For Texas' highest courts, two Democratic races decided, one GOP race goes to runoff
Texas Supreme Court
For chief justice, Maggie Ellis, a justice on the Austin-based 3rd Court of Appeals since 2025, defeated Cory Carlyle, a former justice on the Dallas-based 5th Court of Appeals, in the Democratic primary. Ellis will face Republican Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock, who was appointed to the panel by Abbott in 2018 and has led the court since January 2025.
For Place 7, Kristen Hawkins, who presides over the 11th District Court in Harris County, defeated Gordon Goodman, a former justice on the Houston-based 1st Court of Appeals, in the Democratic primary. Hawkins will face Republican Justice Kyle Hawkins, who was appointed to the court in October.
With no competitive primaries, Place 2 will see Republican Justice James Sullivan, appointed to the court in 2025, running against Democrat Chari Kelly, a justice on the 3rd Court of Appeals since 2019.
Meanwhile, Place 8 will pit Republican Justice Brett Busby, appointed to the court in 2019, against Democrat Gisela Triana, a justice on the 3rd Court of Appeals since 2019. Triana unsuccessfully ran for the same seat in the 2020 general election.
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/03/texas-primary-supreme-court-criminal-appeals/