- The Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for civil matters, including juvenile delinquency cases.
- The Texas Supreme Court is made up of nine justices. All nine positions are elected, with a term of office of six years and no term limits.
- Decisions are made collectively by majority vote, and a justice writes the majority opinion.
- The Texas Supreme Court is the only state supreme court in the United States in which refusing to hear a lower court’s cases implies approval of the court’s decision, thus rendering it precedent.
- Justices must be at least 35 years old, a citizen of Texas, licensed to practice law in Texas, and must have practiced law (or have been a lawyer and a judge of a court of record together) for at least ten years
- Court of Criminal Appeals judges earn a salary of $210,000 to $264,600, depending on how long they have served in office.

One of nine judges who serve on the highest civil court in Texas.

Texas

This sample ballot may not include all local party roles or measures on the official ballot. The listed candidates serve only within their party, and the propositions do not change the law.

2026 Texas Primary Election

2026 Texas Primary Runoff

Public Safety

Civil Rights

Legal Experience

Judicial Administration

Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement

State Supreme Court Justice

- Voters of the entire state elect judges to the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals. He or she serves in that capacity for a full six-year term. There are no term limits, but judges must retire at 75 years or older.
- The court has the power to overturn a criminal conviction and is the final authority on criminal matters in the state of Texas.
- The Criminal Court of Appeals can choose whether or not to review most criminal cases. However, the court is required to review cases involving the death penalty or bail denials.
- Court of Criminal Appeals judges earn a salary of $210,000 to $264,600, depending on how long they have served.

One of nine judges who serves on the highest appeals court for criminal matters in Texas. 

Criminal Justice

Court of Criminal Appeals Judge

- The Texas Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and eight additional justices, who decide civil cases brought to them as a group.
- The Court has administrative control over the State Bar of Texas, while serving as the sole authority for licensing attorneys and appointing members of the Board of Law Examiners that administers the bar exam.
- The Court approves new statewide rules, ranging from judicial administration, conduct, and education, to civil and appellate procedure.
- They serve as the final authority on civil cases, checking for any errors that occurred in the interpretation of the law by prior courts.
- The chief justice of the Supreme Court is elected in a partisan, state-wide election for a six-year term. Candidates must be registered to vote in the state of Texas, be at least 35 years old but not older than 75 years old, cannot be a convicted felon, must be a practicing lawyer and/or judge in the state of Texas for at least 10 years, and must have lived continuously in Texas for at least twelve months.
- The annual salary for the chief justice of the Supreme Court ranges from $224,700 and $279,300, depending on their years of service as a judge of selected courts or an elected attorney, along with years of contributing service credit to the Judicial Retirement System Plan (I or II) while serving as a state judge.

The leader of Texas’s highest civil court, administrating efficient justice.

Public Health

Economic Growth

Chief Justice, Supreme Court

- The railroad commissioner is one of three members of the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the oil and natural gas industry, pipeline transporters, liquified petroleum gas, coal and uranium mining, and oversees clean drinking water. Despite its name, the commission no longer regulates railroads.
- Railroad commissioners are elected in statewide partisan elections for six-year, staggered terms, with one seat up for election every two years. The commissioners elect the chairman, and the Governor appoints replacements if a vacancy arises.

One of three commissioners who oversee the oil and gas industry, coal and uranium mining, and clean drinking water. 

Environment

Energy & the Environment

Railroad Commissioner

- The Comptroller is the state’s chief financial officer. They collect taxes, manage state money, and watch over how Texas spends that money.
- They collect most state revenue (like sales tax and business taxes) and issue tax permits and licenses.
- They track all state spending, audit agencies, publish financial reports, and provide important financial data to lawmakers.
- They manage the state treasury, investments, and cash flows, and estimate how much money the state has available for the budget.
- The office is elected statewide for a four-year term with no limits on re-election.
- The salary for the position is about $153,750 per year.

Collects taxes and manages the state's money.

Corruption

Financial Management

Administration

Small Businesses

Comptroller of Public Accounts

- The agriculture commissioner heads the Texas Department of Agriculture, guiding policies on farming, food safety, and rural development.
- They promote Texas agricultural products and help Texas farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses reach wider markets.
- The commissioner enforces rules on weights and measures, pesticides, pasture pests and plant diseases, and food programs (including school meals).
- They work on economic support for rural communities and help with disaster relief tied to agricultural losses or challenges.
- The commissioner is elected statewide for a four-year term and can be re-elected without term limits.
- As of 2026, the position’s salary is about $140,938 per year.

Oversees farming, food safety, and rural development. 

Consumer Protection

Economy

Commissioner of Agriculture

Lone Oak

Celeste

Wolfe City

Josephine

Greenville

Hawk Cove

Quinlan

West Tawakoni

Neylandville

Campbell

Caddo Mills

Union Valley

Royse City

Commerce

La Grulla

Escobares

San Diego

Roma

Rio Grande City

Benavides

Freer

Tomball

Spring Valley Village

Baytown

League City

Friendswood

Houston

Galena Park

Taylor Lake Village

Deer Park

Waller

Webster

Missouri City

Katy

Jersey Village

Morgan's Point

Bellaire

Jacinto City

Nassau Bay

South Houston

Pasadena

Humble

Bunker Hill Village

Piney Point Village

Hedwig Village

Hunters Creek Village

Hilshire Village

Seabrook

Shoreacres

Southside Place

West University Place

El Lago

Pearland

La Porte

Brookshire

Pine Island

Pattison

Thompsons

Hempstead

Kendleton

Ellinger

East Bernard

Brazos Country

Eagle Lake

Wallis

Industry

Fayetteville

Weimar

Bellville

San Felipe

Round Top

Schulenburg

Carmine

Prairie View

La Grange

Columbus

Sealy

Sugar Land

Flatonia

El Campo

Wharton

Ingleside on the Bay

Corpus Christi

Manor

Martindale

Austwell

Portland

Aransas Pass

Niederwald

Seadrift

Bastrop

San Marcos

Gregory

Palacios

Uhland

Lockhart

Webberville

Victoria

Bay City

Mustang Ridge

Full profiles for 15 counties, including Collin and Dallas

Full profiles for down to counties, including Bexar and Brazoria

2026 Texas candidates

Texas State Supreme Court Justice, Democratic Primary

2 candidates

How this impacts you

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judge, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

Texas State Supreme Court Justice, Republican Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judge, Republican Primary

2 candidates

Texas Chief Justice, Supreme Court, Republican Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Texas Railroad Commissioner, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judge, Republican Primary

1 candidate

Texas State Supreme Court Justice, Republican Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Democratic Primary

3 candidates

How this impacts you

Texas Commissioner of Agriculture, Republican Primary

2 candidates

How this impacts you