Michael Holley, the Republican candidate for district attorney for the 9th Judicial District in Montgomery County, says the role is a calling for him.
"I chose the law because it fit my abilities and interests, but I chose to be a prosecutor because I believe it is my purpose in life," Holley said in his response to a Surround Sound News questionnaire. "I believe my mission is to seek the truth and speak the truth, to clear the innocent and hold the guilty accountable."
Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Holley district attorney in October 2025 after Brett Ligon resigned as district attorney to run for the Texas Senate. Ligon won a special election in May and now serves as a state senator. Holley is seeking a full term in the Nov. 3 general election.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Office sought: District attorney for the 9th Judicial District
- Education: Bachelor's degree in sociology, summa cum laude, Abilene Christian University (1993); law degree, summa cum laude, Texas Tech University School of Law (1999), where he was elected to the Order of the Coif; Master of Laws in military law, The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School
- Certifications: Board certified in criminal law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (December 2016)
- Family: Married 36 years, with children and grandchildren
- Endorsements (according to Ballotpedia): State Sen. Brett Ligon, a former Montgomery County district attorney; Montgomery County Attorney BD Griffin; McLennan County District Attorney Josh Tetens
Experience and public service
Holley began his career as an active-duty Army officer in the Military Police Corps with the 1st Cavalry Division, according to his questionnaire response. The Army sent him to law school, and he then served as an Army judge advocate, handling administrative and operational law and serving as a prosecutor with XVIII Airborne Corps.
He later served as a defense attorney and senior defense attorney in South Korea, Japan and Thailand. While assigned to The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School, he deployed to Baghdad as chief prosecutor for the Abu Ghraib detainee abuse cases, he said in his questionnaire. According to his biography on the district attorney's office website, that deployment was in 2004. He also taught criminal law at the school.
After leaving the military, Holley spent six years at the Lanier Law Firm. He joined the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office in 2012 as an assistant district attorney at what he called an entry-level position. He became first assistant district attorney in 2016, he said.
Why he's running
Holley described himself as "a protector and a guardian in my heart of hearts," saying that instinct is why he joined the military and chose military police. He said that as the county's chief law enforcement officer, he protects residents by honoring the rule of law.
He said his military service and years as a defense attorney taught him to see difficult issues from different perspectives.
His background sets him apart, he said. He pointed to his experience leading complex courts-martial, working under trial lawyer Mark Lanier and being personally mentored by Ligon, whom he called "one of the finest district attorneys in Texas."
Holley said he writes and speaks across Texas and the country about the prosecutorial profession. He said he is conservative but also believes in innovation, describing his approach as "preserving the principles that matter while continually finding better ways to serve the people of Montgomery County."
He cited his 14 years with the office as the clearest evidence he can handle the job. He said he has built and led a team of prosecutors, investigators and professional staff, and worked closely with law enforcement and other government agencies.
Holley has no opponent on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.
