Who is running for Justice, 14th Court of Appeals, Place 7 in 2026?

Staff attorney, Texas Fifth Court of Appeals

William Demond has worked as a staff attorney for the Texas Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas since 2023, according to his campaign¹. Before that he spent more than a decade in Houston practicing constitutional and civil rights law, including as a partner in two firms¹. He won a May 2026 Democratic primary runoff for Place 7 of the Fourteenth Court of Appeals and faces Republican incumbent Ken Wise in the general election².

• Staff attorney, Texas Fifth Court of Appeals, Dallas, since 2023¹
• Partner, Demond Law Firm, 2019 to 2023, and Demond & Hassan, PLLC, 2011 to 2018, both Houston constitutional and civil rights law firms¹
• Court-appointed roles include ad litem for Harris County inmates in COVID-19 confinement litigation, habeas master, and ad litem in parental-rights and tax-forfeiture matters¹
• J.D., Seton Hall University; licensed in Texas since August 2007; M.A. in Diplomacy and International Relations¹⁴
• Ran in the 2020 Democratic primary for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3, and did not win². Won the 2022 Democratic primary for Fourteenth Court of Appeals, Place 9, and lost the November 2022 general election to incumbent Republican Randy Wilson². Advanced from the Democratic primary for Place 7 on March 3, 2026 with 42.5% in a three-way field, then defeated Michael Adams-Hurta in a May 26, 2026 runoff, 62.4% to 37.6%². Faces Republican incumbent Ken Wise in the November 3, 2026 general election².
• Bar poll: State Bar of Texas 2026 Judicial Poll, final vote summary dated February 10, 2026, taken before the March 3, 2026 primaries. It is a non-binding preference poll of State Bar members, not an endorsement. 14th Court of Appeals, Place 7, where candidates from both parties' primaries were listed together: Ken Wise 559 votes, William Demond 206, Michael Adams-Hurta 130, Derek Obialo 101; Demond later won the Democratic nomination in a runoff³.

Justice, Place 7, Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals

Ken Wise has served as a justice on the Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals, Place 7, since 2013¹. Governor Rick Perry appointed him to the 334th District Court in February 2011, and he previously served on the 152nd District Court¹. He holds a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center¹. He is running for reelection against Democrat William Demond¹.

• Justice, Place 7, Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals, since 2013; current term ends December 31, 2026¹
• Former judge, 334th District Court, Harris County (appointed February 2011); former judge, 152nd District Court, Harris County; former partner, Fridge, Resendez and Wise LLC¹
• Adjunct professor, University of Houston Law Center¹
• Bachelor's degree, Texas A&M University; J.D., University of Houston Law Center; licensed in Texas since November 1994¹³
• Appointed to the 334th District Court by Governor Rick Perry in February 2011¹. Joined Place 7 of the Fourteenth Court of Appeals by appointment in 2013¹. Won election to the seat in November 2014 with 58.2% of the vote over Democrat Gordon Goodman, and was reelected in November 2020 over Democrat Tamika Craft¹. Advanced unopposed from the Republican primary on March 3, 2026, and faces Democrat William Demond, who won a May 26, 2026 Democratic primary runoff, in the November 3, 2026 general election¹.
• Bar poll: State Bar of Texas 2026 Judicial Poll, final vote summary dated February 10, 2026, taken before the March 3, 2026 primaries. It is a non-binding preference poll of State Bar members, not an endorsement. 14th Court of Appeals, Place 7, where candidates from both parties' primaries were listed together: Ken Wise 559 votes, William Demond 206, Michael Adams-Hurta 130, Derek Obialo 101; Demond later won the Democratic nomination in a runoff².