The Chief Justice runs the Supreme Court of Texas — the last stop for the cases that make or break the lives of ordinary Texans: custody battles, insurance disputes, a lawsuit against a company with deep pockets to delay settlements. It also decides whether a Texas law is even allowed under the Texas Constitution. It's important to know that who we elect for this job is someone we trust with our final word.
The Democratic candidate
Maggie Ellis
DemocratAbout Maggie
Ellis was homeless as a child, the only one of eight kids to finish college — it took her 16 years — and she got through Baylor Law raising four teenagers, commuting from Austin to Waco every day. Now she's running to be the first woman ever to lead the Supreme Court of Texas.
She's been a public-school teacher, a foster mother, a prosecutor, an administrative-law judge and a trial lawyer, and is board-certified in juvenile law and child welfare — the cases where the person in front of the judge has the least power. She won the primary with 77 percent. Her opponent, Jimmy Blacklock, was Greg Abbott's own lawyer before Abbott put him on the court in 2018, and Abbott made him Chief Justice in 2025 without an election. Ellis sits on the 3rd Court of Appeals in Austin — and is a Hays County Bar Association Pro Bono Hero.
Also on the ballot
Every candidate who filed for this office appears here. Tap a name to read more.
Jimmy BlacklockAbout Jimmy
He grew up in Fort Bend County, graduated with highest honors from UT, went to Yale Law, and has worked inside Texas power — at Vinson & Elkins, the U.S. DOJ, and Greg Abbott's office — ever since.
Blacklock served as Abbott's general counsel before being appointed to the Texas Supreme Court in 2017. He became Chief Justice in 2025 — the youngest in Texas history. He and his wife have three daughters and are active members of Tarrytown Christian Church in Austin, where he serves as a deacon.
Where to vote
Hays County uses vote centers — any registered Hays County voter can vote at any open location in the county. Locations and hours by city: