Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9
StatewideHolly Taylor (D) won the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 9 race with 52.3% of the vote to John Messinger's (R) 47.7%, as called by the Associated Press.
Holly Taylor vs. John MessingerNovember 3 results
Democrat: Holly TaylorWinner
Republican: John MessingerState count last updated Nov. 4, 4:18 p.m. CT. Unofficial until the state canvass, between Nov. 21 and Dec. 7.
Counties must finish their canvass by Nov. 17, and totals can change until then.
One of nine judges on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the state's court of last resort for criminal cases. The court hears every death-penalty appeal directly. It can review other criminal cases after the state's intermediate appeals courts rule. It also decides felony habeas corpus petitions, including wrongful-conviction claims.
Before Election Day: Ratings and Analysis
Written before Election Day and not updated with returns. Ratings and polls describe the race before any returns were reported.
Open seat, Newell did not seek re-election. John Messinger won the Republican primary with 68.8% over Jennifer Balido. Holly Taylor ran unopposed for Democrats.
No major forecaster rates Texas judicial races. This open seat pits John Messinger (R) against Holly Taylor (D). Republicans have held every seat on the Court of Criminal Appeals since 2017. The last Democrat to sit on the court, Lawrence Meyers, was elected as a Republican, switched parties in 2013, and lost in 2016.
Join the TexPolls Email List
No set schedule and no spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Primary Results
Winner.John Messinger
Jennifer Balido
Winner.Holly TaylorRepublican nominee
Assistant State Prosecuting Attorney
Democratic nominee
Asst. Director, Civil Rights Division, Travis County DA
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2026 Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 9 race?
Holly Taylor (D) won the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 9 race with 52.3% of the vote to John Messinger's (R) 47.7%, as called by the Associated Press. Results are unofficial until the canvass.
Who was on the 2026 ballot for Place 9 of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals?
Holly Taylor (Democratic) and John Messinger (Republican) were on the November 3 ballot.
John Messinger vs. Holly Taylor: who was on the ballot for Place 9 of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals?
Republican John Messinger and Democrat Holly Taylor were the major-party candidates for Place 9 of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
Where can I see 2026 results for Place 9 of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals?
This page publishes Texas Secretary of State returns for Place 9 of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals as they become available. Election-night counts are unofficial until canvassed, and TexPolls marks a race called only after a named news organization calls it.