The Associated Press declared Democrats winners in all four Texas Supreme Court races that were up for election. They also led in all three contested seats on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, with the AP yet to declare a winner in one race despite nearly 99% of votes counted, and swept all three seats on the newly created 15th Court of Appeals.
The victories followed a broader Democratic wave at the top of the ticket and record-breaking early voter turnout, according to the Texas Tribune.
On the Texas Supreme Court, Republican Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock was defeated by Democrat Maggie Ellis, a justice on the Austin-based 3rd Court of Appeals. Democrat Kristen Hawkins, a Harris County district judge, beat appointed Republican Kyle Hawkins. Democrat Chari Kelly, also of the 3rd Court of Appeals, defeated appointed Republican James Sullivan. And Democrat Gisela Triana, another 3rd Court of Appeals justice, won over Republican Brett Busby, who conceded early Wednesday.
Despite those wins, Republicans will still hold a 5–4 majority on the state Supreme Court, which has nine justices serving staggered six-year terms.
On the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, all three seats up were led by Democrats. Democrat Audra Riley, a Dallas County criminal district judge, defeated incumbent Republican Kevin Yeary, who was first elected in 2014. Democrat Holly Taylor beat Republican John Messinger. In the third race, the Associated Press had not yet declared a winner with nearly all votes counted, but Democrat Okey Anyiam led Republican Thomas Smith. The court, which hears death penalty appeals directly from trial courts, is currently all-Republican, but was trending toward a 6–3 GOP lead.
The 15th Court of Appeals, created in 2023 and initially staffed with Republican appointees of Governor Greg Abbott, faced its first general election this cycle. All three Republican incumbents were ousted. Democrat Jerry Zimmerer defeated Republican Chief Justice Scott Brister. Democrat Tom Baker beat Republican Scott Field, who conceded after midnight. Democrat Marc Meyer defeated Republican April Farris. The court hears civil cases involving the state, cases from business courts, and challenges to the constitutionality of state laws.
A Democrat last won a seat on the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in 1994, though Judge Lawrence Meyers changed parties in 2013, giving Democrats a presence on the criminal court until he lost re-election in 2016.