Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

Justice, 13th Court of Appeals District, Place 6

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

State of Texas
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked
Clarissa SilvaClarissa SilvaRepublican Incumbent
John BallJohn BallDemocratic
On ballot as
Clarissa Silva
John Ball
Current role
Justice, 13th Court of Appeals, Place 6 (elected 2020; in office since January 1, 2021)
Attorney in solo practice in McAllen; adjunct professor (per campaign)
Background
  • Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice, University of Texas at San Antonio (per campaign)
  • Law degree, Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University (2007)
  • Licensed in Texas since 2008
  • Board certified in juvenile law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (since 2015) (per campaign)
  • Born and raised in Harlingen (per campaign)
  • McAllen Memorial High School graduate (1995) (per campaign)
  • Degree in political science, Texas A&M University (per campaign)
  • Law degree, St. Mary's University School of Law (2004)
  • Licensed in Texas since 2004
  • Board certified in family law and criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Experience
  • Author of more than 550 appellate opinions (per campaign)
  • San Patricio County Attorney's Office, from 2017; represented the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (per campaign)
  • Nueces County District Attorney's Office, from 2008; juvenile cases and abuse, neglect and exploitation cases (per campaign)
  • Private practice, McAllen: family law and criminal law (per campaign)
  • Worked in the Hidalgo County District Attorney's Office Border Prosecution Unit (per campaign)
  • Former elected trustee, McAllen Independent School District (per campaign)
  • Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): unopposed
Top priorities
  • Says she is committed to "protecting constitutional principles, preserving due process, and applying the law fairly to every person who appears before the court"
  • Campaign site: integrity means "making decisions grounded in reason rather than bias or outside pressure"
Not found
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: Campaign site: committed to "protecting constitutional principles, preserving due process, and applying the law fairly to every person who appears before the court"
  • Court administration: No public statement found
  • Judicial philosophy: No public statement found
  • Court administration: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
None found in our research
Clarissa Silva

Clarissa Silva

Republican Incumbent
On ballot as
Clarissa Silva
Current role
Justice, 13th Court of Appeals, Place 6 (elected 2020; in office since January 1, 2021)
Background
  • Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice, University of Texas at San Antonio (per campaign)
  • Law degree, Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University (2007)
  • Licensed in Texas since 2008
  • Board certified in juvenile law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (since 2015) (per campaign)
  • Born and raised in Harlingen (per campaign)
Experience
  • Author of more than 550 appellate opinions (per campaign)
  • San Patricio County Attorney's Office, from 2017; represented the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (per campaign)
  • Nueces County District Attorney's Office, from 2008; juvenile cases and abuse, neglect and exploitation cases (per campaign)
Top priorities
  • Says she is committed to "protecting constitutional principles, preserving due process, and applying the law fairly to every person who appears before the court"
  • Campaign site: integrity means "making decisions grounded in reason rather than bias or outside pressure"
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: Campaign site: committed to "protecting constitutional principles, preserving due process, and applying the law fairly to every person who appears before the court"
  • Court administration: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
voteclarissasilva.com
John Ball

John Ball

Democratic
On ballot as
John Ball
Current role
Attorney in solo practice in McAllen; adjunct professor (per campaign)
Background
  • McAllen Memorial High School graduate (1995) (per campaign)
  • Degree in political science, Texas A&M University (per campaign)
  • Law degree, St. Mary's University School of Law (2004)
  • Licensed in Texas since 2004
  • Board certified in family law and criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Experience
  • Private practice, McAllen: family law and criminal law (per campaign)
  • Worked in the Hidalgo County District Attorney's Office Border Prosecution Unit (per campaign)
  • Former elected trustee, McAllen Independent School District (per campaign)
  • Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): unopposed
Top priorities
Not found
Tidbits
  • Judicial philosophy: No public statement found
  • Court administration: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
votejohnball.com