With all counties and polling locations across Texas reporting results, Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine is projected to eke out a win over his Republican primary challenger, Fort Worth appellate judge Brian Walker. Devine received 50.44% of the vote, leading Walker by less than 1 percentage point. Walker collected 49.56% of the vote.
During his campaign, Devine faced criticism over ethics and repeated absences from the bench. He is projected to face Democrat Christine Vinh Weems, who ran unopposed, in the November general election.
Incumbent Justices Jimmy Blacklock and Jane Bland were unopposed in the Republican primary. In November, Blacklock is projected to face Democrat DaSean Jones, and Bland is expected to face Democrat Bonnie Lee Goldstein.
All results are unofficial until canvassed. Visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide to see results from all state and local elections in your community.
Posted 9:15 p.m. March 5
Three seats on the nine-member Texas Supreme Court are up for election. Judges serve staggered six-year terms on the state’s highest court, which is located in Austin.
The court is the last resort for civil cases in Texas. It also has administrative control over the State Bar of Texas and licenses attorneys in the state.
At the polls
With 108 of Texas's 254 counties reporting Republican primary results and 100 counties reporting Democratic primary results, here are the leading candidates in each primary race:
Supreme Court Justice, Place 2 (Republican primary)
Incumbent Jimmy Blacklock, who is running for a second term, has 420,037 votes. He is running unopposed in the Republican primary and will face the Democratic primary winner in November.
Supreme Court Justice, Place 2 (Democratic primary)
- DaSean Jones, a Houston criminal court judge, leads with 61% of the vote, or 80,413 votes.
- Randy Sarosdy, an Austin attorney, trails with 39% of the vote, or 51,750 votes.
- Incumbent John Devine, who is running for a third term, leads with 53% of the vote, or 239,613 votes.
- Brian Walker, a Fort Worth appellate judge, trails with 47% of the vote, or 210,949 votes.
Christine Vinh Weems, a civil court judge in Harris County, ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. She has 122,788 votes and will face the Republican primary winner in November.
Supreme Court Justice, Place 6 (Republican primary)
Incumbent Jane Bland, who is running for a second term, has 408,901 votes. Bland is running unopposed in the Republican primary and will face the Democratic primary winner in November.
Supreme Court Justice, Place 6 (Democratic primary)
- Bonnie Lee Goldstein, a Dallas appellate judge, leads with 73% of the vote, or 96,351 votes.
- Joe Pool, a Hays County attorney, trails with 27% of the vote, or 35,878 votes.
Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, who is 74 years old, is expected to retire this year after voters rejected a state proposition that would have raised the mandatory retirement period for judges from ages 70-75 to ages 75-79.
The governor appoints justices to fill vacancies on the court. Appointments are subject to confirmation from the Texas Senate.
Stay tuned
Community Impact will update this article as more primary voting totals are released. All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide to see results from all local elections in your community.
