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Texas judicial elections, 2016

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Twenty-six seats on Texas' state-level courts, along with many local court seats, were on the general election ballot of November 8, 2016, with a primary held on March 1.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Three Texas Supreme Court seats were up for re-election this year; all three Republican incumbents won re-election.[1]
  • On the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the lone Democratic incumbent was defeated by Republican challenger Mary Lou Keel.
  • Republicans held a 9-0 majority on the Texas Supreme Court and an 8-1 majority on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals heading into the election. They hold a 9-0 majority on both courts following the election.
  • All district court of appeals judges who ran unopposed in 2016 were Republicans.

    • Introduction

    Main articles: Texas Supreme Court elections, 2016 and Texas Court of Criminal Appeals elections, 2016

    Three seats on the Texas Supreme Court joined three seats on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and twenty seats on the fourteen district courts of appeal on the ballot for November 2016.

    Within the Texas Supreme Court and Texas Court of Criminal appeals, Judge Cheryl Johnson of the state’s Court of Criminal Appeals was the only incumbent not seeking re-election.[2]

    Race background

    Context of Texas courts

    See also: Texas Supreme Court, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and Texas Courts of Appeals

    Texas is one of two states with two courts of last resort (Oklahoma is the other). The Texas Supreme Court is the highest court in the state of Texas for civil matters, while the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals handles criminal cases. Each justice elected to these courts serves a six-year term and is chosen in a statewide election.

    Texas also has fourteen lower courts of appeals. Each of these courts covers a different geographical region of Texas. Like the two higher courts in Texas, judges on these district courts are elected to serve six-year terms in partisan statewide elections.

    Partisan balance

    Republican control

    Texas was one of 30 states with a trifecta control of state government in 2016, in which the governorship and both chambers of the legislature are controlled by the same party. The Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives were controlled by Republicans by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.

    Republican dominance of state courts was even stronger in 2016. Every seat on the Texas Supreme Court was held by a Republican, and 8 out of 9 seats on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals were held by Republicans. The lone seat on the criminal appeals court held by a Democrat was contested in 2016 and therefore could be won by a Republican. However, the incumbent, Justice Meyers, won statewide election to that court in 1992, 1998, 2004 and 2010.

    Courts of Appeals

    A majority of the district courts of appeals were under Republican control heading into the election. Democrats filed to run in six out of the fourteen districts, leaving 11 Republican-held seats in eight districts without a Democratic candidate. Democrats had advantages in some districts too. In 2016, the Texas Eighth District Court of Appeals, which represents the El Paso area, was composed of four Democrats, including Justice Steve Hughes, who ran for re-election in 2016 and was defeated in the primary by Gina Palafox, another Democrat. No Republican candidates ran for this seat, guaranteeing that the eighth district remained in Democratic hands after the election. Other districts are more competitive.

    General election candidates

    Supreme Court

    Place 3

    ■ Mike Westergren (D)
    ■ Debra Lehrmann (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent)
    ■ Kathie Glass (Lib.)
    ■ Rodolfo Rivera Munoz (Green)

    Place 5

    ■ Dori Garza (D)
    ■ Paul Green (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent)
    ■ Tom Oxford (Lib.)
    ■ Charles E. Waterbury (Green)

    Place 9

    ■ Savannah Robinson (D)
    ■ Eva Guzman (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent)
    ■ Don Fulton (Lib.)
    ■ Jim Chisholm (Green)

    Court of Criminal Appeals

    Place 2

    ■ Lawrence Meyers (D) (Incumbent)
    ■ Mary Lou Keel (R) Green check mark transparent.png
    ■ Mark Ash (Lib.)
    ■ Adam Reposa (Green)
    Place 5

    ■ Betsy Johnson (D)
    ■ Scott Walker (R) Green check mark transparent.png
    ■ William Bryan Strange (Lib.)
    ■ Judith Sanders-Castro (Green)
    Place 6

    ■ Robert D. Burns III (D)
    ■ Michael Keasler (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent)
    ■ Mark Bennett (Lib.)

    District Courts of Appeals

    First District

    Chief justice

    ■ Jim Peacock (D)
    ■ Sherry Radack (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent)

    Place 4

    ■ Barbara Gardner (D)
    ■ Evelyn Keyes (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent)

    Second District

    Place 3

    ■ Elizabeth Kerr (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Unopposed)

    Place 4

    ■ Bonnie Sudderth (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent/Unopposed)

    Third District

    Place 2

    ■ Cindy Olson Bourland (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent/Unopposed)

    Place 4

    ■ Melissa Goodwin (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent/Unopposed)

    Fourth District

    Place 6

    ■ Irene Rios (D) Green check mark transparent.png
    ■ Jason Pulliam (R) (Incumbent)

    Fifth District

    Place 4

    ■ Gena Slaughter (D)
    ■ Lana Myers (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent)

    Place 7

    ■ Dennise Garcia (D)
    ■ David Schenck (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent)

    Sixth District

    Place 1

    ■ Josh Morriss (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent/Unopposed)

    Seventh District

    Place 4

    ■ James T. Campbell (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent/Unopposed)

    Eighth District

    Place 3

    ■ Gina Palafox (D) Green check mark transparent.png (Unopposed)

    Ninth District

    Place 2

    ■ Charles Kreger (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent/Unopposed)

    Tenth District

    Place 3

    ■ Al Scoggins (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent/Unopposed)

    Eleventh District

    Place 3

    ■ John Bailey (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent/Unopposed)

    Twelfth District

    Place 2

    ■ Brian Hoyle (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent/Unopposed)

    Place 3

    ■ Greg Neeley (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent/Unopposed)

    Thirteenth District

    Place 3

    ■ Greg Perkes (R) (Incumbent)
    ■ Leticia Hinojosa Green check mark transparent.png (D)

    Fourteenth District

    Place 2

    ■ Candance White (D)
    ■ Kevin Jewell (R) Green check mark transparent.png

    Place 9

    ■ Peter M. Kelly (D)
    ■ Tracy E. Christopher (R) Green check mark transparent.png (Incumbent)

    Election results

    November 8 general election

    Incumbent Debra Lehrmann defeated Mike Westergren, Kathie Glass and Rodolfo Rivera Munoz in the general election for the Texas Supreme Court, Place 3.
    Texas Supreme Court, Place 3, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Debra Lehrmann Incumbent 54.84% 4,807,986
         Democratic Mike Westergren 38.53% 3,378,163
         Libertarian Kathie Glass 3.97% 348,376
         Green Rodolfo Rivera Munoz 2.65% 232,646
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 8,767,171
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Incumbent Paul Green defeated Dori Garza, Tom Oxford and Charles E. Waterbury in the general election for the Texas Supreme Court, Place 5.
    Texas Supreme Court, Place 5, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Paul Green Incumbent 54.30% 4,758,334
         Democratic Dori Garza 41.18% 3,608,634
         Libertarian Tom Oxford 3.29% 288,504
         Green Charles E. Waterbury 1.23% 107,731
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 8,763,203
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Incumbent Eva Guzman defeated Savannah Robinson, Don Fulton and Jim Chisholm in the general election for the Texas Supreme Court, Place 9.
    Texas Supreme Court, Place 9, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Eva Guzman Incumbent 55.80% 4,884,441
         Democratic Savannah Robinson 39.36% 3,445,959
         Libertarian Don Fulton 3.48% 304,587
         Green Jim Chisholm 1.36% 119,022
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 8,754,009
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Mary Lou Keel (R) defeated incumbent Lawrence Meyers (D), Mark Ash (L), and Adam Reposa (G) in the general election for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 2.
    Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 2, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Mary Lou Keel 54.88% 4,790,800
         Democratic Lawrence Meyers Incumbent 40.05% 3,496,205
         Libertarian Mark Ash 3.68% 321,568
         Green Adam Reposa 1.39% 121,467
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 8,730,040
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Scott Walker (Texas) defeated Betsy Johnson (Texas), William Bryan Strange and Judith Sanders-Castro in the general election for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5.
    Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Scott Walker (Texas) 54.75% 4,782,144
         Democratic Betsy Johnson (Texas) 40.20% 3,511,950
         Libertarian William Bryan Strange 2.84% 248,109
         Green Judith Sanders-Castro 2.21% 192,913
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 8,735,116
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Incumbent Michael Keasler defeated Robert D. Burns III and Mark Bennett (Texas) in the general election for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 6.
    Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 6, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Michael Keasler Incumbent 54.97% 4,785,012
         Democratic Robert D. Burns III 40.89% 3,558,844
         Libertarian Mark Bennett (Texas) 4.14% 360,167
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 8,704,023
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Incumbent Sherry Radack defeated Jim Peacock in the general election for the Texas First District Court of Appeals, Chief Justice.
    Texas First District Court of Appeals, Chief Justice, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Sherry Radack Incumbent 52.09% 963,538
         Democratic Jim Peacock 47.91% 886,049
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 1,849,587
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Incumbent Evelyn Keyes defeated Barbara Gardner in the general election for the Texas First District Court of Appeals, Place 4.
    Texas First District Court of Appeals, Place 4, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Evelyn Keyes Incumbent 51.05% 942,286
         Democratic Barbara Gardner 48.95% 903,610
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 1,845,896
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Elizabeth Kerr ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Second District Court of Appeals, Place 3.
    Texas Second District Court of Appeals, Place 3, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Elizabeth Kerr  (unopposed) 100.00% 792,185
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 792,185
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Incumbent Bonnie Sudderth ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Second District Court of Appeals, Place 4.
    Texas Second District Court of Appeals, Place 4, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Bonnie Sudderth Incumbent (unopposed) 100.00% 783,742
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 783,742
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Incumbent Cindy Olson Bourland ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Third District Court of Appeals, Place 2.
    Texas Third District Court of Appeals, Place 2, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Cindy Olson Bourland Incumbent (unopposed) 100.00% 623,948
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 623,948
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Incumbent Melissa Goodwin ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Third District Court of Appeals, Place 4.
    Texas Third District Court of Appeals, Place 4, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Melissa Goodwin Incumbent (unopposed) 100.00% 625,200
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 625,200
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Irene Alarcon Rios defeated incumbent Jason Pulliam in the general election for the Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals, Place 6.
    Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals, Place 6, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Irene Alarcon Rios 51.73% 457,048
         Republican Jason Pulliam Incumbent 48.27% 426,468
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 883,516
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Incumbent Lana Myers defeated Gena Slaughter in the general election for the Texas Fifith District Court of Appeals, Place 4.
    Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals, Place 4, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Lana Myers Incumbent 52.85% 650,829
         Democratic Gena Slaughter 47.15% 580,559
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 1,231,388
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Incumbent David Schenck defeated Dennise Garcia in the general election for the Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals, Place 7.
    Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals, Place 7, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png David Schenck Incumbent 51.59% 635,952
         Democratic Dennise Garcia 48.41% 596,728
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 1,232,680
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Incumbent Josh Morriss ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Sixth District Court of Appeals, Place 1.
    Texas Sixth District Court of Appeals, Place 1, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Josh Morriss Incumbent (unopposed) 100.00% 226,702
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 226,702
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Incumbent James T. Campbell ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Seventh District Court of Appeals, Place 4.
    Texas Seventh District Court of Appeals, Place 4, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png James T. Campbell Incumbent (unopposed) 100.00% 228,381
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 228,381
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Gina Palafox ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Eighth District Court of Appeals, Place 3.
    Texas Eighth District Court of Appeals, Place 3, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Gina Palafox  (unopposed) 100.00% 176,147
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 176,147
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Incumbent Charles Kreger ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Ninth District Court of Appeals, Place 2.
    Texas Ninth District Court of Appeals, Place 2, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Charles Kreger Incumbent (unopposed) 100.00% 321,978
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 321,978
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Incumbent Al Scoggins ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Tenth District Court of Appeals, Place 3.
    Texas Tenth District Court of Appeals, Place 3, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Al Scoggins Incumbent (unopposed) 100.00% 303,579
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 303,579
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Incumbent John Bailey ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals, Place 3.
    Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals, Place 3, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png John Bailey Incumbent (unopposed) 100.00% 199,482
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 199,482
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Incumbent Brian Hoyle ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Twelfth District Court of Appeals, Place 2.
    Texas Twelfth District Court of Appeals, Place 2, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Brian Hoyle Incumbent (unopposed) 100.00% 275,315
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 275,315
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Incumbent Greg Neeley ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Twelfth District Court of Appeals, Place 3.
    Texas Twelfth District Court of Appeals, Place 3, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Greg Neeley Incumbent (unopposed) 100.00% 274,297
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 274,297
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Leticia Hinojosa defeated incumbent Greg Perkes in the general election for the Texas Thirteenth District Court of Appeals, Place 3.
    Texas Thirteenth District Court of Appeals, Place 3, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Leticia Hinojosa 56.43% 287,959
         Republican Greg Perkes Incumbent 43.57% 222,368
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 510,327
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Kevin Jewell defeated Candance White in the general election for the Texas Fourteenth District Court of Appeals, Place 2.
    Texas Fourteenth District Court of Appeals, Place 2, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Kevin Jewell 51.26% 945,662
         Democratic Candance White 48.74% 899,159
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 1,844,821
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Incumbent Tracy E. Christopher defeated Peter M. Kelly in the general election for the Texas Fourteenth District Court of Appeals, Place 9.
    Texas Fourteenth District Court of Appeals, Place 9, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Tracy E. Christopher Incumbent 52.43% 966,844
         Democratic Peter M. Kelly 47.57% 877,132
    Total Votes (100% reporting) 1,843,976
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

    May 24 primary runoff

    Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Republican Runoff, Place 2, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Mary Lou Keel 50.87% 184,405
         Republican Ray Wheless 49.13% 178,114
    Total Votes (100% Reporting) 362,519
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Republican Runoff, Place 5, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Scott Walker (Texas) 58.02% 206,922
         Republican Brent Webster 41.98% 149,714
    Total Votes (100% Reporting) 356,636
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Texas Eighth District Court of Appeals Democratic Runoff, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Gina Palafox 53.05% 10,482
         Democratic Maria Ramirez 46.95% 9,277
    Total Votes (100% Reporting) 19,759
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results
    Texas Second District Court of Appeals Republican Runoff, Seat 3, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Elizabeth Kerr 54.83% 25,628
         Republican Dabney Bassel 45.17% 21,116
    Total Votes (100% Reporting) 46,744
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

    March 1 primary election

    Texas Supreme Court, Place 3, Republican Primary, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Debra Lehrmann Incumbent 52.22% 1,131,998
         Republican Michael Massengale 47.78% 1,035,840
    Total Votes (100% Reporting) 2,167,838
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results


    Texas Supreme Court, Place 5, Republican Primary, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Paul Green Incumbent 52.06% 1,078,689
         Republican Rick Green 47.94% 993,441
    Total Votes (100% Reporting) 2,072,130
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results


    Texas Supreme Court, Place 9, Republican Primary, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Eva Guzman Incumbent 59.17% 1,268,415
         Republican Joe Pool, Jr. 40.83% 875,224
    Total Votes (100% Reporting) 2,143,639
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results


    Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 2, Republican Primary, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Mary Lou Keel 39.42% 785,448
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Ray Wheless 35.43% 705,909
         Republican Chris Oldner 25.15% 501,063
    Total Votes (100% Reporting) 1,992,420
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results


    Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5, Republican Primary, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Scott Walker 41.48% 833,757
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Brent Webster 20.45% 411,119
         Republican Steve Smith 19.60% 393,992
         Republican Sid Harle 18.47% 371,303
    Total Votes (100% Reporting) 2,010,171
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results


    Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 6, Republican Primary, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Michael Keasler Incumbent 56.87% 1,102,194
         Republican Richard Dean Davis 43.13% 835,758
    Total Votes (100% Reporting) 1,937,952
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results


    Texas Second District Court of Appeals, Seat 3, Republican Primary, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Elizabeth Kerr 33.15% 89,272
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Dabney Bassel 18.83% 50,706
         Republican Andy Porter 18.81% 50,656
         Republican Bill Ray 17.28% 46,532
         Republican Mary Johndroe 11.94% 32,158
    Total Votes (100% Reporting) 269,324
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results


    Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals, Seat 7, Republican Primary, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png David Schenck Incumbent 61.53% 131,790
         Republican David Hanschen 38.47% 82,387
    Total Votes (100% Reporting) 214,177
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results


    Texas Eighth District Court of Appeals, Democratic Primary, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Gina Palafox 29.40% 16,106
         Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Maria Ramirez 26.38% 14,452
         Democratic Steve Hughes Incumbent 16.81% 9,207
         Democratic Robert Perez 15.52% 8,502
         Democratic Arturo Vazquez 11.90% 6,518
    Total Votes (100% Reporting) 54,785
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results


    Texas Thirteenth District Court of Appeals, Democratic Primary, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Leticia Hinojosa 72.09% 81,193
         Democratic Carlos Valdez 27.91% 31,433
    Total Votes (100% Reporting) 112,626
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results


    Texas Fourteenth District Court of Appeals, Seat 2, Republican Primary, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Kevin Jewell 56.30% 190,409
         Republican Bud Wiesedeppe 43.70% 147,798
    Total Votes (100% Reporting) 338,207
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results


    Texas Fourteenth District Court of Appeals, Seat 2, Democratic Primary, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Candance White 69.96% 154,111
         Democratic Jim Sharp 30.04% 66,158
    Total Votes (100% Reporting) 220,269
    Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results


    Selection

    See also: Judicial selection in Texas

    Primary election

    Partisan primaries are held if even one candidate has filed for a position. To advance to the general election, a candidate must win a majority (over 50 percent) of the vote. If no candidate in a race wins the majority—as in cases where more than two candidates are competing for a seat—a runoff election is held between the top two candidates.[3][4]

    Though Texas officially has closed primaries (requiring that voters declare party affiliation in advance in order to participate), the state's primaries are functionally open; any registered voter may vote in any single party's primary if they have not voted in the primary of another party. The elections are closed, however, in that voters may not participate in the proceedings (a runoff primary or a convention) of another party thereafter.[3]

    General election

    The winning candidates from each major party's primary, as well as any additional minor party candidates, compete in a general election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. If a candidate was unopposed in the general election, his or her name will still appear on the general election ballot.[3][5]

    State profile

    Demographic data for Texas
     TexasU.S.
    Total population:27,429,639316,515,021
    Land area (sq mi):261,2323,531,905
    Race and ethnicity**
    White:74.9%73.6%
    Black/African American:11.9%12.6%
    Asian:4.2%5.1%
    Native American:0.5%0.8%
    Pacific Islander:0.1%0.2%
    Two or more:2.5%3%
    Hispanic/Latino:38.4%17.1%
    Education
    High school graduation rate:81.9%86.7%
    College graduation rate:27.6%29.8%
    Income
    Median household income:$53,207$53,889
    Persons below poverty level:19.9%11.3%
    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
    Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Texas.
    **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

    Presidential voting pattern

    See also: Presidential voting trends in Texas

    Texas voted Republican in all six presidential elections between 2000 and 2020.

    Pivot Counties (2016)

    Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, one is located in Texas, accounting for 0.5 percent of the total pivot counties.[6]

    Pivot Counties (2020)

    In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Texas had one Retained Pivot County, 0.55 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.

    More Texas coverage on Ballotpedia

    Recent news

    The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Texas supreme court' OR 'Texas court election' OR 'Texas elections 2016'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

    Texas judicial elections, 2016 - Google News

    See also

    Texas Judicial Selection More Courts
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    Courts in Texas
    Texas Courts of Appeals
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    Texas Supreme Court
    Elections: 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017
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    External links

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Three Supreme Court Justices Face Challenges," February 9, 2016
    2. ↑ The Dallas Morning News, "Almost all statewide judges running for reelection,"accessed January 5, 2016
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The University of Texas at Austin: Texas Politics, "Winning Public Office: General Elections and Special Elections," January 29, 2014
    4. ↑ Texas Election Code, "Title 10, Sec. 172.003 and 172.004," accessed May 1, 2014
    5. ↑ Office of the Secretary of State, "1992-Current Election History" (Select "2012 General" & "County Race"; then click "Anderson" to view sample results)
    6. ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
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