Texas Supreme Court Primary Shakeup Ends Before It Begins: Two Justices Now Unopposed

The March 3 Republican primary for the Texas Supreme Court will feature no challengers for two incumbents after courts upheld the GOP’s rejection of two would-be candidates over insufficient petition signatures, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock and Justice Brett Busby now face uncontested paths to re-election. Former Supreme Court Justice Steve Smith had sought to challenge Blacklock, while Pflugerville City Council member David Rogers planned to run against Busby.

Texas GOP rules require candidates to submit at least 50 valid signatures from qualified voters in each of the state’s 15 appeals court districts. The party determined that Smith and Rogers fell short in some districts, prompting both to file lawsuits challenging the party’s authority over ballot access.

The Texas Supreme Court dismissed Smith’s challenge, calling his arguments “threadbare” and noting that waiting until the final filing day limited his ability to meet the requirements. Blacklock and Busby did not participate in the unsigned ruling.

Rogers initially won a temporary pause on the GOP’s rejection from Travis County District Judge Amy Clark Meachum, but the judge later affirmed the party’s right to set its own rules.

The rulings mark another setback in Smith’s political career. After winning a 2002 special election for the Supreme Court, he lost subsequent primary bids in 2004, 2006, and 2016, according to the Houston Chronicle. Rogers previously served as Smith’s deputy staff attorney and managed his 2002 campaign.