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Texas Supreme Court elections, 2018

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2018 election dates
Deadline to file candidacy
December 11, 2018
Primary election
March 6, 2018
Primary runoff
May 22, 2018
General election
November 6, 2018
2018 State
Judicial Elections
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The terms of three Texas Supreme Court justices and three Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judges expired on December 31, 2018. All had to stand for election by voters in 2018 in order to remain on the bench. Texas is one of two states (Oklahoma is the other) with two courts of last resort.


Candidates

General election

Texas Supreme Court

Former incumbent Don Willett (R) did not seek re-election to Place 2. He vacated the seat on January 2, 2018, and Jimmy Blacklock was appointed to replace him on the same day.

Place 2

General election

General election for Texas Supreme Court Place 2

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Jimmy Blacklock
Jimmy Blacklock (R)
 
53.2
 
4,358,756
Image of Steven Kirkland
Steven Kirkland (D)
 
46.8
 
3,838,411

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 8,197,167
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Place 4

General election

General election for Texas Supreme Court Place 4

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of John Devine
John Devine (R)
 
53.7
 
4,399,890
Image of R.K. Sandill
R.K. Sandill (D)
 
46.3
 
3,792,144

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 8,192,034
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Place 6

General election

General election for Texas Supreme Court Place 6

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Jeff Brown
Jeff Brown (R)
 
53.7
 
4,404,602
Image of Kathy Cheng
Kathy Cheng (D)
 
46.3
 
3,796,001

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 8,200,603
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Incumbent Elsa Alcala (R) did not seek re-election to Place 8.

Presiding judge

General election

General election for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Sharon Keller
Sharon Keller (R)
 
52.2
 
4,288,913
Image of Maria T. Jackson
Maria T. Jackson (D)
 
45.5
 
3,734,179
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
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William Bryan Strange (L)
 
2.3
 
187,384

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 8,210,476
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Place 7

General election

General election for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 7

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Barbara Hervey
Barbara Hervey (R)
 
54.2
 
4,429,113
Image of Ramona Franklin
Ramona Franklin (D)
 
45.8
 
3,750,114

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 8,179,227
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Place 8

General election

General election for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 8

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Michelle Slaughter
Michelle Slaughter (R)
 
74.7
 
4,760,576
Image of Mark Ash
Mark Ash (L)
 
25.3
 
1,614,119

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 6,374,695
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Primary election

Texas Supreme Court

Former incumbent Don Willett (R) did not seek re-election to Place 2. He vacated the seat on January 2, 2018, and Jimmy Blacklock was appointed to replace him on the same day.

Place 2

■ Steven Kirkland (D) Green check mark transparent.png
■ Jimmy Blacklock (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent)

Place 4

■ R.K. Sandill (D) Green check mark transparent.png
■ John Devine (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent)

Place 6

■ Kathy Cheng (D) Green check mark transparent.png
■ Jeff Brown (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent)

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Incumbent Elsa Alcala (R) did not seek re-election to Place 8.

Presiding judge

■ Maria Jackson (D) Green check mark transparent.png
■ Sharon Keller (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent)
■ David Bridges (R)

Place 7

■ Ramona Franklin (D) Green check mark transparent.png
■ Barbara Hervey (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent)

Place 8

■ Dib Waldrip (R)
■ Jay Brandon (R)
■ Michelle Slaughter (R) Green check mark transparent.png

About the Texas Supreme Court

See also: Texas Supreme Court

The Texas Supreme Court is the highest court in the state of Texas for civil matters. As the court of last resort, the Supreme Court hears appeals of decisions in civil cases from lower courts. Its decisions are not subject to review by any other court.[1]

Political composition of the Texas Supreme Court

This was the political composition of the supreme court heading into the 2018 election. Justices on the Texas Supreme Court are elected to their seats, and replacements are appointed by the governor in the case of midterm vacancies. All of the current justices are Republican. All but one of the current justices who were initially appointed to their seats were appointed by former Republican Governor Rick Perry. Jimmy Blacklock was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2018.

■ Jimmy Blacklock Appointed by Greg Abbott (R) in 2018
■ Paul Green Elected in 2004, 2010, and 2016
■ Nathan Hecht Elected in 1988, 1994, 2000, 2006, and 2012; appointed Chief Justice by Rick Perry (R) in 2013, elected in 2014
■ Phil Johnson Appointed by Rick Perry (R) in 2005, elected in 2006, 2008, and 2014
■ Eva Guzman Appointed by Rick Perry (R) in 2009, elected in 2010 and 2016
■ Jeff Brown Appointed by Rick Perry (R) in 2013, elected in 2014
■ Debra Lehrmann Appointed by Rick Perry (R) in 2010, elected in 2010 and 2016
■ John Devine Elected in 2012
■ Jeffrey S. Boyd Appointed by Rick Perry (R) in 2012, elected in 2014

About the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

See also: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the court of last resort for all criminal matters in Texas, while the Texas Supreme Court is the court of last resort for all civil matters in the state. Texas is one of two states (Oklahoma is the other) with two courts of last resort.

Political composition of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

This is the political composition of the court heading into the 2018 election. Judges on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals are elected to their seats, and replacements are appointed by the governor in the case of midterm vacancies. All of the current judges are Republican. One of the current judges was initially appointed by former Republican Governor Rick Perry. The remaining judges were elected to their seats.

■ Sharon Keller Elected in 1994, 2000, 2006, and 2012
■ Michael Keasler Elected in 1998, 2004, 2010, and 2016
■ Barbara Hervey Elected in 2000, 2006, and 2012
■ Elsa Alcala Appointed by Rick Perry (R) in 2011, elected in 2012
■ Mary Lou Keel Elected in 2016
■ Bert Richardson Elected in 2014
■ Kevin Patrick Yeary Elected in 2014
■ David Newell Elected in 2014
■ Scott Walker Elected in 2016

Selection

See also: Partisan elections

The nine justices of the supreme court and nine judges of the court of criminal appeals are selected in partisan elections. The elected justices and judges serve six-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to continue serving.[2] In the event of a midterm vacancy, the governor appoints a replacement who must be confirmed by the Texas Senate. The appointee serves until the next general election, in which he or she may compete to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.[2]

Qualifications

To serve on either court, a justice or judge must be:

  • a U.S. citizen;
  • a resident of Texas;
  • licensed to practice law in the state;
  • between the ages of 35 and 75; and
  • a practicing lawyer and/or judge for at least 10 years.[2]

While no judge older than 74 may run for office, sitting judges who turn 75 are permitted to continue serving until their terms expire.[2]

Selection of the chief justice or judge

The chief justice or judge of each court is selected by voters at large. He or she serves in that capacity for a full six-year term.[2]

State profile

Demographic data for Texas
 TexasU.S.
Total population:27,429,639316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):261,2323,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:74.9%73.6%
Black/African American:11.9%12.6%
Asian:4.2%5.1%
Native American:0.5%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0.1%0.2%
Two or more:2.5%3%
Hispanic/Latino:38.4%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:81.9%86.7%
College graduation rate:27.6%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$53,207$53,889
Persons below poverty level:19.9%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Texas.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in Texas

Texas voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, one is located in Texas, accounting for 0.5 percent of the total pivot counties.[3]

Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Texas had one Retained Pivot County, 0.55 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.

More Texas coverage on Ballotpedia

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

One of 254 Texas counties—0.4 percent—is a Pivot County. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
Jefferson County, Texas 0.48% 1.61% 2.25%

In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Texas with 52.2 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 43.2 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Texas cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 66.7 percent of the time. In that same time frame, Texas supported Democratic candidates slightly more often than Republicans, 53.3 to 46.7 percent. The state, however, favored Republicans in every presidential election between 2000 and 2016.

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Texas. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[4][5]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 54 out of 150 state House districts in Texas with an average margin of victory of 37.4 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 65 out of 150 state House districts in Texas with an average margin of victory of 36.4 points. Clinton won 10 districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 96 out of 150 state House districts in Texas with an average margin of victory of 36.2 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 85 out of 150 state House districts in Texas with an average margin of victory of 34.5 points.

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Texas judicial election' OR 'Texas court election' OR 'Texas election 2018'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Texas Supreme Court elections, 2018 - Google News

See also

Texas Judicial Selection More Courts
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Courts in Texas
Texas Courts of Appeals
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Texas Supreme Court
Elections: 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017
Gubernatorial appointments
Judicial selection in Texas
Federal courts
State courts
Local courts

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Texas Judicial Branch, "Supreme Court," accessed October 9, 2015
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Texas," archived October 3, 2014
  3. ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
  4. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  5. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
v • e
2018 State Judicial Elections
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Intermediate appellate court elections by state


Texas courts

Federal courts:

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas

State courts:

Texas Supreme Court • Texas Court of Appeals • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals • Texas District Courts • Texas County Courts • Texas County Courts at Law • Texas Statutory Probate Courts • Texas Justice of the Peace Courts

State resources:

Courts in Texas • Texas judicial elections • Judicial selection in Texas

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