Texas judicial elections, 2016

Texas 2016 elections

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2016 State
Judicial Elections

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Part 1: Overview
Part 2: Supreme Courts
Part 3: Partisanship
Part 4: Changes in 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.

## Contents

* 1 Introduction
* 2 Race background
* 2.1 Context of Texas courts
* 2.2 Partisan balance
* 2.2.1 Republican control
* 2.2.2 Courts of Appeals
* 3 General election candidates
* 3.1 Supreme Court
* 3.1.1 Place 3
* 3.1.2 Place 5
* 3.1.3 Place 9
* 3.2 Court of Criminal Appeals
* 3.2.1 Place 2
* 3.2.2 Place 5
* 3.2.3 Place 6
* 3.3 District Courts of Appeals
* 3.3.1 First District
* 3.3.1.1 Chief justice
* 3.3.1.2 Place 4
* 3.3.2 Second District
* 3.3.2.1 Place 3
* 3.3.2.2 Place 4
* 3.3.3 Third District
* 3.3.3.1 Place 2
* 3.3.3.2 Place 4
* 3.3.4 Fourth District
* 3.3.4.1 Place 6
* 3.3.5 Fifth District
* 3.3.5.1 Place 4
* 3.3.5.2 Place 7
* 3.3.6 Sixth District
* 3.3.6.1 Place 1
* 3.3.7 Seventh District
* 3.3.7.1 Place 4
* 3.3.8 Eighth District
* 3.3.8.1 Place 3
* 3.3.9 Ninth District
* 3.3.9.1 Place 2
* 3.3.10 Tenth District
* 3.3.10.1 Place 3
* 3.3.11 Eleventh District
* 3.3.11.1 Place 3
* 3.3.12 Twelfth District
* 3.3.12.1 Place 2
* 3.3.12.2 Place 3
* 3.3.13 Thirteenth District
* 3.3.13.1 Place 3
* 3.3.14 Fourteenth District
* 3.3.14.1 Place 2
* 3.3.14.2 Place 9
* 4 Election results
* 4.1 November 8 general election
* 4.2 May 24 primary runoff
* 4.3 March 1 primary election
* 5 Selection
* 5.1 Primary election
* 5.2 General election
* 6 State profile
* 6.1 Presidential voting pattern
* 6.1.1 Pivot Counties (2016)
* 6.1.2 Pivot Counties (2020)
* 7 Recent news
* 8 See also
* 9 External links
* 10 Footnotes

## Introduction[edit]

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[edit]

### Context of Texas courts[edit]

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[edit]

#### Republican control[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

### Supreme Court[edit]

#### Place 3[edit]

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

#### Place 5[edit]

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

#### Place 9[edit]

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

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### Court of Criminal Appeals[edit]

##### Place 2[edit]

■ Lawrence Meyers (D) (Incumbent)
■ Mary Lou Keel (R)
■ Mark Ash (Lib.)
■ Adam Reposa (Green)

##### Place 5[edit]

■ Betsy Johnson (D)
■ Scott Walker (R)
■ William Bryan Strange (Lib.)
■ Judith Sanders-Castro (Green)

##### Place 6[edit]

■ Robert D. Burns III (D)
■ Michael Keasler (R)  (Incumbent)
■ Mark Bennett (Lib.)

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### District Courts of Appeals[edit]

#### First District[edit]

##### Chief justice[edit]

■ Jim Peacock (D)
■ Sherry Radack (R)  (Incumbent)

##### Place 4[edit]

■ Barbara Gardner (D)
■ Evelyn Keyes (R)  (Incumbent)

#### Second District[edit]

##### Place 3[edit]

* Judge Anne Gardner (R) did not run.

■ Elizabeth Kerr (R)  (Unopposed)

##### Place 4[edit]

■ Bonnie Sudderth (R)  (Incumbent/Unopposed)

#### Third District[edit]

##### Place 2[edit]

■ Cindy Olson Bourland (R)  (Incumbent/Unopposed)

##### Place 4[edit]

■ Melissa Goodwin (R)  (Incumbent/Unopposed)

#### Fourth District[edit]

##### Place 6[edit]

■ Irene Rios (D)
■ Jason Pulliam (R) (Incumbent)

#### Fifth District[edit]

##### Place 4[edit]

■ Gena Slaughter (D)
■ Lana Myers (R)  (Incumbent)

##### Place 7[edit]

■ Dennise Garcia (D)
■ David Schenck (R)  (Incumbent)

#### Sixth District[edit]

##### Place 1[edit]

■ Josh Morriss (R)  (Incumbent/Unopposed)

#### Seventh District[edit]

##### Place 4[edit]

■ James T. Campbell (R)  (Incumbent/Unopposed)

#### Eighth District[edit]

##### Place 3[edit]

■ Gina Palafox (D)  (Unopposed)

#### Ninth District[edit]

##### Place 2[edit]

■ Charles Kreger (R)  (Incumbent/Unopposed)

#### Tenth District[edit]

##### Place 3[edit]

■ Al Scoggins (R)  (Incumbent/Unopposed)

#### Eleventh District[edit]

##### Place 3[edit]

■ John Bailey (R)  (Incumbent/Unopposed)

#### Twelfth District[edit]

##### Place 2[edit]

■ Brian Hoyle (R)  (Incumbent/Unopposed)

##### Place 3[edit]

■ Greg Neeley (R)  (Incumbent/Unopposed)

#### Thirteenth District[edit]

##### Place 3[edit]

■ Greg Perkes (R) (Incumbent)
■ Leticia Hinojosa (D)

#### Fourteenth District[edit]

##### Place 2[edit]

* Judge Sharon McCally (R) was not seeking re-election.

■ Candance White (D)
■ Kevin Jewell (R)

##### Place 9[edit]

■ Peter M. Kelly (D)
■ Tracy E. Christopher (R)  (Incumbent)

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## Election results[edit]

### November 8 general election[edit]

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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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[edit]

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Republican Runoff, Place 2, 2016

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Republican  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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[edit]

Texas Supreme Court, Place 3, Republican Primary, 2016

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Republican  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  Mary Lou Keel | 39.42% | 785,448
| Republican  |  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  |  Scott Walker | 41.48% | 833,757
| Republican  |  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  |  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  |  Elizabeth Kerr | 33.15% | 89,272
| Republican  |  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  |  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  |  Gina Palafox | 29.40% | 16,106
| Democratic  |  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  |  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  |  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  |  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[edit]

See also: Judicial selection in Texas

### Primary election[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Demographic data for Texas

| Texas| U.S.
Total population:| 27,429,639| 316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):| 261,232| 3,531,905
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.

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**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[edit]

See also: Presidential voting trends in Texas

Texas voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

#### 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

* Elections in Texas
* United States congressional delegations from Texas
* Public policy in Texas
* Endorsers in Texas
* Texas fact checks
* More...

## Recent news[edit]

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[edit]

Texas | Judicial Selection | More Courts

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|

Courts in Texas Texas Courts of Appeals Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Texas Supreme Court |  Elections: 2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 Gubernatorial appointments Judicial selection in Texas |  Federal courts State courts Local courts

## External links[edit]

| Suggest a link

|

* Texas Judicial Branch

## Footnotes[edit]

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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