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Justice, Supreme Court, Place 2 - Unexpired Term: who gets your vote?

What this role does

Texas Supreme Court justices review civil and juvenile cases at the state’s highest appellate level. Criminal appeals go to a separate high court.

Their decisions guide how Texas civil law is interpreted and applied.

Civil appeals
Juvenile appeals
Not criminal appeals

Read about them. Then tap a button to pick one. You can change it later.

Data last updated: Oct 31, 2026 (state and local ballot sources). Verify approaching elections with your state election office.

Our reading of the duties, not an official requirement. Doesn't rank or recommend anyone.

Office role sources

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Texas Judiciary: court structure · Checked Oct 30, 2026

AI can make mistakes. Check the source links.

Candidate

CHARI KELLY

Running for Justice, Supreme Court, Place 2 - Unexpired Term · Texas

StateDemocratic Party / Partido Demócrata

Candidate

JAMES P. SULLIVAN

Running for Justice, Supreme Court, Place 2 - Unexpired Term · Texas

StateRepublican Party / Partido Republicano

CHARI KELLYCandidateJAMES P. SULLIVANChallenger

Job fit

CHARI KELLY

Offices held

Texas Law’s biography says Kelly served as an Army JAG captain and represented more than 150 soldiers facing trial by court-martial. ¹

Other work

Kelly was elected to Texas’ 3rd Court of Appeals in 2018, her campaign says. ²
Original wording
Kelly’s campaign says she was elected to Texas’ 3rd Court of Appeals in 2018.
Kelly joined a January 2024 court ruling that let a watchdog group’s lawsuit move forward, her campaign says. The lawsuit sought Ken Paxton’s emails related to Jan. 6. The court rejected his request to dismiss the case. ³
Original wording
Her campaign says Kelly joined a January 2024 ruling letting a watchdog’s lawsuit seeking Ken Paxton’s Jan. 6–related emails proceed. The court rejected his request to dismiss it.

JAMES P. SULLIVAN

Other work

Governor Greg Abbott appointed Sullivan to the Texas Supreme Court in January 2025. ⁴
Original wording
Governor Greg Abbott appointed Sullivan to the Supreme Court of Texas in January 2025.

Other facts

Before joining the Court, Sullivan served as Governor Abbott’s general counsel and as assistant solicitor general under then-Attorney General Abbott. ⁴
Sullivan also worked as an appellate litigator in private practice and an adjunct professor at George Mason University. ⁴

Past rulings

We haven't found past rulings for either candidate yet.

Who pays them

CHARI KELLY

Kelly’s campaign had $105,425 on hand on June 30, The Texas Tribune reports. It raised $57,056 between Jan. 1 and June 30. ⁵

Original wording

The Texas Tribune reports Kelly’s campaign had $105,425 on hand June 30 and raised $57,056 between Jan. 1 and June 30.

Benny Agosto Jr PC, Randy Howry, Jack E. McGehee LP, Yvonne Puig, and Steven Samples each gave $5,000, according to the Tribune’s donor list. ⁵

Original wording

The Tribune lists donors giving $5,000 each: Benny Agosto Jr PC, Randy Howry, Jack E. McGehee LP, Yvonne Puig, and Steven Samples.

JAMES P. SULLIVAN

Nothing found for this candidate yet.

Checks

No checks have run for either candidate yet.

Based on current data. May change in a future update.

Sources

law.utexas.edu · checked 2026-11-01 used in: Experience
charikelly.com · checked 2026-11-01 used in: Experience
charikelly.com · checked 2026-11-01 used in: Experience
TJB | SC | About the Court | Justices | Justice James P. Sullivan · checked 2026-10-31 used in: Experience
texastribune.org · checked 2026-11-01 used in: Money