Alright, let's talk about something that really matters for everyone in Texas, even if it feels a bit tucked away: the Texas Supreme Court. You might not hear about these elections as much as, say, the Governor's race, but trust me, the nine people on this bench hold immense power over your daily life, your rights, and how the law plays out here. We're heading into primary season, and four of these nine spots are up for grabs. Here's what you need to know, explained like we're just grabbing a drink and talking about it. First off, what is the Texas Supreme Court? Think of it as the ultimate referee for civil cases in our state. It's not about criminal cases – that's the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals – but everything else, from business disputes to family law to big constitutional questions, ends up here. The justices serve six-year terms. Sounds straightforward, right? Well, there's a catch: when a justice leaves before their term is up, the Governor gets to pick their replacement. And guess what? Governor Greg Abbott, who used to sit on this very court, has appointed seven of the current nine justices. Right now, every single justice on the court is a Republican, and it's been that way since the 1990s. That's a pretty big deal, don't you think? So, what's really at stake here? Everything. This court interprets our state's Constitution. They decide if state laws are fair, if elected officials are pushing too hard, and their rulings are final for Texas. What they say, goes. And they've been busy. Lately, this court has upheld Texas' bans on abortion and gender-affirming care for minors. That's a huge policy impact, directly affecting personal autonomy and healthcare access. They also weighed in on pandemic rules, affecting elections and even eviction protections. Remember when there was a question about delaying Robert Roberson's execution, a death row inmate accused of killing his daughter? The Supreme Court got involved there too. There are still big cases brewing, like the legal challenge asking if Democrats who left the state to protest redistricting can be kicked out of office. These aren't minor decisions; they shape the fabric of Texas society. Okay, let's look at the specific races. Four positions are on the ballot. For the Republican primaries, all the current justices running don't have challengers. On the Democratic side, though, we've got some contests in Place 1 and Place 7. **Place 1, Chief Justice** **Jimmy Blacklock (Republican, Incumbent)** Jimmy Blacklock is the current Chief Justice, and he's running unopposed in the primary. He was appointed by Governor Abbott in 2018, and before that, he was Abbott's general counsel, so he's got deep ties to the Governor. He even worked with Abbott when he was Attorney General. Blacklock's judicial philosophy is what they call “originalism.” This means he says he sticks to the exact, plain words of the Constitution as it was understood when written, not how society might interpret it now. For you, this often means a more conservative approach to legal issues. His past legal work defending Texas' abortion laws and fighting against same-sex marriage benefits really shows where he stands on those kinds of issues. He's got strong backing from groups like Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC, which works to limit how much businesses can be sued, and major law firms like Vinson & Elkins. He's also endorsed by Governor Abbott and anti-abortion groups. **Cory Carlyle (Democrat)** On the Democratic side, Cory Carlyle is in the running. He’s a partner at a big Dallas law firm and served as a justice on Texas’ 5th Court of Appeals. He’s also been a commissioner on the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health, which tells you a bit about his interests. Carlyle says he’ll faithfully interpret laws and follow precedent. He's got limited campaign funds compared to the incumbents, mostly from individual attorneys. **Maggie Ellis (Democrat)** Maggie Ellis is also vying for the Chief Justice spot as a Democrat. She’s currently a justice on Texas’ 3rd Court of Appeals. Before that, she worked in private practice, focusing on juvenile and family law, and was an assistant district attorney. She even used to be an administrative law judge and a public school teacher. Ellis is running on a platform of getting politics out of the judiciary and making sure everyone has a fair shot at justice. She explicitly decided to run after the Texas Supreme Court gave guidance saying judges didn't have to perform same-sex marriages, calling it “an attack on our community and our Constitution.” That tells you a lot about her perspective on constitutional rights and equality. She's got support from various Democratic groups and LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations like The Caucus in Houston. **Place 2** **James Sullivan (Republican, Incumbent)** James Sullivan, another Abbott appointee from 2025, is running unopposed in the primary. He also has a history with Governor Abbott, serving as his general counsel and deputy general counsel. He's a Harvard Law grad and clerked for a U.S. Court of Appeals judge. Sullivan is a conservative Republican who promises “bold, relentless, conservative judging.” He's quite open about his ideology, saying he'd “run through a wall for the rule of law.” This again means a likely consistent conservative bent in his rulings. Like Blacklock, he's heavily funded by Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC and big law firms, plus Valero Energy Corporation. Governor Abbott, Texas Alliance for Life, and the Texas Civil Justice League are among his endorsers. This again shows a strong leaning towards pro-business and conservative social policies. **Chari Kelly (Democrat)** Chari Kelly is the lone Democrat running for Place 2. She's served on Texas’ 3rd Court of Appeals since 2019 and has a background as a felony prosecutor and assistant attorney general. She's also an Army veteran, a paratrooper, and served in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Kelly describes herself as a “committed defender of the Constitution.” She’s got the backing of various Democratic and university-affiliated groups. Her military background suggests a strong adherence to legal principles, but from a Democratic viewpoint, which usually means a more expansive view of individual rights. **Place 7** **Kyle Hawkins (Republican, Incumbent)** Kyle Hawkins is the newest Supreme Court justice, appointed by Abbott in October 2025. He's another one with serious conservative legal credentials, having worked on the Trump Department of Justice transition team and served as Texas Solicitor General. He clerked for Justice Samuel Alito on the U.S. Supreme Court. Hawkins is a conservative Republican who has litigated major cases against the Affordable Care Act and Planned Parenthood. He even testified to Congress about constitutional issues with the Voting Rights Act. His past work signals a judicial philosophy that often challenges federal overreach and supports state-level conservative policies. He's also backed by Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC and Governor Abbott. **Gordon Goodman (Democrat)** Gordon Goodman served as a justice on Texas’ 1st Court of Appeals in Houston. He’s running as a Democrat. His campaign has very little cash on hand, mostly his own loans, and he doesn’t even have a campaign website. This suggests a less visible, grassroots campaign. **Kristen Hawkins (Democrat)** Kristen Hawkins is the other Democrat running for Place 7, and she's got a much stronger financial position. She's been a judge of the 11th District Court in Houston since 2017. She even oversaw the court's response to COVID-19 and managed the Astroworld lawsuits, showing her experience with massive, complex litigation. Hawkins is campaigning on her trial court experience, saying the Supreme Court needs the perspective of judges who actually see how rulings affect real people, lawyers, and lower courts. She's a big believer in access to jury trials and thinks appellate courts should be careful about overturning jury decisions. Her major donors include personal injury law firms who tend to oppose tort reform efforts, signaling her potential stance on access to justice for individuals versus business interests. She's endorsed by several Democratic and LGBTQ+ groups, including The Caucus in Houston. **Place 8** **Brett Busby (Republican, Incumbent)** Brett Busby, appointed by Abbott in 2019, is running unopposed in his primary. He was a justice on Texas’ 14th Court of Appeals in Houston and worked as an appellate attorney in private practice. Busby's another Republican who has worked with conservative groups like the Federalist Society and Alliance Defending Freedom. Since joining the court, he's also advocated for expanding access to legal services and civic education, which is an interesting public policy angle for a conservative justice. He's also heavily funded by Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC and other major law firms. Governor Abbott, Texas Civil Justice League, and Texas Alliance for Life all endorse him. **Gisela Triana (Democrat)** Gisela Triana is the sole Democrat running for Place 8. She's been a justice on Texas’ 3rd Court of Appeals in Austin since 2019 and has a long history as a judge, including justice of the peace and county court-at-law judge. Triana is running as a Democrat. When she ran for this seat before, she openly criticized the all-Republican court for being too “result-oriented and beholden to special interests,” and she pointed to their decisions allowing evictions and debt collections during COVID-19 as problematic. Her past statements suggest a focus on protecting individuals and questioning business-centric legal outcomes. She hasn't raised new money this cycle but has carried over funds from previous runs. She’s endorsed by several liberal Democratic groups. So, why does any of this matter to you? The Texas Supreme Court isn't just about abstract legal theories. It's about who gets to decide on everything from the legality of abortion, to how school funding works, to the rights of property owners, and even the rules around your ability to sue a big corporation. These primaries are your chance to weigh in on who sits on that bench and, by extension, what kind of legal future Texas will have. Your vote really does count in shaping the legal principles that guide our state.