge, he represented House District 15 in the Texas House of Representatives, bringing years of legislative experience to the county’s top elected office.
A Record of Fiscal Conservatism
Judge Keough has built his tenure on a foundation of fiscal discipline that resonates strongly with conservative and moderate taxpayers alike. Since taking office, he has worked to cut the county’s effective tax rate year after year even as property values across the county have climbed, all while maintaining Montgomery County’s prestigious AAA credit rating. On his very first day in office, he voluntarily cut his own salary by 12 percent and has kept it frozen ever since, a symbolic and substantive commitment to the idea that government should live within its means, just like the families it serves. He also succeeded in removing the tolls from the Highway 242 flyover connector at Interstate 45, only the second time in recent Texas history that tolls have been removed from a public roadway, putting money back in the pockets of our residents.
Standing Up for Public Safety
Public safety has remained a top priority throughout Judge Keough’s time in office. In 2025, he led the passage of a historic pay parity plan that invested nine million dollars to raise starting salaries for sheriff’s deputies, helping Montgomery County retain well-trained law enforcement officers rather than losing them to neighboring jurisdictions. He has also directed resources toward new technology to combat human trafficking and internet crimes against children, and he continues to advocate for transparent, locally verified elections.
Leading Through Crisis
As the county’s Director of Emergency Management, Judge Keough has guided Montgomery County through thirteen declared natural disasters during his tenure, from hurricanes to winter freezes. In 2025, his administration modernized the county’s Emergency Operations Center and implemented advanced, real-time communication systems to keep residents informed during emergencies. His approach emphasizes proactive mitigation, such as securing federal grants for drainage and debris management before disaster strikes, so the county can recover quickly and keep costs off the backs of local taxpayers.
Building the Infrastructure of Tomorrow
Perhaps the most visible legacy Judge Keough is building right now involves mobility and infrastructure. Montgomery County is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, and Judge Keough has made it a priority to ensure infrastructure keeps pace with that growth without compromising residents’ quality of life. In January 2026, his office announced a historic milestone: the launch of the first-ever countywide Mobility Plan for Montgomery County. This effort began in December 2024, when Judge Keough’s office formally requested that the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s Metropolitan Planning Organization fund a comprehensive, data-driven master plan to guide the county’s future road and infrastructure investments. After more than a year of persistence, the plan came to fruition on January 6, 2026, when H-GAC signed a final contract with the respected engineering firm Freese and Nichols to begin the study.
What makes this achievement especially notable for fiscally minded voters is how it was funded. Judge Keough and his team secured nearly one million dollars in Federal Highway Administration planning funds to pay for the entire study, meaning local property taxpayers bear zero cost for this work. Over the following twelve to eighteen months, the project team will conduct a deep analysis of the county’s entire transportation network, engaging residents through community meetings held in every precinct so that the resulting plan reflects real, on-the-ground priorities rather than decisions made behind closed doors. This Mobility Plan is designed to serve as the guiding framework, or “North Star,” for future Commissioners Courts as they decide where and how to build roads that reduce congestion, improve safety, and keep the local economy moving.
This mobility work builds on other infrastructure initiatives already underway, including the 2025 Montgomery County Road Bond, and countywide upgrades to traffic signal technology, all aimed at expanding major thoroughfares, modernizing bridges, and easing traffic congestion for a rapidly growing population. Judge Keough has been clear that this work follows a “pay-as-you-go” philosophy paired with responsible debt management, so the county can build the roads of tomorrow without saddling future generations with unnecessary debt.
A Track Record Voters Can Verify
Judge Keough’s approach to governance has also included efforts to keep Montgomery County open for business during periods of economic uncertainty, including the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, when he was widely recognized across the state for keeping the county functioning and its economy moving. He continues to serve in several regional leadership roles that directly affect Montgomery County’s infrastructure planning, including as a member of the Houston-Galveston Area Council Board of Directors and the H-GAC Transportation Policy Council, positions that give the county a seat at the table when regional transportation dollars are allocated.
Make a Plan to Vote This November
Montgomery County residents can review candidate information, polling locations, and early voting dates through the county’s official election resources and local party organizations well before Election Day. Early voting windows and Election Day polling hours are published in advance each cycle, giving every registered voter ample opportunity to cast a ballot that reflects their values.
The strength of any community depends on residents who show up, stay informed, and participate. This November, Montgomery County voters have the chance to build on a record of fiscal conservatism, public safety investment, and forward-looking infrastructure planning by re-electing Judge Mark Keough as County Judge. Whatever races appear on your ballot, take the time to research the candidates, make a plan, and vote, because the future of our community, our state, and our country is shaped one election at a time.
