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Judicial Elections
Texas Supreme Court Elections 2026
Texas Supreme Court justices are chosen in partisan elections to 6-year terms and must run again to keep their seats. 7 seats are on the November 3 ballot.
Rules as of October 15, 2026 · candidates as of October 15, 2026 · source Ballotpedia
Are judges elected in Texas?
- Highest court
- Texas Supreme Court and Texas Court of Criminal Appeals — 9 + 9 justices
- How chosen
- Partisan election
- Voters
- Voters elect justices
- Term
- 6 years
- To serve again
- Run for re-election
- 2026 ballot
- 7 seats on November 3 — 7 contested
How Texas chooses its judges
Texas Supreme Court justices are chosen in partisan elections to 6-year terms and must run again to keep their seats.
- Seats: 9 justices on the Texas Supreme Court; 9 on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which hears criminal appeals.
- Term: 6 years.
- To serve again: Run for re-election.
- Age rule: Must be between 35 and 75.
- Other courts: Every level, down to justice-of-the-peace courts, uses partisan elections.
One of two states with two courts of last resort: the Supreme Court hears civil cases and the Court of Criminal Appeals hears criminal cases.
Compare every state on the judicial selection table.
Texas Supreme Court elections in 2026
7 seats are up in 2026 (partisan election).
Supreme Court · Place 1 (Chief Justice)
On the Nov 3 ballot- Jimmy BlacklockIncumbentRepublican
- Maggie EllisDemocrat
Supreme Court · Place 2 (special election)
On the Nov 3 ballot- James SullivanIncumbentRepublican
- Chari KellyDemocrat
Special election for the rest of Jimmy Blacklock’s former term, through December 31, 2030.
Supreme Court · Place 7
On the Nov 3 ballot- Kyle HawkinsIncumbentRepublican
- Kristen HawkinsDemocrat
Supreme Court · Place 8
On the Nov 3 ballot- Brett BusbyIncumbentRepublican
- Gisela TrianaDemocrat
Court of Criminal Appeals · Place 3
On the Nov 3 ballot- Thomas SmithRepublican
- Okey AnyiamDemocrat
- Mark AshLibertarian
Court of Criminal Appeals · Place 4
On the Nov 3 ballot- Kevin Patrick YearyIncumbentRepublican
- Audra RileyDemocrat
Court of Criminal Appeals · Place 9
On the Nov 3 ballot- John MessingerRepublican
- Holly TaylorDemocrat
Ballotpedia notes its Texas candidate lists may not include every minor-party filing.
Candidates as of October 15, 2026 from Ballotpedia. Results for November races are added once certified.
How to research judges on your Texas ballot
- Your sample ballot: Texas’s official election site shows every judicial race on your ballot, including local courts.
- Deadlines and voting options: How to vote in Texas — registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
- Candidate details: Ballotpedia tracks each candidate’s background, endorsements and spending; local news and the state bar often publish candidate surveys.
Judicial ethics rules bar candidates from promising how they will rule, so a judge’s record and experience usually say more than campaign ads. This site does not endorse or rate candidates.
Federal judges in Texas
Federal judges are never on a ballot: the President nominates them and the U.S. Senate confirms them for life. Texas’s two senators vote on every nominee and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
Texas’s senators: Ted Cruz (Republican) and John Cornyn (Republican).
Confirmed by recorded vote in 2026
| Judge | Court | Date | Vote | Cruz | Cornyn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angela Veronica Colmenero | District Judge for the Southern District of Texas | Sep 23, 2026 | 50–47 | Yea | Yea |
| Kasdin Miller Mitchell | District Judge for the Northern District of Texas | Sep 17, 2026 | 49–45 | Yea | Yea |
| Arthur Roberts Jones | District Judge for the Southern District of Texas | Jul 13, 2026 | 46–44 | Yea | Yea |
| John George Edward Marck | District Judge for the Southern District of Texas | Jun 24, 2026 | 52–45 | Yea | Yea |
| Andrew B. Davis | District Judge for the Western District of Texas | Apr 20, 2026 | 47–46 | Yea | Yea |
| Christopher R. Wolfe | District Judge for the Western District of Texas | Apr 14, 2026 | 53–47 | Yea | Yea |
| Nicholas Jon Ganjei | District Judge for the Southern District of Texas | Feb 3, 2026 | 51–45 | Yea | Yea |
Angela Veronica Colmenero
District Judge for the Southern District of Texas · Sep 23, 2026 · Cruz: Yea, Cornyn: Yea
Kasdin Miller Mitchell
District Judge for the Northern District of Texas · Sep 17, 2026 · Cruz: Yea, Cornyn: Yea
Arthur Roberts Jones
District Judge for the Southern District of Texas · Jul 13, 2026 · Cruz: Yea, Cornyn: Yea
John George Edward Marck
District Judge for the Southern District of Texas · Jun 24, 2026 · Cruz: Yea, Cornyn: Yea
Andrew B. Davis
District Judge for the Western District of Texas · Apr 20, 2026 · Cruz: Yea, Cornyn: Yea
Christopher R. Wolfe
District Judge for the Western District of Texas · Apr 14, 2026 · Cruz: Yea, Cornyn: Yea
Nicholas Jon Ganjei
District Judge for the Southern District of Texas · Feb 3, 2026 · Cruz: Yea, Cornyn: Yea
District judges for courts in Texas and circuit judges from the state. Judges confirmed by voice vote leave no roll call; the Senate’s list of confirmed nominations has them. Roll calls from the snapshot refreshed Oct 1, 2026.
Open federal judgeships
- Northern District of Texas: seat of Jane J. Boyle (senior, Oct 1, 2025) — no nominee yet.
- Northern District of Texas: seat of David C. Godbey (senior, Sep 17, 2025) — nominee Courtney Leigh Coker, nominated Sep 14, 2026.
- Southern District of Texas: seat of Andrew S. Hanen (senior, Jan 2, 2025) — nominee Richard Wesley Bennett, nominated Sep 14, 2026.
- Western District of Texas: seat of Alan D Albright (resigned, Aug 31, 2026) — no nominee yet.
Source: uscourts.gov current judicial vacancies. Every vacancy nationwide is on the judicial elections hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are judges elected in Texas?
Texas Supreme Court justices are chosen in partisan elections to 6-year terms and must run again to keep their seats. Every level, down to justice-of-the-peace courts, uses partisan elections.
How long is a term on the Texas Supreme Court?
6 years. At the end of a term, they must run again to keep their seats. Must be between 35 and 75.
Who is running for the Texas Supreme Court in 2026?
7 seats are on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Supreme Court Place 1 (Chief Justice): Jimmy Blacklock (R), incumbent vs. Maggie Ellis (D). Supreme Court Place 2: James Sullivan (R), incumbent vs. Chari Kelly (D). Supreme Court Place 7: Kyle Hawkins (R), incumbent vs. Kristen Hawkins (D). Supreme Court Place 8: Brett Busby (R), incumbent vs. Gisela Triana (D). Court of Criminal Appeals Place 3: Thomas Smith (R) vs. Okey Anyiam (D) vs. Mark Ash (L). Court of Criminal Appeals Place 4: Kevin Patrick Yeary (R), incumbent vs. Audra Riley (D). Court of Criminal Appeals Place 9: John Messinger (R) vs. Holly Taylor (D).
How do I research judges on my Texas ballot?
Your sample ballot from https://www.votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/index.html lists every judicial race, including local courts. Ballotpedia, local news and the state bar cover candidates' experience and endorsements.
Who appoints federal judges in Texas?
The President nominates and the U.S. Senate confirms them; they serve for life. Texas's senators, Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, vote on every nomination and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state. The Senate confirmed 7 judges tied to Texas by recorded vote in 2026.
Related
Judicial Elections in Every State
How all 50 states choose judges, every 2026 supreme court race, and federal confirmations.
How to Vote in Texas
Registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
Texas Senators & Representatives
Your delegation in Congress and when each term ends.
What Can Congress Do?
Can Congress declare war, override a veto, impeach a cabinet member, remove a senator, overrule the Supreme Court, or invoke the 25th Amendment? Question by question, with live vote math.