Who Maggie is
Ellis was homeless as a child, the only one of eight kids to finish college — it took her 16 years — and she got through Baylor Law raising four teenagers, commuting from Austin to Waco every day. Now she's running to be the first woman ever to lead the Supreme Court of Texas.
About Maggie
She's been a public-school teacher, a foster mother, a prosecutor, an administrative-law judge and a trial lawyer, and is board-certified in juvenile law and child welfare — the cases where the person in front of the judge has the least power. She won the primary with 77 percent. Her opponent, Jimmy Blacklock, was Greg Abbott's own lawyer before Abbott put him on the court in 2018, and Abbott made him Chief Justice in 2025 without an election. Ellis sits on the 3rd Court of Appeals in Austin — and is a Hays County Bar Association Pro Bono Hero.
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 • Chief Justice
Every candidate on this ballot line appears here, in alphabetical order. Tap a name to read more.
Jimmy BlacklockHe grew up in Fort Bend County, graduated with highest honors from UT, went to Yale Law, and has worked inside Texas power — at Vinson & Elkins, the U.S. DOJ, and Greg Abbott's office — ever since.
About Jimmy
Blacklock served as Abbott's general counsel before being appointed to the Texas Supreme Court in 2017. He became Chief Justice in 2025 — the youngest in Texas history. He and his wife have three daughters and are active members of Tarrytown Christian Church in Austin, where he serves as a deacon.