Who is running for Justice, 5th Court of Appeals District, Place 6 in 2026?

Judge, 380th District Court (Collin County)

Ben Smith has presided over the 380th District Court in Collin County since Gov. Rick Perry appointed him in August 2012¹. Before that he was chief felony prosecutor in the Collin County district attorney's office and an assistant district attorney in Kaufman County¹. He is the Republican nominee for Place 6 against Democrat Monica Purdy².

• Judge, 380th District Court (Collin County), since August 2012; current term ends December 31, 2028; local administrative district judge, Collin County, 2018-2019¹³
• Chief felony prosecutor, Collin County District Attorney's Office; assistant district attorney, Kaufman County; private practice; BA, Boston University, 1996; JD, Boston University School of Law, 2002¹
• Appointed to the 380th District Court by Gov. Rick Perry in August 2012¹. His campaign announcement says Collin County voters have elected him four times⁴; the race page lists a 2016 unopposed election and a 56 percent win in 2020³. Republican nominee¹. The Place 6 seat is held by Justice Craig Smith, who is not a candidate⁵.
• Bar poll: State Bar of Texas 2026 Judicial Poll, final vote summary dated February 10, 2026⁶. The State Bar describes it as a non-partisan straw poll of current State Bar members, a preference poll only that has no bearing on the election, and says the results should not be viewed as an endorsement⁷. Results: Monica Purdy 448, Ben Smith 255⁶.

Judge, 95th District Court (Dallas County)

Monica Purdy has presided over the 95th District Court in Dallas County since January 1, 2021¹. Before that she was an associate judge for the State Civil District Courts from 2013 and a Dallas municipal judge². She is the Democratic nominee for Place 6 against Republican Ben Smith³.

• Judge, 95th District Court (Dallas County), since January 1, 2021; current term ends December 31, 2028¹
• Associate judge, State Civil District Courts, 2013-2020; municipal court judge, City of Dallas; private practice before that; BA, Spelman College, 1989; JD, Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law, 1992²⁴
• Won the 95th District Court seat in the November 2020 general election with 64 percent, and was unopposed in 2024⁴. Her county biography says the presiding judges of the civil district courts appointed her associate judge in 2013². Democratic nominee, unopposed in the March 3, 2026 primary⁵. The Place 6 seat is held by Justice Craig Smith, who is not a candidate⁶.
• Bar poll: State Bar of Texas 2026 Judicial Poll, final vote summary dated February 10, 2026⁷. The State Bar describes it as a non-partisan straw poll of current State Bar members, a preference poll only that has no bearing on the election, and says the results should not be viewed as an endorsement⁸. Results: Monica Purdy 448, Ben Smith 255⁷.