Justice, Supreme Court, Place 2 (unexpired term)
Who is on the ballot for Justice, Supreme Court, Place 2 (unexpired term) in Tom Green County, Texas, on November 3, 2026? This guide lists 2 people running for Justice, Supreme Court, Place 2 (unexpired term): Chari Kelly (Democratic) and James P. Sullivan (Republican, incumbent).
People running in this race. Party is shown when the official list names one.
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Prior races for Chari Kelly
Prior races
Earlier vote totals from the linked reports, newest first. The page does not say who won unless the report does.
Year Race Election Votes in the report Source 2024 3rd Court of Appeals, Place 3 November 5, 2024Party: Democratic - Chari Kelly: 861,015.
- The page prints (I) on her name.
- No other name was listed.
- Race total 861,015.
- This is a prior race for the person on the 2026 Supreme Court Place 2 ballot. It is not that office.
3rd Court of Appeals, Place 3 contest 2018 Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals, Place 3 2018 generalParty: Democratic - Chari Kelly: 566,246.
- Scott Field, Republican: 475,074.
- The Scott Field on that line has no middle initial. That name is not attached to Scott K. Field.
- Secretary of State full-race canvass. Not Tom Green County votes.
State canvass elchist331 2018 Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals, Place 3 2018 Democratic primary - Chari Kelly: 146,719.
- Secretary of State full-race canvass. Not Tom Green County votes.
State canvass elchist324
Shared source for names and parties: Texas Secretary of State ballot certification (https://www.sos.texas.gov/elections/forms/2026-ballot-cert.pdf), signed August 28, 2026 by Deputy Secretary Dave Nelson. Names are from the Tom Green County section. Election day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
The Texas Ethics Commission treasurer list is a campaign-finance filing, not the ballot. The commission says the office on that form is what the filer wrote and may be out of date.
This page does not endorse anyone.
James P. Sullivan
James P. Sullivan, Republican, is certified for Supreme Court justice, Place 2, an unexpired term. The Supreme Court says he was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott in January 2025. That page says he previously served as general counsel to the governor and as an assistant solicitor general.
Chari Kelly
Chari Kelly, Democratic, is certified for Supreme Court justice, Place 2. The Third Court of Appeals says Justice Chari L. Kelly has served on that court since January 1, 2019, in Place 3, and that she previously served as a captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps. The Ethics Commission list shows office sought as Supreme Court justice, Place 2.
What this job is
A justice of the Supreme Court of Texas is one of eight justices who, with the chief justice, make up the state's last court for civil cases. The Office of Court Administration's October 2026 chart also gives the court the last word in juvenile cases. Justices are elected statewide to staggered six-year terms. This race is for the rest of an unexpired term in Place 2.
The court licenses lawyers in Texas and writes the rules for civil trials, appeals, and evidence.
Sources: Supreme Court of Texas; Court structure of Texas, October 2026
The area
This office is elected by the whole state. The U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 population estimate for Texas is 31,290,831. The 2024 estimate for Tom Green County, Texas is 120,103. San Angelo is the county seat of Tom Green County, Texas, and the city's 2024 population estimate is 100,159.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 county population estimates; U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 city and town population estimates; Texas Comptroller, Tom Green County rural snapshot; U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 cartographic boundaries; U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 TIGER/Line roads; U.S. Geological Survey, Global Map 1:1,000,000-scale rivers and lakes
Main industries here
The Governor's Office of Economic Development and Tourism says Texas is the leading producer of oil, gas, wind, and utility-scale solar energy in the United States. That page names oil and gas extraction, production, and transportation, and renewables, as energy clusters. A separate sector on the same page is food and livestock products, from beef and poultry to tortillas and snack foods.
Source: Governor's Office, target industries
Who holds it now
James P. Sullivan. The Supreme Court says Governor Greg Abbott appointed him in January 2025.
Source: Justice James P. Sullivan
Who held this seat
This race is for the rest of the Place 2 term. The court's Place 2 page lists that place since September 21, 1945. It does not give party. It does not list the three-justice court from before 1945, because those seats were not numbered places.
Source: Supreme Court of Texas, Place 2 since 1945
The buttons keep terms that overlap that many years back from 2026. A term that reaches into the window is shown in full. This choice stays on this page.
A picture is shown when a public page publishes a portrait of that person. An empty box means no portrait was found. The picture is not part of the office list.
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James P. Sullivan
January 6, 2025 – present
Appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to fill Justice Blacklock's unexpired term after his appointment to chief justice.
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James D. Blacklock
January 2, 2018 – January 5, 2025
Appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to replace Justice Willett. Elected in November 2018 and November 2024. Appointed chief justice on January 6, 2025.
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Don R. Willett
August 24, 2005 – January 2, 2018
Appointed by Governor Rick Perry to replace Justice Owen. Elected in 2006 and 2012. Appointed to the Fifth Circuit and sworn in January 2018.
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Priscilla R. Owen
January 1, 1995 – June 6, 2005
Elected in November 1994 and re-elected in November 2000. Appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in June 2005.
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Lloyd Doggett
January 1, 1989 – December 31, 1994
Elected in November 1988. Did not seek re-election in 1994.
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Ted Robertson
December 2, 1982 – December 31, 1988
Appointed by Governor William P. Clements to Pope's unexpired term. Defeated in his bid for chief justice in November 1988.
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Jack Pope
January 4, 1965 – November 29, 1982
Elected in November 1964 and re-elected in November 1970 and November 1976. Appointed chief justice in November 1982.
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Frank P. Culver Jr.
January 1, 1953 – January 1, 1965
Elected in November 1952 and re-elected in November 1958. Retired in January 1965.
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John H. Sharp
September 21, 1945 – December 31, 1952
Retired in January 1953.