Texas · General Election · Nov 3, 2026

Flip the Texas Courts

Ten seats across Texas's three statewide appellate courts are on the ballot in 2026 — every one of them currently held by a Republican. These are the judges who decide abortion, voting rights, the death penalty, and the limits of state power. This is where the margin is thinnest.

10 Democratic candidates
3 statewide courts
Nov 3, 2026 · register & vote
Meet the candidates → Get involved

Why these courts matter

Texans elect their judges. Right now Republicans hold every seat on all three statewide courts — which means one party writes the final word on the cases that shape daily life in Texas.

4 of 9 seats on the ballot in 2026

Supreme Court of Texas

Texas's court of last resort for civil and constitutional cases — abortion, voting and redistricting, public-education funding, and the limits of state power. Its rulings touch nearly every Texan, and all nine seats are currently held by Republicans.

3 of 9 seats on the ballot in 2026

Court of Criminal Appeals

Texas's highest court for criminal cases — the final word on death-penalty appeals, wrongful convictions, and how fairly the criminal-justice system treats people. All nine seats are currently held by Republicans.

All 3 seats on the ballot in 2026

15th Court of Appeals

A brand-new statewide appeals court created by the Legislature in 2023 to hear challenges to state laws and lawsuits against the state itself. Its inaugural justices were all appointed by Gov. Abbott — 2026 is the first chance voters get to weigh in on who checks state power.

No Democrat has won a statewide race in Texas since 1994. Judicial seats sit at the bottom of the ballot, decided by the narrowest margins — which is exactly why they are the most winnable, and why every vote and every dollar counts here.

The Democrats running in 2026

All ten Democratic nominees, grouped by court. Each links to their campaign — get to know them, then help them win.

Supreme Court of Texas

4 of 9 seats on the ballot in 2026
Portrait of Maggie Ellis
Place 1 — Chief Justice

Maggie Ellis

Justice on the Third Court of Appeals (Austin); former administrative law judge and prosecutor.

Campaign site →
Portrait of Chari Kelly
Place 2

Chari Kelly

Justice on the Third Court of Appeals since 2019; U.S. Army JAG Corps veteran.

Campaign site →
Portrait of Kristen Hawkins
Place 7

Kristen Hawkins

Harris County civil district court judge (11th District Court) since 2016.

Campaign site →
Portrait of Gisela Triana
Place 8

Gisela Triana

Justice on the Third Court of Appeals since 2019, with 20+ years of trial-bench experience.

Campaign site →

Court of Criminal Appeals

3 of 9 seats on the ballot in 2026
Portrait of Okey Anyiam
Place 3

Okey Anyiam

Criminal-defense lawyer in Dallas, licensed since 1997.

Facebook →
Portrait of Audra Riley
Place 4

Audra Riley

Judge of Dallas County Criminal District Court No. 3 since 2021.

Campaign site →
Portrait of Holly Taylor
Place 9

Holly Taylor

Longtime Travis County prosecutor and former staff attorney for this very court.

Campaign site →

15th Court of Appeals

All 3 seats on the ballot in 2026
Portrait of Jerry Zimmerer
Chief Justice

Jerry Zimmerer

Former Democratic justice on the Houston-based 14th Court of Appeals.

Campaign site →
Portrait of Thomas "Tom" Baker
Place 2

Thomas "Tom" Baker

Former justice on the Third Court of Appeals (Austin); U.S. Navy veteran.

Campaign site →
Portrait of Marc Meyer
Place 3

Marc Meyer

Attorney board-certified in administrative law; retired Houston firefighter and registered nurse.

Facebook →