2026 Texas Supreme Court election

2026 Texas Supreme Court Place 2 election
← 2024 November 3, 2026 2030 →
Justice before election; James Sullivan; Republican	Elected Justice ; TBD;

2026 Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice election
← 2020 November 3, 2026 2032 →
Chief Justice before election; Jimmy Blacklock; Republican	Elected Chief Justice ; TBD;

2026 Texas Supreme Court election
← 2024 November 3, 2026 2028 →
4 of 9 seats on the Supreme Court of Texas.; 5 seats needed for a majority

The 2026 Texas Supreme Court election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect four of nine justices to the Supreme Court of Texas. Primary elections were held on March 3.

Chief Justice

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Jimmy Blacklock, incumbent chief justice^[1]

Disqualified

Steven Wayne Smith, former justice (2002–2005)^[2]

Results

Republican primary^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jimmy Blacklock (incumbent)	1,755,485	100.0
Total votes			1,755,485	100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Maggie Ellis, justice of the Third Court of Appeals of Texas (2025–present)^[4]

Eliminated in primary

Cory Carlyle, former justice of Fifth Court of Appeals of Texas (2019–2024)^[5]^[6]

Endorsements

Cory Carlyle

Newspapers

Dallas Morning News^[7]

Maggie Ellis

Labor unions

Texas AFL-CIO^[8]

Newspapers

Organizations

EMILYs List^[12]

Results

Democratic primary^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Maggie Ellis	1,570,349	76.83
	Democratic	Cory Carlyle	473,702	23.17
Total votes			2,044,051	100.0

General election

Results

2026 Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice election
Party		Candidate	%
	Republican	Jimmy Blacklock (incumbent)
	Democratic	Maggie Ellis
Total votes			100.0

Place 2

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

James Sullivan, incumbent justice

Results

Republican primary^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James Sullivan (incumbent)	1,741,721	100.0
Total votes			1,741,721	100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Chari Kelly, justice of the Third Court of Appeals of Texas (2019–present)^[5]

Endorsements

Chari Kelly

Labor unions

Texas AFL-CIO^[8]

Results

Democratic primary^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Chari Kelly	1,886,244	100.0
Total votes			1,886,244	100.0

General election

Results

2026 Texas Supreme Court Place 2 election
Party		Candidate	%
	Republican	James Sullivan (incumbent)
	Democratic	Chari Kelly
Total votes			100.0

Place 7

2026 Texas Supreme Court Place 7 election

← 2020

November 3, 2026

2032 →


Nominee	Kyle Hawkins	Kristen Hawkins
Party	Republican	Democratic

Justice before election

Kyle Hawkins
Republican

Elected Justice

TBD

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Kyle Hawkins, incumbent justice^[13]

Declined

Jeff Boyd, former justice (2012–2025)^[14]

Results

Republican primary^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Kyle Hawkins (incumbent)	1,728,132	100.0
Total votes			1,728,132	100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Kristen Hawkins, judge of the 11th Texas District Court (2017–present)^[5]

Eliminated in primary

Gordon Goodman, former justice of the First Court of Appeals of Texas (2019–2024)^[6]

Endorsements

Gordon Goodman

Organizations

University of Texas at Austin College Democrats^[15]

Kristen Hawkins

Newspapers

Organizations

EMILYs List^[12]

Results

Democratic primary^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Kristen Hawkins	1,528,221	75.62
	Democratic	Gordon Goodman	492,589	24.38
Total votes			2,020,810	100.0

General election

Results

2026 Texas Supreme Court Place 7 election
Party		Candidate	%
	Republican	Kyle Hawkins (incumbent)
	Democratic	Kristen Hawkins
Total votes			100.0

Place 8

2026 Texas Supreme Court Place 8 election

← 2020

November 3, 2026

2032 →


Nominee	Brett Busby	Gisela Triana
Party	Republican	Democratic

Justice before election

Brett Busby
Republican

Elected Justice

TBD

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Brett Busby, incumbent justice^[6]

Disqualified

David Rogers, Pflugerville city council member^[2]

Results

Republican primary^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Brett Busby (incumbent)	1,719,374	100.0
Total votes			1,719,374	100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Gisela Triana, justice of the Third Court of Appeals of Texas (2019–present), nominee for Texas Supreme Court Place 8 in 2020^[5]

Democratic primary^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gisela Triana	1,903,827	100.0
Total votes			1,903,827	100.0

General election

Results

2026 Texas Supreme Court Place 8 election
Party		Candidate	%
	Republican	Brett Busby (incumbent)
	Democratic	Gisela Triana
Total votes			100.0

References

^ Osibamowo, Toluwani (January 6, 2025). "Gov. Greg Abbott appoints Justice Jimmy Blacklock as next Texas Supreme Court chief justice". KERA. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
^ ^a ^b Maguir, Hannah (December 24, 2025). "Would-be Texas Supreme Court candidates rejected over petition signatures". Spectrum News 1. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "2026 TX Primary Official Results".
^ Taffet, David (December 19, 2025). "LGBTQ+ candidates in Texas Dem Primary". Dallas Voice. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Klibanoff, Eleanor (February 3, 2026). "Texas Supreme Court primaries: Who is running and what to know". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Candidate Information". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
^ "We Recommend in the Democratic primary for Texas Supreme Court chief justice". February 8, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
^ ^a ^b "Texas AFL-CIO COPE Announces 2026 Primary Election Endorsements". January 25, 2026. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
^ ^a ^b "March 2026 Primary Election Endorsements for the Austin Area". February 12, 2026. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
^ ^a ^b "Maggie Ellis and Kristen Hawkins for Texas Supreme Court in Democratic primary". February 9, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
^ "In Democratic primary, Maggie Ellis best for Texas Supreme Court chief justice". February 9, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
^ ^a ^b "EMILYs List Announces Initial Texas State Supreme Court Endorsements". February 13, 2026. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
^ Osibamowo, Toluwani (October 24, 2025). "Former Texas solicitor general, Trump transition team lawyer named state Supreme Court justice". KERA. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
^ "Justice Jeff Boyd to retire from the Supreme Court of Texas". Texas Judicial Branch. April 9, 2025. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
^ "University Democrats endorsements".
^ "We recommend in the Democratic primary race for Texas Supreme Court Place 7". The Dallas Morning News. February 8, 2026. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
^ "Kristen Hawkins best in Democratic primary for Texas Supreme Court, Place 7". San Antonio Express-News. February 9, 2026. Retrieved February 16, 2026.

External links

Official campaign websites for Texas Supreme Court

Chief Justice

Place 2

Place 7

Place 8

[1] Osibamowo, Toluwani (January 6, 2025). "Gov. Greg Abbott appoints Justice Jimmy Blacklock as next Texas Supreme Court chief justice". KERA. Retrieved 30 December 2025.

[DQ-2] Maguir, Hannah (December 24, 2025). "Would-be Texas Supreme Court candidates rejected over petition signatures". Spectrum News 1. Retrieved 30 December 2025.

[prm1-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "2026 TX Primary Official Results".

[4] Taffet, David (December 19, 2025). "LGBTQ+ candidates in Texas Dem Primary". Dallas Voice. Retrieved 30 December 2025.

[judcand-5] Klibanoff, Eleanor (February 3, 2026). "Texas Supreme Court primaries: Who is running and what to know". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved February 16, 2026.

[Filings-6] "Candidate Information". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved 30 December 2025.

[Dallas_Morning_News-7] "We Recommend in the Democratic primary for Texas Supreme Court chief justice". February 8, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.

[AFL-8] "Texas AFL-CIO COPE Announces 2026 Primary Election Endorsements". January 25, 2026. Retrieved January 25, 2026.

[Austin_Chronicle-9] "March 2026 Primary Election Endorsements for the Austin Area". February 12, 2026. Retrieved February 12, 2026.

[Houston_Chronicle-10] "Maggie Ellis and Kristen Hawkins for Texas Supreme Court in Democratic primary". February 9, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.

[Express_News-11] "In Democratic primary, Maggie Ellis best for Texas Supreme Court chief justice". February 9, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.

[EMILYs_List-12] "EMILYs List Announces Initial Texas State Supreme Court Endorsements". February 13, 2026. Retrieved February 25, 2026.

[13] Osibamowo, Toluwani (October 24, 2025). "Former Texas solicitor general, Trump transition team lawyer named state Supreme Court justice". KERA. Retrieved 30 December 2025.

[14] "Justice Jeff Boyd to retire from the Supreme Court of Texas". Texas Judicial Branch. April 9, 2025. Retrieved 30 December 2025.

[15] "University Democrats endorsements".

[16] "We recommend in the Democratic primary race for Texas Supreme Court Place 7". The Dallas Morning News. February 8, 2026. Retrieved February 16, 2026.

[17] "Kristen Hawkins best in Democratic primary for Texas Supreme Court, Place 7". San Antonio Express-News. February 9, 2026. Retrieved February 16, 2026.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

v t e (2025 ←) 2026 United States elections (→ 2027)
U.S. Senate	Alabama Alaska Arkansas Colorado Delaware Florida (special) Georgia Idaho Illinois Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Montana Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico North Carolina Ohio (special) Oklahoma Oregon Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Virginia West Virginia Wyoming
U.S. House (election ratings)	Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas California 1st sp 14th sp Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia 13th sp 14th sp Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey 11th sp New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas 18th sp 23rd sp U.S. Virgin Islands Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Governors	Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Iowa Kansas Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Mexico New York Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas U.S. Virgin Islands Vermont Wisconsin Wyoming
Lieutenant governors	Alabama Arkansas California Georgia Idaho Nevada Oklahoma Rhode Island Texas Vermont
Attorneys general	Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Idaho Illinois Iowa Kansas Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Nebraska Nevada New Mexico New York North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Texas Vermont Wisconsin
Secretaries of state	Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Nebraska Nevada New Mexico North Dakota Ohio Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Vermont Wisconsin Wyoming
State treasurers	Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Massachusetts Nebraska Nevada New Mexico Ohio Oklahoma Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Texas Vermont Wisconsin Wyoming
State auditors	Alabama Arkansas California Connecticut Delaware Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota Missouri Nebraska Nevada New Mexico New York Ohio Oklahoma South Carolina South Dakota Vermont Wyoming
Judicial	Alabama Supreme Court Appellate courts Alaska Arkansas Supreme Court Georgia Supreme Court Court of Appeals Louisiana Supreme Court Michigan Minnesota Montana Supreme Court North Carolina North Dakota Supreme Court Ohio Supreme Court Tennessee Texas Supreme Court Washington Supreme Court West Virginia Supreme Court Wisconsin Supreme Court
Other statewide elections	Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Board of Education Public Service Commission Arizona Corporation Commission Superintendent of Public Instruction Arkansas Land Commissioner California Board of Equalization Insurance Commissioner State Superintendent Colorado Board of Education Board of Regents Florida Agriculture Commissioner Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Insurance Commissioner Labor Commissioner Public Service Commission Superintendent Hawaii Office of Hawaiian Affairs Idaho State Superintendent Iowa Agriculture Secretary Louisiana Public Service Commission Michigan Board of Education MSU Board of Trustees UM Board of Regents WSU Board of Governors Montana Public Service Commission Nebraska Board of Education NU Board of Regents Public Service Commission New Mexico Land Commissioner Nevada Board of Regents Oregon Labor Commissioner South Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Superintendent of Education Texas Agriculture Commissioner Board of Education Utah Board of Education
State legislatures	Alabama House Senate Alaska House Senate Arizona House Senate Arkansas House Senate California Assembly Senate Colorado House Senate Connecticut House Senate Delaware House Senate Florida House Senate Georgia House Senate Hawaii House Senate Idaho House Senate Illinois House Senate Indiana House Senate Iowa House Senate Kansas House Kentucky House Senate Maine House Senate Maryland House Senate Massachusetts House Senate Michigan House Senate Minnesota House Senate Missouri House Senate Montana House Senate Nebraska Nevada Assembly Senate New Hampshire House Senate New Mexico House New York Assembly Senate North Carolina House Senate North Dakota House Senate Ohio House Senate Oklahoma House Senate Oregon House Senate Pennsylvania House Senate Rhode Island House Senate South Carolina House South Dakota House Senate Tennessee House Senate Texas House Senate Utah House Senate Vermont House Senate Washington House Senate West Virginia House Senate Wisconsin Assembly Senate Wyoming House Senate
Territorial legislatures	American Samoa House Senate Guam Northern Mariana Islands Senate House US Virgin Islands
Mayors	Flint, MI Lexington, KY Los Angeles, CA Louisville, KY Oakland, CA Oklahoma City, OK Orange County, FL Pensacola, FL Providence, RI Reno, NV Sioux Falls, SD St. Petersburg, FL Tallahassee, FL Washington, DC Waukesha, WI
Municipal	Anchorage, AK Los Angeles, CA San Diego, CA Council San Francisco, CA Board of Supervisors San Jose, CA Council Portland, OR Council Washington, D.C. Council At-large sp
County	Alameda County, CA District Attorney Anne Arundel County, MD Executive Baldwin County, AL Baltimore County, MD Executive Bexar County, TX Judge District Attorney Cobb County, GA Collin County, TX Judge Cook County, IL Dallas County, TX DeKalb County, GA Douglas County, NE Fort Bend County, TX County Judge Frederick County, MD Executive Fulton County, GA Gwinnett County, GA Harford County, MD Executive Harris County, TX Board of Commissioners Judge Hawaii County, HI Hennepin County, MN Attorney Honolulu City and County, HI Howard County, MD Executive Jefferson County, AL Commission Sheriff Kauaʻi County, HI King County, WA Council Lancaster County, NE Los Angeles County, CA Board of Supervisors Maui County, HI Mobile County, AL Montgomery County, MD Executive Orange County, FL Mayor Prince George's County, MD Executive Salt Lake County, UT Spokane County, WA St. Charles County, MO Executive St. Louis County, MO Executive Tarrant County, TX Judge Wake County, NC District Attorney Wicomico County, MD Executive
By state	Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas U.S. Virgin Islands Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Ballot measures	Alabama Amendment 1 Amendment 2 Lieutenant Governor Vacany Amendment California ACA 13 Voter ID Hawaii SB 121 Kansas Citizenship Voting Requirement Amendment Supreme Court Elections Amendment Kentucky Amendment 1 Louisiana Amendment 1 Amendment 5 Missouri Amendment 3 Amendment 4 Nevada Question 6 Question 7 North Dakota Measure 2 South Dakota Amendment L Utah HB 267 Vermont Proposal 3 Virginia