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El Paso judicial races reshape courts in 2026 election

El Paso voters will decide two local district court races and a statewide appeals court race in November 2026. The 120th District Court features a Republican incumbent seeking re-election against a Democrat challenger. The 168th District Court seat is vacant. The Fifteenth Court of Appeals will hold its first election since creation in 2023.

Where
El Paso, El Paso County; statewide for Fifteenth Court of Appeals
When
Not stated in sources
Sources
Reported by 3 outlets

Counties: El Paso

Taxes and money

The sources don't state an effect on taxes. They do state these figures.

  • Base salary for district court judge$193,0001
  • Maximum salary for district court judge$238,5001

Does this affect you?

Who's involved

  • Ben IveyRepublican incumbent, 120th District Court judge
  • Chris AnchondoDemocrat challenger for 120th District Court
  • Gov. Greg Abbottappointed current Fifteenth Court of Appeals justices

The facts

  • This is the first time in nearly two decades El Pasoans will see two local district court races decided in a general election.1
  • The 120th District Court race has a Republican incumbent; the 168th District Court seat is vacant.1
  • The Fifteenth Court of Appeals was created in 2023 by the Texas Legislature with one chief justice and two justices.1
  • The current Fifteenth Court of Appeals justices, all Republicans, were appointed by Gov. Abbott.1
  • Ben Ivey was appointed by Abbott to the 120th District Court to replace Maria Salas-Mendoza, elected chief justice of the Texas Eighth District Court of Appeals in 2025.1
  • Ivey has been an attorney for more than 25 years, including as assistant district attorney and more than 20 years in private practice.1
  • District court judges serve four-year terms.1

Who said what

These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.

  • Ben Ivey Experience as prosecutor, defense lawyer, and judge shapes how he runs the court.1

How they headlined it

The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.

Sources

Outlets: 3 not rated Who's covering Texas →

These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.

  1. El Paso judicial races could reshape Texas courts in 2026 election El Paso Times Not rated, October 15, 2026
  2. Election 2026 Texas Messenger-Inquirer Not rated, October 15, 2026
  3. Election 2026 Texas WV News Not rated, October 15, 2026

This sheet was written by AI from the sources above and adds nothing they don't state. Read the originals for full context.

Spot an error on this sheet?

All corrections and updates

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