Supreme Court Justice John P. Devine and Texas Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick won their Republican primary races outright after close contests.
Texas Supreme Court
Devine held onto his Supreme Court position in Place 4 by less than one percentage point. According to Decision Desk HQ, he won 50.4 percent to 49.6 percent.
Devine’s opponent, Brian Walker, sits on the Fort Worth-based 2nd Court of Appeals. Walker’s father, Scott Walker, sits on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
The win comes even after Walker alleged that Devine failed to collect enough signatures to be on the ballot. The Texas Supreme Court acknowledged the claim in its January ruling but said precedent provided time for Devine to fix it.
The incumbent came under additional fire before Election Day for not recusing himself from an abuse case where two of his former colleagues were the defendants.
When asked about it, Devine contended that no basis for recusal existed because he had “no financial interest in the case, never participated in it, and had no personal knowledge of the facts.”
Devine has long been considered one of the most conservative voices on the Supreme Court. He will now face Democrat Christine Vinh Weems, who won her primary race uncontested and is currently the sitting judge of the 281st Civil District Court in Harris County.
Incumbent Republican Justices Jimmy Blacklock of Place 2 and Jane Bland of Place 6 were uncontested in their primaries.
Texas Railroad Commission
Craddick, the daughter of State Rep. and former House Speaker Tom Craddick, won the nomination for the railroad commissioner spot with 50.4 percent of the vote.
James Matlock was her top challenger, coming in second place at 26.5 percent. Christie Clark followed him at 11.7 percent, Corey Howell at 6.3 percent, and Petra Reyes at 5 percent.
Craddick issued a statement on the social media platform X following her victory.
I am grateful to Republican voters for again choosing me as their candidate for the Railroad Commission. Voters know the importance of protecting Texas energy and having experienced leadership in place to support the safe and responsible energy production that has made Texas a leader for the country and for the world.
She added, “I am fighting every day to protect the Texas economy, our natural resources, and our security.”
Craddick last ran in the 2018 Republican primary for the position, winning by a 52-percentage-point margin over Weston Martinez, 76 percent to 24 percent.
In the general election, Craddick will face Democrat candidate Katherine Culbert, who beat her opponent Bill Burch by over 35 points—67.6 percent to 32.4 percent.
The Railroad Commission of Texas is a three-member panel that regulates the oil and gas industry, surface coal, and uranium mining. The other members of the panel are Republicans Wayne Christian and James Wright.
The general election will take place on November 5.
