When residents of Fort Bend County hear that an 18-year-old is running for district clerk, many might assume it is a stunt or a plot for a catchy résumé line. Audrey Lee hears something else entirely. For the bright, soon-to-be-college A&M graduate, running for the office is the logical next step.

In an exclusive interview with Katy and Fort Bend Christian Magazines, Lee describes a path that has moved faster, and with more intention, than most people twice her age. She is one of the youngest candidates in Texas seeking county office this election cycle, and she argues she has been preparing for this moment for most of her life.

The district clerk’s office is not a ceremonial seat. It is the administrative backbone of the local justice system, and its duties entail maintaining court records, managing filings, coordinating juries and serving as one of the most direct points of contact between citizens and county government. It is an operations-heavy role that demands accuracy, efficiency and public trust. That is precisely what drew Lee to it.

“I began my college journey unusually early,” she began. “I enrolled full-time at the Sugar Land campus of Wharton County Junior College in fall 2022 at age 15 and earned my Associate of Arts in Business in the spring of 2024, when I was 17.”

She then transferred to Texas A&M University, where she is completing a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a management concentration. She expects to graduate in early 2026.

At A&M, Lee stepped quickly into leadership.

“At Texas A&M, I serve as both the President and State Chair for Young Americans for Liberty,” she continued.

That role placed Lee at the center of one of the most emotionally charged political moments many students had ever experienced. On Sept. 10, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University. 

The following night, Lee helped organize a vigil at Texas A&M that drew thousands of grievers.

“[The vigil] brought more than 2,500 students and community members together and received media attention, including coverage by Fox News,” she said. “When I looked out and saw thousands of people raising their candles in Charlie’s memory, I knew I had to take the gifts I had been blessed with and use them to serve at the next level.” 

The event, and the violence that preceded it, sharpened her sense of civic responsibility and solidified her decision to seek office.

“I’m running because I genuinely believe in public service and because I know there is room for the district clerk’s office to improve,” Lee said. “One of my biggest inspirations has been Charlie Kirk. He showed young people like me that we don’t have to wait until we’re older to step up, serve our community, and make a difference.”

Unique from other campaigns, the foundation of Lee’s campaign is in process, rather than ideology. She places heavy emphasis on her qualifying experiences, which includes roles very similar to those of a district clerk: managing people, documents and complex operations under pressure.

“As a Texas A&M Orientation Leader, I assisted more than 750 incoming students per day multiple days a week ensuring they had all required documents to register for classes and troubleshooting missing paperwork,” she explained.

She has also been involved in policy reform efforts at Texas A&M, working with university administrators and law enforcement to address a campus safety rule that restricted students from carrying tasers and pepper spray for self-defense.

This experience, Lee said, taught her to navigate bureaucracy, collaborate with institutions, and advocate for practical solutions that improve people’s lives.

Outside of A&M, Lee worked as a team lead at a summer camp, overseeing dozens of staff members and children across an 11-week program.

She has also authored more than 30 children’s picture books, a detail she cites as evidence of discipline and commitment to follow-through rather than chasing novelty.

Lee believes those experiences translate directly to the work of the district clerk.

“My experience has always centered around operations, people, and efficiency all core to what the district clerk’s office does every day,” she said.

In preparation for the race, Lee has already begun meeting with district judges and local attorneys to better understand the realities of the office, currently held by incumbent District Clerk Beverley McGrew Walker.

“Their insight is shaping the improvements I hope to deliver,” she remarked. “The district clerk’s office should make justice and public records more accessible to everyone, not more complicated.”

Questions about Lee’s eligibility to run given her age are inevitable. Under Texas law, there is no minimum age requirement for district clerk beyond being a registered voter and meeting residency requirements. Lee is a registered voter and meets those qualifications, and thus is a legitimate candidate.

“I understand why some voters might hesitate. Public office is a serious responsibility. But my age is not a weakness; it’s one of my greatest advantages,” Lee maintains. 

She points to her education at Texas A&M’s Mays Business School and her exposure to modern management tools.

“I’m coming into this race with the benefit of a first-rate education from Mays Business School, where I am being trained in cutting edge management practices including the use of state of the art AI systems.”

However, Lee’s pitch is not an ego-driven claim that she knows everything, but that she is humbly prepared to learn as she goes.

“More importantly, I’m willing and ready to learn. I’m not running because I believe I already have all the answers. I’m running because I’m committed to working closely with the judges, attorneys, and the employees who keep the clerk’s office running,” she said.

“Voters deserve a district clerk who is open-minded, collaborative, and focused on service, not someone set in their ways or tied to doing things ‘the way they’ve always been done.’” 

Lee asserted that she does not ask voters to support her in spite of her age, but to consider that her education, energy, and willingness to listen make her uniquely prepared to bring fresh leadership to an office that impacts nearly one million residents.

She describes the district clerk’s office as one of the few places where residents regularly encounter local government during moments that matter.

“The district clerk’s office is one of the few places where everyday citizens interact directly with their local government,” Lee said. “Whether someone is renewing a passport, serving on a jury, or a victim’s family is seeking closure through court records the process should be smooth and transparent.”

Her motivation, she said, is personal.

“Fort Bend County is my home. It has done so much for me, and I want to give back. And I’m ready to bring integrity, accountability, and professionalism to this role from day one,” Lee said.

The Republican primary election will be held March 3, 2026. Early voting runs from Feb. 17 through Feb. 27.