Democrats Win Seven Texas High Court Seats in Midterms

Democratic candidates won seven of eighteen seats across the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in recent midterm elections, ending a statewide electoral drought for the party that began in 1994. Maggie Ellis defeated Republican incumbent Jimmy Blacklock to become the Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court and the first openly LGBTQ+ statewide elected official in Texas.

Democrats also swept all three seats on the newly created 15th Court of Appeals. While Republicans maintain a 5-4 majority on the Supreme Court and a significant majority on the Court of Criminal Appeals, the new Democratic justices now possess the ability to influence court agendas. The judicial shift coincides with the election of Democratic Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa.

Incoming judges include Holly Taylor, Gisela Triana, Chari Kelly, Kristen Hawkins, Okey Anyiam, Audra Riley, Jerry Zimmerer, Tom Baker, and Marc Meyer. Taylor vowed to preserve constitutional rights and avoid decisions based on the desires of powerful special interests. The results have drawn criticism from Kelly Shackelford, head of the First Liberty Institute, who described the new Chief Justice's start as regrettable following Ellis's intention to reverse religious-based marriage exemptions.