Texas State Room
Court of Criminal Appeals — Texas
Articles, candidate report cards, office explainers & public accountability
Texas 2026 — and the Road Beyond
Election: November 3, 2026. Research checked: October 8, 2026.
Printed-ballot candidate names and party labels come from the Texas Secretary of State's August 28 final ballot certification. Declared write-in names come from the separate August 28 write-in certification; that certificate does not list party labels.
Texas Secretary of State election hub · Final ballot certification · Statewide sample ballot · Certified write-in list
The Court of Criminal Appeals is Texas's highest court for criminal cases. It reviews criminal appeals, receives death-penalty appeals directly from trial courts, and has sole authority to grant felony post-conviction habeas corpus relief under state law. The presiding judge and eight judges are elected statewide to staggered six-year terms.
CERTIFIED CANDIDATES
| Office | Candidate | Party on certified ballot |
|---|---|---|
| Place 3 | Thomas Smith | Republican |
| Place 3 | Okey Anyiam | Democratic |
| Place 3 | Mark Ash | Libertarian |
| Place 4 | Kevin Patrick Yeary | Republican |
| Place 4 | Audra Riley | Democratic |
| Place 9 | John Messinger | Republican |
| Place 9 | Holly Taylor | Democratic |
HOW TO REVIEW THE RECORD
Review legal experience, published opinions, judicial administration, fair process, independence, professional discipline, and the court's actual jurisdiction. Read decisions in context and distinguish the judicial record from campaign characterizations.
RESEARCH STATUS
No candidate score, endorsement, or winner prediction is assigned in this first pass. The state does not publish one uniform candidate-statement booklet comparable to California's statewide guide. Campaign links are candidate-controlled sources and are provided for inspection, not as independent verification. Portraits identify candidates; appearance is not evaluated.
The next research layer can compare public records, campaign finance, specific commitments, implementation authority, deadlines, and candidate responses using the same questions for everyone.
Individual biographies, opinions, campaign links, and portraits remain to be added after equivalent sources are verified for every candidate.