Jerry Zimmerer

Scott Brister

- In Texas, appeals from district and county courts, except death penalty cases, go to one of 14 intermediate courts of appeal.
- The chief justice presides over court meetings, manages the court's administration, and has the authority to assign justices or judges to specific cases.
- Justices are elected in partisan elections for six-year terms.
- The yearly salary for a Court of Appeals justice in Texas is between $192,500 and $255,050 based on the total number of years they have served, plus an additional bonus of $13,475 for Chief Justice duties.

Oversees a court that handles appeals of lower trial court decisions.

Texas

Civil Rights

Legal Experience

Judicial Administration

Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement

Scott K. Field

Tom Baker

- In Texas, appeals from district and county courts, except death penalty cases, go to one of 14 intermediate courts of appeal.
- There are a total of 80 appellate court seats, distributed variably among the courts based on population across the 14 districts.
- Courts with more than three justices decide cases in rotating panels of three.
- Justices are elected in partisan elections for six-year terms.
- The yearly salary for a Court of Appeals justice in Texas is between $192,500 and $255,050 based on the total number of years they have served.

Hears appeals on orders and decisions made by lower trial courts.

Tom Maxwell

- The role of a mayor in Texas is to preside over council meetings, represent the city, and facilitate communication between officials. 
- Cities may grant the mayor additional power or roles. 
- Mayors can also appoint members of citizen advisory boards and commissions.
- Mayors represent the city in intergovernmental relationships.
- Term limits, length of office, and salaries vary across cities or townships.

Head of the executive office in each city.

Universal City

Public Health

Economy

Public Services

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

Andy Garza III

Bernard Rubal

Lori Putt

Mark Dunlop

- City council members collaborate to create and enforce city policies, including legislation on essential services like police, fire, parks, libraries, and utilities.
- They work alongside the mayor to manage city departments, including transportation and parks and recreation.
- Council members can be elected to represent specific districts or the entire city at-large.
- The structure of city councils, including the number of members, their terms, term limits, and partisanship, differs by county.

Passes laws and regulations for your city.

- Has original jurisdiction over all felony criminal matters in the district.
- Cases either go to the Court of Appeals or directly to the Court of Criminal Appeals, where their legal reasoning may be reviewed. May hear appeals from county courts when authorized.
- County’s criminal courts administration–which has positions like case managers, magistrate support officers, and bailiffs–reports to each county’s criminal district judge.
- Criminal District Judges are elected through partisan, county-wide elections to four-year terms. Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 25 years old, have been a Texas and county resident for at least 24 consecutive months, a practicing lawyer and/or judge in Texas for at least eight years, and registered to vote in that county.
- The salary for Criminal District Judges range from $175,000 to $245,500, depending on years of service and how much they receive as a county supplement.

Presides over all felony criminal cases within the elected district.

Upshur

Judicial Efficiency

Corruption

Richard A. Schmidt

- District attorneys prosecute felony criminal cases on behalf of the state, presenting them to grand juries and working closely with law enforcement during investigations.
- They also represent victims seeking protective orders and assist in removing children from abusive homes as part of their responsibilities.
- They are elected to four-year terms.
- District attorneys in Texas make between $175,000 and $220,500, based on how long they have served in office. 

Acts as the attorney for the state of Texas in felony cases.

Van Zandt

Criminal Justice

Consumer Protection

Constance Filley Johnson

- Represents the state and victims of crime in prosecuting felony-level and misdemeanor criminal cases in district courts within the county. Represents the county in civil cases.
- Can be at sole discretion as to whether a case is prosecuted.
- Works with law enforcement officers in criminal case investigations, while preparing arrest and search warrants.
- Represents victims of domestic abuse through obtaining protective orders. Represents children in Child Protective Services cases.
- Provides county officials with written opinions or advice on their official duties.
- Criminal district attorneys are elected through partisan, county-wide elections to four-year terms. Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, have been a Texas resident for at least 12 consecutive months, a county resident for at least six consecutive months, and registered to vote in that county. They also must be a registered lawyer or judge in the state of Texas.
- The annual salary for criminal district attorneys range from $175,000 to $210,000, set by the county’s Commissioners Court.

Represents the state and victims of cases in district courts.

Victoria

Victim Assistance

Policing

Ben Zeller

- Presides over commissioners court, county’s policy-making body. Helps adopt county budget, sets county tax rates, oversees building and maintaining county infrastructure, and other county government operations.
- Serves as judge of county court, taking on misdemeanor criminal and small civil cases, probate matters, and appeals from the justice of the peace court.
- Performs administration duties, ranging from hearings for beer and wine license applications to calling elections. Can serve as budget officer in counties with a smaller population.
- Serves as county’s emergency management director, with authority to designate an assistant to emergency management issues as emergency management coordinator.
- Represents county at ceremonial occasions and on various boards and committees, including Election Commission, Workforce Governing Board, and Bail Bond Board.
- County Judges are elected in a partisan, county-wide election to a four-year term. Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, have been a Texas resident for at least 12 consecutive months, a county resident for at least six consecutive months, and registered to vote in that county.
- The annual salary for county judges range from $47,425 to $198,921, set by the county’s commissioners court.

Leads your county’s policy-making board.

Election Oversight

Education

Travis H. Ernst

- A County Court-At-Law judge handles misdemeanors, such as assault of a family member, property theft between $750 and $2,500, and using force against a law enforcement officer. They also handle civil cases where the amount in question does not exceed $200,000. 
- County Court-At-Law judges conduct arraignments, pre-trial hearings, and jury trials, as well as accept guilty pleas. 
- They are elected in a partisan, county-wide election to a four-year term. 
- Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 25 years old, have been a Texas and county resident for at least 24 consecutive months, a practicing lawyer and/or judge in Texas for at least four years, and registered to vote in that county.
- The annual salary for County Court-At-Law Judges ranges from $174,000 to $244,500, depending on years of service and how much they receive as a county supplement.

Handles civil and criminal cases from District Courts.

Daniel Gilliam

Tomball

Ingleside on the Bay

Corpus Christi

Wharton

Manor

El Campo

Martindale

Austwell

Portland

Aransas Pass

Niederwald

Flatonia

Seadrift

Bastrop

San Marcos

Gregory

Palacios

Uhland

Lockhart

Sealy

Webberville

Bay City

Mustang Ridge

Columbus

Mountain City

Buda

La Grange

Brenham

Rockport

Carmine

Creedmoor

Smithville

Elgin

Edna

Schulenburg

Fulton

San Leanna

La Ward

Round Top

Point Comfort

Kyle

Austin

San Felipe

Bellville

Ganado

Weimar

Fayetteville

Industry

Wallis

Eagle Lake

Brazos Country

East Bernard

Luling

Port Lavaca

Ellinger

Hays

Ingleside

Port Aransas

Burton

Westlake

Southlake

Colleyville

Trophy Club

Euless

Flower Mound

Keller

Grapevine

La Grulla

Escobares

San Diego

Roma

Rio Grande City

Benavides

Freer

Lone Oak

Celeste

Wolfe City

Josephine

Greenville

Hawk Cove

Quinlan

West Tawakoni

Neylandville

Campbell

Caddo Mills

Union Valley

Royse City

Commerce

Little River-Academy

Burnet

Copperas Cove

Gatesville

Weir

Jarrell

Granger

Liberty Hill

Marble Falls

Granite Shoals

Highland Haven

Full profiles for 15 counties, including Collin and Dallas

Full profiles for down to counties, including Bexar and Brazoria (measures use no coverage)

Candidate lists and metadata for 50 counties, including Angelina, Bastrop, and Bell

Candidate lists and metadata for 1 county and 1 city, including McLennan and Waco

Candidate lists and metadata for 3 counties and 1 city, including Hays, Travis, and Austin

2026 Texas General Election

2026 Texas General Runoff

Nonpartisan

2026 Texas candidates

Texas Court of Appeals Chief Justice

2 candidates

Texas Court of Appeals Justice, Post 2

2 candidates

Universal City Mayor

1 candidate

Universal City City Council Member

Upshur Criminal District Judge

0 candidate

How this impacts you

Van Zandt District Attorney

1 candidate

Victoria Criminal District Attorney

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Victoria County Judge

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Victoria County Court-At-Law Judge, Position 1

1 candidate

Victoria County Court-At-Law Judge, Position 2

1 candidate