In the latest statewide judicial races, Democratic candidates for the Texas Supreme Court and Republican contenders for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals faced off in two competitive primaries each. The Associated Press has officially called all races, with one heading for a runoff election scheduled for May.
Texas Supreme Court
The Texas Supreme Court, the highest civil court in the state, consists of nine justices elected to staggered six-year terms, including those appointed by the governor to fill vacancies who must subsequently run in the next scheduled election. Significant issues currently before the court include the fate of Democrats who fled Texas due to redistricting.
This year, four seats are up for election on the court, which has historically been dominated by Republicans and is currently filled with appointees from Governor Greg Abbott. All four GOP incumbents are running unopposed in their primaries, while Democrats face competitive races for the chief justice position and Place 7.
In the race for chief justice, Maggie Ellis, a justice on the 3rd Court of Appeals in Austin since 2025, triumphed over Cory Carlyle, a former justice on the 5th Court of Appeals in Dallas. Ellis will now challenge Republican Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock, appointed by Abbott in 2018, who has led the court since January 2025.
For the Place 7 position, Kristen Hawkins, who oversees the 11th District Court in Harris County, won against Gordon Goodman, a former justice on the 1st Court of Appeals in Houston. Hawkins will face Republican Justice Kyle Hawkins, who received his appointment to the court in October.
In Place 2, where there are no competitive primaries, Republican Justice James Sullivan, appointed to the court in 2025, will compete against Democrat Chari Kelly, who has served on the 3rd Court of Appeals since 2019.
Additionally, Place 8 will feature Republican Justice Brett Busby, appointed in 2019, facing off against Democrat Gisela Triana, a 3rd Court of Appeals justice since 2019. Triana previously ran unsuccessfully for the same seat in the 2020 general election.
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the state’s highest court for criminal matters, comprises nine judges, all of whom are Republicans elected to staggered six-year terms.
This election cycle sees three seats contested, with two competitive primaries for Republican voters.
In a four-way race for Place 3, Republicans Alison Fox and Thomas Smith are headed toward a runoff in May. Fox serves as a staff attorney at the Court of Criminal Appeals and has garnered endorsements from several Texas newspaper editorial boards and the Texas Right to Life PAC. Smith, currently an assistant attorney general in the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, is supported by numerous state lawmakers and the conservative group True Texas Project. The eventual winner will go on to face Democrat Okey Anyiam, a criminal defense attorney, in the November general election.
For the Place 9 seat, John Messinger, an assistant state prosecuting attorney, emerged victorious over Jenifer Balido, who presides over criminal district court No. 1 in Dallas County, in the Republican primary. Messinger is backed by True Texas Project and several members of the State Republican Executive Committee, while Balido received endorsements from Abbott and various law enforcement groups. Messinger will face Democrat Holly Taylor, an attorney specializing in civil and criminal appeals, in the general election.
In Place 4, with no contested primaries, Republican Judge Kevin Yeary will run against Democrat Audra Riley, a criminal district court judge in Dallas County. Yeary is the only incumbent seeking reelection this cycle, having first been elected to the court in 2014. He was also the sole judge on the losing side of a 2021 ruling regarding the attorney general’s authority to prosecute election cases unilaterally. Paxton successfully campaigned in 2024 to remove three Republican judges who participated in the ruling’s majority.
15th Court of Appeals
Established by the Texas Legislature in 2023, the 15th Court of Appeals focuses on civil cases involving the state or challenging state laws before they reach the Texas Supreme Court. The three-member panel also oversees cases from business courts.
Since there are no competitive primaries, all candidates will advance to the general election. All Republican incumbents, who were appointed by Abbott as the court’s inaugural members in 2024, are running for six-year terms.
In the chief justice race, Republican Scott Brister will compete against Democrat Jerry Zimmerer, a former justice on the 14th Court of Appeals in Houston.
Place 2 will see a contest between Republican Scott Field and Democrat Tom Baker, a former 3rd Court of Appeals justice in Austin.
Lastly, Place 3 will feature Republican April Farris facing Democrat Marc Meyer, who operates a private law firm.
