4 candidates in Republican primary, runoff possible; winner advances to November
Uncontested in Democratic primary
The winners of each primary will face each other in the November general election
| Court & Place | Democrat | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | Notes/Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Okey Anyiam (D-Austin) | Lesli Fitzpatrick (R-Austin) | Alison Fox (R-Taylor) | Thomas Smith (R-Dallas) | Brent Coffee (R-Pampa) | Candidate (L) | |
| Campaign Mailing Address | PO Box 170383 Austin 78717 | Alison Fox for Judge P.O. Box 215 Taylor, Texas 76574 | 13901 Midway Road, Ste. 102, #305 Dallas, TX 75244 | |||
| Campaign Contact | (512) 250-8117 | alison@foxforjudge.com | ||||
| Campaign Website | lesliforjudge.com | foxforjudge.com | smithfortexas.org | coffeeforjudge.com | ||
| Social Media Links | twitter | twitter | twitter | instagram | ||
| Bar Card Number | 24001663 | 24029429 | 24050100 | 24010409 | 24076319 | |
| Current Occupation | Attorney | Director of Special Litigation Texas Department of Criminal Justice | Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Chambers Attorney | Special Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Justice | Assistant Attorney General | |
| Years of Texas Residency | native Texan | native Texan | native Texan | |||
| JD School & Year | South Texas College of Law 2000 | St. Mary's School of Law 2006 | The Ohio State University College of Law 1996 | Ave Maria School of Law | ||
| Other Education | Baylor University, M.A. Sociology (1997) UT- Permian Basin, BA Sociology (1994) | UT-Austin, B.A. in Government (2001) | University of Texas - Austin, Masters of Public Affairs, 2013 University of Akron, 1993 | Franciscan University of Steubenville, Master's Program Lubbock Christian University, Undergrad | ||
| Year of State Bar Licensure | 1997 | 2001 | 2006 | 1999 | 2011 | |
| Legal Experience - Nonjudicial | Criminal Defense Law, 28 years, Dallas | Director of Special Litigation, Texas Department of Criminal Justice (2023-present) Law Office of Lesli Fitzpatrick (2011-2023) Texas General Land Office, Staff Attorney (2007-2010) | Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Head Research Attorney (2021-present) | Assistant Attorney General (since 2015) Counsel & Policy Analyst to Senator Ken Paxton (2013-2015) General Counsel, Davaco Inc. (2006-2011) General Counsel, Holigan Finanical Group (2005-2006) Associate General Counsel, Fossil Group (2001-2005) Associate Attorney, Jones Day (1998-2001) Law Clerk, Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer (1996-1998) | Assistant Attorney General, Election Integrity Division Assistant District Attorney, Bexar County District Attorney's Office Private practice | |
| Jury Trial Experience | ||||||
| Appellate Judicial Experience | ||||||
| Other Judicial Experience | ||||||
| Board Certifications | ||||||
| Courts Admitted | Texas Western District Court | |||||
| Honors and Awards | Texas Association of Specialty Courts, former Vice President | |||||
| Prior Elections | ||||||
| Most Recent Bar Polls | 2026 - 1034 33% | 2026 - 463 15% | 2026 - 592 19% | 2026 - 391 12% | 2026 - 345 11% | |
| Key Endorsements (Max 5) | CLEAT TMPA Carrie Isaac Matt Mackowiak | Houston Chronicle San Antonio Express-News Texas Right to Life Texas Conservative Review Houston Association of Women Attorneys | Texas Eagle Forum True Texas Project State Senator Angela Paxton State Rep. Mitch Little Conservative Republicans of Texas | None listed | ||
| Judicial Philosophy (Max 250 words) | To uphold the law without legislating from the bench, and apply the legislative intent unless it’s ambiguous. | As your candidate for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3, I believe firmly in a conservative judicial philosophy that is rooted to the Constitution, respect for the rule of law, and judicial restraint. The role of a judge is not to make law, but to apply it as written and intended by the people and their elected representatives.
In criminal cases, this means upholding the rights guaranteed to both victims and defendants, interpreting statutes according to their plain meaning, and respecting lawful decisions made by juries and trial courts unless clear legal error demands correction. I reject judicial activism and believe courts should not expand or invent rights beyond those clearly established in the Constitution or statute.
Public safety, due process, and equal justice under the law must guide our work. I am committed to ensuring fair, consistent, and principled decisions that reflect the limited and impartial role of the judiciary in our constitutional system.
| ||||
| Misc | Husband of Judge Chika Anyiam | Mother of five children; Spouse: Grady Dahlberg | member of Highland Park United Methodist Church wife Audrey reside in the Dallas area along with their two children and rescued cats | Interned for Tom DeLay in the US House of Representatives Member, Federalist Society Association of Prosecuting Attorneys Republican National Lawyers' Association National Rifle Association Coast Conservation Association of Texas | ||
| Date Submitted by Candidate | Gathered from public sources | Gathered from public sources | Gathered from public sources | Gathered from public sources | Gathered from public sources |
