Fort Bend County Commissioner Dexter L. McCoy is running for county judge as a Democrat in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. Republican Daniel Wong is also running. The county judge presides over Commissioners Court, which sets policy and budgets for Fort Bend County, including Missouri City and Stafford.

Asked why he is seeking the office, McCoy said in our candidate questionnaire: "For too long Fort Bend has been focussed on the issues of politicians and not the issues of the people. I am running now because the moment is too urgent to sit on the sidelines, I have to lead the fight. I am answering the calls of my neighbors to stand up and fight for the hardworking people who have been locked out and left behind."

McCoy said the county judge "sets the agenda and focus for the county and our agenda has to be making Fort Bend more affordable and attracting more commercial development, addressing aging infrastructure and investing in strategic transit initiatives, and to bring truth and transparency back to county government."

Candidate information

Party: Democrat

Family: "My wife Chelsea and I are raising two beautiful daughters, Piper and Porter, in Richmond along with our Goldendoodle Fitz."

Education: "Bachelors in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in Music Education"

McCoy graduated from William B. Travis High School in 2010, according to BallotReady, and from Boston University in 2014, according to his campaign website. Originally from Louisiana, he moved to Fort Bend County at age 9 and grew up in the Mission Bend area, Houston Public Media reported.

Experience and public service

McCoy described his career in our questionnaire: "I have enjoyed a fruitful career in public service. Starting in DC Public Schools, continuing as an aide to the secretary of education in the Obama Administration … and finally as chief of staff to the Fort Bend County Judge before becoming County Commissioner."

He said he serves as county commissioner for Precinct 4 and on the board of Oak Bend Medical Center. He said he previously served on the Gulf Coast Workforce Board.

Asked about critical differences between himself and other candidates, McCoy said: "While my opponent was born to wealth and privilege, my family has had to work hard for every opportunity we've had in life. I am the only candidate with experience delivering on Commissioners Court and in the federal government. I've proudly served my community as Fort Bend County Commissioner, Precinct 4. For the last 3 years, as County Commissioner, I've led with action: hosting over 40 town hall meetings across the precinct, taking on major policy priorities that promote inclusion, fairness and opportunity for every resident of Fort Bend County."

On the issues

Asked about accomplishments, McCoy said in our questionnaire: "I've delivered real progress voters can see, from expanding high speed internet access, to repairing failing roads and building sidewalks, to protecting the cultural heritage that makes Fort Bend unique, to driving improvements that uplift quality of life across every neighborhood."

He said he is "expanding access to healthcare by building clinics in community centers and bringing the first medical education program to Fort Bend County." McCoy also said he "helped deliver a higher minimum wage and paid parental leave for county employees."

On government transparency, McCoy said he has placed "emphasis on transparency and innovation, including the Mobility Dashboard and a county-wide 311 system." Both tools, he said, "make local government more open, more accountable, and more responsive."

On infrastructure, McCoy said on his campaign website that he would "invest in levees and drainage, fight federal increases in insurance premiums, and make real investments, rather than patchwork solutions, for keeping water out of our most vulnerable communities."