On November 3, 2026, Texas voters will decide four seats on the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court (the state’s highest civil court) and three seats on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (the state’s highest criminal court). These partisan races will shape the interpretation of Texas law on everything from civil disputes and constitutional questions to death-penalty appeals and claims of wrongful conviction. Below is a factual overview of the candidates appearing on the ballot, drawn from official records, candidate backgrounds, and reporting from sources including Ballotpedia, the Texas Tribune, and the Texas Judicial Branch.
Texas Supreme Court
Chief Justice (Place 1)
Incumbent Jimmy Blacklock (Republican) faces Maggie Ellis (Democrat). Blacklock was appointed to the Supreme Court by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2018, elected in subsequent cycles, and elevated to chief justice in January 2025. A Yale Law School graduate, he previously served as Abbott’s general counsel and as an attorney in the Texas Attorney General’s office. He emphasizes originalism and applying the plain text of the Constitution and statutes.
Ellis, a justice on the Third Court of Appeals since January 2025, previous...