Texas intermediate appellate court elections, 2026
| 2026 State Judicial Elections | |
|---|---|
2027 »
« 2025
| |
| Overview | |
| Supreme Courts Overview | |
| Appellate Courts Overview | |
| View judicial elections by state: | |
The terms of twenty-four Texas intermediate appellate court judges will expire on December 31, 2026. Two of the seats are up for special election, and the other 22 seats are up for regular election. All twenty-four seats will hold partisan general elections 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 First District Court of Appeals
Texas First District Court of Appeals general, 2026 |
|||
|
|||
| Office | Other | ||
| Place 3 |
Primary runoff results pending |
|
|
| Place 4 |
David Gunn (i) |
|
|
| Place 5 |
Amparo Guerra (i) |
|
|
Texas First District Court of Appeals primary runoff, 2026 |
|||
|
|||
| Office | Other | ||
| Place 3 |
|
||
Texas First District Court of Appeals primary, 2026 |
|||
|
|||
| Office | Other | ||
| Place 3 |
|
|
|
| Place 4 |
|
|
|
| Place 5 |
|
|
|
Texas Second District Court of Appeals
Texas Second District Court of Appeals general, 2026 |
|||
|
|||
| Office | Other | ||
| Place 2 |
|
||
| Place 7 |
Brian Walker (i) |
|
|
Texas Second District Court of Appeals primary, 2026 |
|||
|
|||
| Office | Other | ||
| Place 2 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
|
|
| Place 7 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
|
|
Texas Third District Court of Appeals
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Texas Third District Court of Appeals Chief Justice
Incumbent Darlene Byrne and Cory Liu are running in the general election for Texas Third District Court of Appeals Chief Justice on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Darlene Byrne (D) | ||
| Cory Liu (R) | ||
= 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas Third District Court of Appeals Chief Justice
Incumbent Darlene Byrne advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas Third District Court of Appeals Chief Justice on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Darlene Byrne | 100.0 | 296,124 | |
| Total votes: 296,124 | ||||
= 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas Third District Court of Appeals Chief Justice
Cory Liu advanced from the Republican primary for Texas Third District Court of Appeals Chief Justice on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Cory Liu | 100.0 | 185,156 | |
| Total votes: 185,156 | ||||
= 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals Chief Justice
Antonia Arteaga and Bert Richardson are running in the general election for Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals Chief Justice on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Antonia Arteaga (D) | ||
| Bert Richardson (R) | ||
= 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals Chief Justice
Antonia Arteaga defeated Velia Meza in the Democratic primary for Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals Chief Justice on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Antonia Arteaga | 50.7 | 115,720 | |
| Velia Meza | 49.3 | 112,607 | ||
| Total votes: 228,327 | ||||
= 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals Chief Justice
Bert Richardson advanced from the Republican primary for Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals Chief Justice on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Bert Richardson | 100.0 | 135,136 | |
| Total votes: 135,136 | ||||
= 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals
Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals general, 2026 |
|||
|
|||
| Office | Other | ||
| Place 3 |
|
||
| Place 6 |
|
||
| Place 8 |
|
||
Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals primary, 2026 |
|||
|
|||
| Office | Other | ||
| Place 3 |
|
||
| Place 6 |
|
||
| Place 8 |
|
||
Texas Sixth District Court of Appeals
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Texas Sixth District Court of Appeals Place 3
Incumbent L. Charles van Cleef is running in the general election for Texas Sixth District Court of Appeals Place 3 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| L. Charles van Cleef (R) | ||
= 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas Sixth District Court of Appeals Place 3
Incumbent L. Charles van Cleef advanced from the Republican primary for Texas Sixth District Court of Appeals Place 3 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | L. Charles van Cleef | 100.0 | 83,090 | |
| Total votes: 83,090 | ||||
= 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Texas Seventh District Court of Appeals
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Texas Seventh District Court of Appeals Chief Justice
Judy Parker is running in the general election for Texas Seventh District Court of Appeals Chief Justice on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Judy Parker (R) | ||
= 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas Seventh District Court of Appeals Chief Justice
Judy Parker advanced from the Republican primary for Texas Seventh District Court of Appeals Chief Justice on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Judy Parker | 100.0 | 77,794 | |
| Total votes: 77,794 | ||||
= 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Texas Eighth District Court of Appeals
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Texas Eighth District Court of Appeals Chief Justice
Incumbent Maria Salas-Mendoza is running in the general election for Texas Eighth District Court of Appeals Chief Justice on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Maria Salas-Mendoza (D) | ||
= 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas Eighth District Court of Appeals Chief Justice
Incumbent Maria Salas-Mendoza advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas Eighth District Court of Appeals Chief Justice on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Maria Salas-Mendoza | 100.0 | 59,796 | |
| Total votes: 59,796 | ||||
= 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Texas Ninth District Court of Appeals
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Texas Ninth District Court of Appeals Chief Justice
Incumbent Scott Golemon is running in the general election for Texas Ninth District Court of Appeals Chief Justice on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Scott Golemon (R) | ||
= 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas Ninth District Court of Appeals Chief Justice
Incumbent Scott Golemon advanced from the Republican primary for Texas Ninth District Court of Appeals Chief Justice on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Scott Golemon | 100.0 | 112,773 | |
| Total votes: 112,773 | ||||
= 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Texas Tenth District Court of Appeals
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Texas Tenth District Court of Appeals Place 2
Incumbent Lee Harris is running in the general election for Texas Tenth District Court of Appeals Place 2 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Lee Harris (R) | ||
= 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas Tenth District Court of Appeals Place 2
Incumbent Lee Harris advanced from the Republican primary for Texas Tenth District Court of Appeals Place 2 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Lee Harris | 100.0 | 109,888 | |
| Total votes: 109,888 | ||||
= 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Place 2
Incumbent Bruce Williams is running in the general election for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Place 2 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Bruce Williams (R) | ||
= 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Place 2
Incumbent Bruce Williams advanced from the Republican primary for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Place 2 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Bruce Williams | 100.0 | 67,235 | |
| Total votes: 67,235 | ||||
= 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Texas Twelfth District Court of Appeals
Texas Twelfth District Court of Appeals general, 2026 |
|||
|
|||
| Office | Other | ||
| Chief Justice |
|
||
| Place 3 |
Michael Davis (i) |
|
|
Texas Twelfth District Court of Appeals primary, 2026 |
|||
|
|||
| Office | Other | ||
| Chief Justice |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
|
|
| Place 3 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
|
|
Texas Thirteenth District Court of Appeals
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Texas Thirteenth District Court of Appeals Place 6
Incumbent Clarissa Silva and John Ball are running in the general election for Texas Thirteenth District Court of Appeals Place 6 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Clarissa Silva (R) | ||
| John Ball (D) | ||
= 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas Thirteenth District Court of Appeals Place 6
John Ball advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas Thirteenth District Court of Appeals Place 6 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | John Ball | 100.0 | 107,516 | |
| Total votes: 107,516 | ||||
= 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas Thirteenth District Court of Appeals Place 6
Incumbent Clarissa Silva advanced from the Republican primary for Texas Thirteenth District Court of Appeals Place 6 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Clarissa Silva | 100.0 | 84,063 | |
| Total votes: 84,063 | ||||
= 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Texas Fourteenth District Court of Appeals
Texas Fourteenth District Court of Appeals general, 2026 |
|||
|
|||
| Office | Other | ||
| Chief Justice |
|
||
| Place 7 |
Primary runoff results pending |
Ken Wise (i) |
|
Texas Fourteenth District Court of Appeals primary runoff, 2026 |
|||
|
|||
| Office | Other | ||
| Place 7 |
|
||
Texas Fourteenth District Court of Appeals primary, 2026 |
|||
|
|||
| Office | Other | ||
| Chief Justice |
|
||
| Place 7 |
|
|
|
Texas Fifteenth District Court of Appeals
Texas Fifteenth District Court of Appeals general, 2026 |
|||
|
|||
| Office | Other | ||
| Place 1 |
Scott Brister (i) |
|
|
| Place 2 |
Scott Field (i) |
|
|
| Place 3 |
April Farris (i) |
|
|
Texas Fifteenth District Court of Appeals primary, 2026 |
|||
|
|||
| Office | Other | ||
| Place 1 |
|
|
|
| Place 2 |
|
|
|
| Place 3 |
|
|
|
Judges not on the ballot
- Dana Womack (R) - (2nd District, Place 2)
- Rebeca Martinez (D) - (4th District, Chief justice)
- Bonnie Lee Goldstein (D) - (5th District, Place 3)
- Craig Smith (D) - (5th District, Place 6)
- Dennise Garcia (D) - (5th District, Place 8)
- Brian Quinn (R) - (7th District, Chief justice)
- James Worthen (R) - (12th District, Chief justice)
- Tracy E. Christopher (R) - (14th District, Chief justice)
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Texas
Selection
The justices of the Texas Court of Appeals are selected in district level 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.[1]
Qualifications
To serve on the Texas Court of Appeals, 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;*[2][3] and
- a practicing lawyer and/or judge for at least 10 years.[1]
Chief justice
The chief justice of each district court is selected by voters at large. He or she serves in that capacity for a full six-year term.[1]
Vacancies
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.[1]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Texas," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ Texas State Historical Association, "Judiciary," accessed September 12, 2014
- ↑ While no justice older than 74 may run for office, sitting justices who turn 75 are permitted to remain on the court until their terms expire.
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
= candidate completed the