Who Kristen is
Read the ballot carefully: this race is Kristen Hawkins against Kyle Hawkins. She's the Houston trial judge — the daughter of an immigrant mother, who worked her way through law school; he's the Abbott appointee who's been on the court since October and has never faced a voter. Texas lawyers, polled, picked her.
About Kristen
Hawkins grew up in Houston, went to Alief Hastings High, then UT and South Texas College of Law, and in 2016 became the first woman ever elected to the 11th District Court — the oldest court in Texas. She's board-certified in civil trial law and personal-injury law, has been handed two of the state's biggest multi-plaintiff cases to manage, and was named Jurist of the Year by Texas trial lawyers in 2021. She has never lost an election.
Where they stand
- Reproductive RightsUnknown
- Immigration & BorderUnknown
- Housing & AffordabilityUnknown
- Public EducationUnknown
- Election IntegrityUnknown
- HealthcareUnknown
- Social Security & MedicareUnknown
- Gun PolicyUnknown
- Climate & EnergyUnknown
Also on the ballot for TX Supreme Court • Place 7
Every candidate on this ballot line appears here, in alphabetical order. Tap a name to read more.
Kyle HawkinsHe was Texas Solicitor General, then went to work for President Trump's Department of Justice, then was appointed to the Texas Supreme Court by Greg Abbott — all before turning 40.
About Kyle
Hawkins was appointed to Place 7 in October 2025, replacing Justice Jeffrey Boyd. He previously argued for states' rights in Medicaid litigation as a Trump DOJ attorney and handled high-stakes appellate cases in private practice. This is his first election.