Republican James P. Sullivan faces Democrat Chari Kelly for Place 2 on the Texas Supreme Court in the Nov. 3, 2026, election. The certified ballot identifies the contest as an unexpired term.
Experience
Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Sullivan to the court in January 2025, according to his official judicial biography. Before joining the court, Sullivan served as the governor’s general counsel and as an assistant solicitor general. He also worked in appellate litigation and taught at George Mason University.
He earned a bachelor’s degree from Rice University and a law degree from Harvard Law School and clerked for federal appellate Judge Thomas B. Griffith.
What the court decides
The Texas Supreme Court is the state’s highest court for civil and juvenile matters. Criminal appeals are handled by the separate Court of Criminal Appeals.
Supreme Court decisions can affect contracts, property disputes, insurance claims, family cases and questions about government authority. Justices decide cases collectively under applicable law and precedent; one justice cannot determine an outcome alone.
Authority and campaign information
The office is judicial rather than legislative. A justice cannot enact a tax package or a new state spending program. No separately costed campaign proposal or implementation schedule was verified for this profile.
This article draws on the certified ballot and official court information. The expiration of an interim appointment in 2026 should not be confused with the remaining term voters are electing someone to serve.
The Murphy-Wylie-Sachse Courier did not receive a direct questionnaire response from the candidate and does not endorse candidates.
