Texas Supreme Court elections, 2026

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The terms of seven Texas Supreme Court and Texas Court of Criminal Appeals justices will expire on January 10, 2027. The seven seats are up for partisan election on November 3, 2026. The primary was March 3, 2026, and a primary runoff is May 26, 2026. The filing deadline was December 8, 2025.

Candidates and results

Texas Supreme Court

Place 1 Chief Justice

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for Texas Supreme Court Place 1 Chief Justice

Incumbent Jimmy Blacklock and Maggie Ellis are running in the general election for Texas Supreme Court Place 1 Chief Justice on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Jimmy Blacklock (R)
		Maggie Ellis (D)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas Supreme Court Place 1 Chief Justice

Maggie Ellis defeated Cory Carlyle in the Democratic primary for Texas Supreme Court Place 1 Chief Justice on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Maggie Ellis	77.3	1,514,406
		Cory Carlyle	22.7	444,298

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 1,958,704
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas Supreme Court Place 1 Chief Justice

Incumbent Jimmy Blacklock advanced from the Republican primary for Texas Supreme Court Place 1 Chief Justice on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jimmy Blacklock	100.0	1,751,233

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Source	Total votes: 1,751,233
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Steve Smith (R)

Place 2

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for Texas Supreme Court Place 2

Incumbent James Sullivan and Chari Kelly are running in the general election for Texas Supreme Court Place 2 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		James Sullivan (R)
		Chari Kelly (D)

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas Supreme Court Place 2

Chari Kelly advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas Supreme Court Place 2 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chari Kelly	100.0	1,880,663

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. Source	Total votes: 1,880,663
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas Supreme Court Place 2

Incumbent James Sullivan advanced from the Republican primary for Texas Supreme Court Place 2 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		James Sullivan	100.0	1,737,781

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Source	Total votes: 1,737,781
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Place 7

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for Texas Supreme Court Place 7

Incumbent Kyle Hawkins and Kristen Hawkins are running in the general election for Texas Supreme Court Place 7 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Kyle Hawkins (R)
		Kristen Hawkins (D)

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas Supreme Court Place 7

Kristen Hawkins defeated Gordon Goodman in the Democratic primary for Texas Supreme Court Place 7 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kristen Hawkins	75.6	1,464,615
		Gordon Goodman	24.4	471,766

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 1,936,381
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas Supreme Court Place 7

Incumbent Kyle Hawkins advanced from the Republican primary for Texas Supreme Court Place 7 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Kyle Hawkins	100.0	1,724,036

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Source	Total votes: 1,724,036
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Place 8

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for Texas Supreme Court Place 8

Incumbent Brett Busby and Gisela Triana are running in the general election for Texas Supreme Court Place 8 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Brett Busby (R)
		Gisela Triana (D)

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas Supreme Court Place 8

Gisela Triana advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas Supreme Court Place 8 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Gisela Triana	100.0	1,897,490

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. Source	Total votes: 1,897,490
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas Supreme Court Place 8

Incumbent Brett Busby advanced from the Republican primary for Texas Supreme Court Place 8 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Brett Busby	100.0	1,715,582

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Source	Total votes: 1,715,582
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• David Rogers (R)

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Place 3

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

The primary runoff will occur on May 26, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary runoff.

General election for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 3

Okey Anyiam is running in the general election for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 3 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Okey Anyiam (D)

---

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary runoff election

Republican primary runoff for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 3

Alison Fox and Thomas Smith are running in the Republican primary runoff for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 3 on May 26, 2026.

		Candidate
		Alison Fox
		Thomas Smith

---

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 3

Okey Anyiam advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 3 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Okey Anyiam	100.0	1,864,292

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. Source	Total votes: 1,864,292
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 3

Thomas Smith and Alison Fox advanced to a runoff. They defeated Brent Coffee and Lesli Fitzpatrick in the Republican primary for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 3 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Thomas Smith	31.0	533,130
✔		Alison Fox	30.9	531,656
		Brent Coffee	20.1	345,525
		Lesli Fitzpatrick	18.0	309,629

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 1,719,940
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 3

Mark Ash is running in the Libertarian convention for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 3 on April 12, 2026.

		Candidate
		Mark Ash (L)

---

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Place 4

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 4

Incumbent Kevin Patrick Yeary and Audra Riley are running in the general election for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 4 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Kevin Patrick Yeary (R)
		Audra Riley (D)

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 4

Audra Riley advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 4 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Audra Riley	100.0	1,880,879

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. Source	Total votes: 1,880,879
= 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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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 4

Incumbent Kevin Patrick Yeary advanced from the Republican primary for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 4 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kevin Patrick Yeary	100.0	1,679,224

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Source	Total votes: 1,679,224
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Place 9

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 9

Holly Taylor and John Messinger are running in the general election for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 9 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Holly Taylor (D)
		John Messinger (R)

---

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 9

Holly Taylor advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 9 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Holly Taylor	100.0	1,868,630

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. Source	Total votes: 1,868,630
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 9

John Messinger defeated Jennifer Balido in the Republican primary for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 9 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Messinger	68.8	1,185,210
		Jennifer Balido	31.2	536,629

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 1,721,839
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Judges not on the ballot

• Bert Richardson (R) - (Court of Criminal Appeals Place 3)
• David Newell (R) - (Court of Criminal Appeals Place 9)

Voting information

See also: Voting in Texas

Election information in Texas: Nov. 3, 2026, election.

What is the voter registration deadline?

• In-person: Oct. 5, 2026
• By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 5, 2026
• Online: N/A

Is absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

No

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

• In-person: Oct. 23, 2026
• By mail: Received by Oct. 23, 2026
• Online: N/A

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

• In-person: Nov. 3, 2026
• By mail: Postmarked by Nov. 3, 2026

Is early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What are the early voting start and end dates?

Oct. 19, 2026 to Oct. 30, 2026

Are all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, is a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When are polls open on Election Day?

7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (CT/MT)

About the Texas courts of last resort

See also: Texas Supreme Court

See also: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Political composition

This is the political composition of the court heading into the 2026 election.

Texas Supreme Court

■ Jimmy Blacklock		Appointed by Gov. Don Willett (R) in 2018
■ James Sullivan		Appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) in 2025
■ Debra Lehrmann		Appointed by Gov. Rick Perry (R) in 2010
■ John Devine		Elected in 2012
■ Rebeca Huddle		Appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) in 2020
■ Jane Bland		Appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) in 2019
■ Kyle Hawkins		Appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) in 2025
■ Brett Busby		Appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) in 2019
■ Evan Young		Appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) in 2021

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

■ Mary Lou Keel		Elected in 2016
■ Bert Richardson		Elected in 2015
■ Kevin Patrick Yeary		Elected in 2014
■ Scott Walker		Elected in 2016
■ Jesse McClure		Appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) in 2020
■ Gina Parker		Elected in 2024
■ Lee Finley		Elected in 2024
■ David Newell		Elected in 2014
■ David Schenck		Elected in 2024

Selection

The nine justices of the Texas Supreme Court are selected in statewide partisan elections. The elected justices serve six-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to remain on the court.

Qualifications

To serve on the Supreme Court, a justice 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 justice for at least 10 years.

Chief justice

The chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court is selected by voters at large. He or she serves in that capacity for a full six-year term.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state supreme courts

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.

The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• Texas Supreme Court
• Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Footnotes

Texas courts

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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

2026 State Judicial Elections

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