Texas Democrats break Republican hold on statewide courts

Democrats broke the Republican hold on Texas’ highest courts as part of the blue tsunami, as some GOP members of the Texas Supreme Court and 15th Court of Appeals congratulated their Democratic opponents for midterm election victories.

With vote counting continuing Wednesday morning, Democrats were also holding a tight lead on three races for the Court of Criminal Appeals. The Associated Press has not declared a winner in any of these 10 races for statewide courts, though it says more than 96% of votes have been counted. 

The trend in judicial races followed multiple blowout victories by Democrats at the top of the ticket as well as record-breaking early voting turnout this year. If the leads hold, the outcomes would also mean a stunning end to several GOP incumbents’ tenure and an upset defeat for Republicans who had far outraised their rivals. 

A Democrat last won a seat on the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in 1994. Judge Lawrence Meyers, however, changed parties in 2013, giving Democrats a presence on the state’s highest criminal court until Meyers lost his reelection bid three years later. 

But, in case of a full Democratic sweep in these races, the GOP would still have a 5-4 advantage on the Supreme Court and a 6-3 lead on the Court of Criminal Appeals. 

Meanwhile, the 15th Court of Appeals would go entirely to Democrats. This cycle was the first general election for the three-judge panel, which was created in 2023 and filled with Republican judges appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott.

Here is the current election breakdown.

Texas Supreme Court

Four seats on the court were up for grabs this year. Democrats are poised to take them all.

Republican Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock, who has led the court since January 2025, is running behind Democrat Maggie Ellis, a justice on the Austin-based 3rd Court of Appeals.   

For Place 7, Republican Kyle Hawkins could soon lose his seat after being appointed to the court in October. He is trailing Democrat Kristen Hawkins, who is a state district court judge in Harris County. 

Place 2 could go to Democrat Chari Kelly, a justice on the Austin-based 3rd Court of Appeals. She is leading Republican James Sullivan, who was appointed to the high court in 2025.

Republican Brett Busby, a member of the court since 2019, has conceded to Democrat Gisela Triana, a justice on the 3rd Court of Appeals. Triana had unsuccessfully run for the Place 8 seat in 2020. 

The state’s highest civil court has nine justices elected to staggered six-year terms. Major pending issues include a case asking whether Democratic lawmakers who fled Texas to block redistricting efforts can be kicked out of office. 

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Three seats on the nine-judge court, which is currently all-GOP, were in play this year. Democrats were leading the vote count in all three spots.

Democrat Okey Anyiam, a criminal defense attorney, is leading Republican Thomas Smith, an assistant attorney general in Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office, in the race for Place 3. 

Democrat Audra Riley, a criminal district court judge in Dallas County, is running ahead of  Republican incumbent Kevin Yeary, who was first elected to the court in 2014, in the race for Place 4.

Place 9 could go to Democrat Holly Taylor, a criminal and civil appeals attorney. She is leading Republican John Messinger, an assistant state prosecuting attorney.

The state’s top criminal court is composed of nine judges who are elected to staggered six-year terms. In addition to appeals of criminal cases, the court hears death penalty appeals directly from trial courts.

15th Court of Appeals

All three Republican incumbents, who were appointed by Abbott as the court’s inaugural members in 2024, took part in their first general election for six-year terms. All three could soon be ousted.

Democrat Jerry Zimmerer, a former justice on the Houston-based 14th Court of Appeals, is ahead of Republican Scott Brister as the court’s chief justice.

Republican Scott Field has conceded to Democrat Tom Baker, a former justice on the 3rd Court of Appeals in Austin, for Place 2. 

Republican April Farris is trailing Democrat Marc Meyer, who runs a private law firm, in the contest for Place 3.

The court hears civil cases involving the state, cases from business courts and challenges to the constitutionality of state laws.