Klein ISD voters have weighed in on two school board seats, with Linda Ford leading incumbent Dustin Qualls in the November 3, 2026 election and longtime Board President Doug James receiving nearly 60,000 votes in an uncontested race.

With the unofficial results reported by Harris County, Ford has received 39,537 votes, or 55.97%, compared with Qualls' 31,097 votes, or 44.03%, giving her an 8,440-vote lead in the Position 1 contest. James, who ran without an opponent for Position 2, received 59,223 votes.

The results point to a change in leadership on the seven-member Klein Independent School District Board of Trustees, which makes decisions affecting schools, teachers, students and taxpayers across Klein, Spring and surrounding northwest Harris County neighborhoods.

For Ford, the day after the election was about thanking the people who helped her get there. In a November 4 Facebook post, she acknowledged the unofficial results while sharing her appreciation for voters, campaign volunteers, colleagues and family members who supported her candidacy.

Linda Ford Leads Klein ISD Position 1 Election With 55.97% of the Vote

The Position 1 contest drew 70,634 votes, with Linda Ford leading incumbent Dustin Qualls by 8,440 votes, a margin of nearly 12 percentage points.

Ford led across all three voting categories. She received 28,965 early votes compared with 23,113 for Qualls, along with 9,289 Election Day votes to his 7,128. Mail ballots also favored Ford, 1,283 to 856.

A longtime Klein ISD resident and Houston native, Ford brings more than 32 years of experience in education and workforce development. Her career has included work as a teacher, school counselor and transition specialist, helping students prepare for college, employment and independent living.

Ford is a retired Aldine ISD educator and counselor who currently serves as an adjunct professor in Lone Star College's lifePATH program at the Tomball and Montgomery campuses. The program serves students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, helping them develop skills for employment and greater independence.

She also owns Rock Solid Employment, a Texas Workforce Commission Community Rehabilitation Provider. According to her campaign website, Ford has partnered with Klein ISD to provide pre-employment transition services to more than 50 students, helping them gain workplace experience and prepare for careers after graduation.

Ford holds a master's degree in guidance and counseling from Prairie View A&M University and a bachelor's degree in environmental health from Texas Southern University. Her professional credentials include certifications in school counseling, special education counseling, educational diagnostics and secondary science education.

During her campaign, Ford identified school safety, better compensation for district support staff and greater transparency in school district spending as priorities. She also emphasized preparing students for life after high school, drawing on her experience working with students from elementary school through college.

Ford and her husband, Ellis, have lived in the Klein ISD community for 18 years. Her family also has ties to local schools, including a brother who works as a paraeducator at Klein Oak High School and nephews who attended Klein Forest High School.

Qualls, who currently serves as vice president of the Klein ISD Board of Trustees, received 44.03% of the reported vote. If the unofficial results are confirmed, Ford will take the Position 1 seat, bringing her background in education, student counseling and workforce preparation to the district's seven-member governing board.

Doug James Receives 59,223 Votes in Unopposed Klein ISD Position 2 Race

The second seat on the November ballot was Position 2, where current Board President Doug James ran without opposition.

James received 59,223 votes, including 43,264 during early voting, 14,237 on Election Day and 1,722 by mail. Because he was the only candidate in the race, he received 100% of the votes cast for Position 2.

James has served on the Klein ISD Board of Trustees since 2017. After narrowly losing the 2020 election to Alvin Vaughn, James was appointed back to the board when Vaughn declined to take office. James subsequently won another term in 2023 and is now seeking to continue his service through 2029.

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Outside his school board responsibilities, James is president and creative director of The Doug James Group. His involvement in the Klein community has also earned recognition, including the 2026 MLK Stone of Hope Award from Champion Forest Baptist Church, which honored his community service and leadership.

As board president, James has participated in district decisions involving employee compensation, educational priorities and school operations. His expected return would provide continuity on the seven-member board as Klein ISD prepares for a potential change in the Position 1 seat.

What the Election Means for Klein ISD Families

Although school board elections do not always receive the same attention as statewide or national races, the people elected to these positions help make decisions that directly affect local classrooms.

Klein ISD's seven trustees are elected at large, meaning each member represents the entire district rather than an individual neighborhood or attendance zone. Trustees serve three-year terms, with two or three positions appearing on the ballot each year.

The board oversees district policies, financial decisions and long-term planning, working with Superintendent Dr. Jenny McGown and district administrators to serve students and staff.

That responsibility includes decisions about school district budgets, educational programs, facilities and other matters that can affect families throughout Klein ISD.

Board members also attend campus activities, complete required training and participate in public meetings where residents can follow district business.

Before the election, the district listed Doug James as president, Dustin Qualls as vice president and Nicole Peters as secretary. Other trustees included Cathy Arellano, Dustin Creager, Rob Ellis and Denise Morrison.

A change in the Position 1 seat would alter the board's membership, although any changes to board officer positions would require separate action by the trustees.

When Will the Klein ISD 2026 Election Results Be Official?

Klein ISD's official Notice of Election states that the November 3 results are scheduled to be canvassed on Friday, November 6, 2026, or as soon afterward as the district receives the official results from Harris County.

The canvass will take place in the boardroom at the Klein ISD Administration Building, located at 7200 Spring Cypress Road in Klein.

At least two board members must participate in the canvass, and the candidate receiving the most votes for each position is elected.

Residents can find district information, including Board of Trustees meetings and election materials, at kleinisd.net. Harris County election information is available at harrisvotes.org.

With the votes reported and the canvass approaching, Klein ISD families will soon have a clearer picture of who will serve on the board for the next three years. The decisions those trustees make in the months ahead will be worth following, particularly as the district considers the needs of its students, employees and growing communities.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for updates on the official Klein ISD election results, Board of Trustees leadership and school district decisions affecting families across Klein and northwest Harris County.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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