Three seats were up for election this year, each featuring an incumbent seeking reelection against a challenger. Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson defeated District Court Judge Jim Jordan, and incumbent Justices Dale Wainwright and Phil Johnson were challenged by attorney Sam Houston and Senior Appellate Justice Linda Yanez, respectively. Television spending in the Texas 2008 Supreme Court election totaled more than $2 million. This is five times what was spent on TV ads in 2002, the last year prior to 2008 in which TV advertisements were aired during judicial elections.
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October 17, 2008 – Jefferson Only in America
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This ad says Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson, the descendent of a slave, got to where he is through hard work; his story is only possible in America.
October 20, 2008 – Issue EPCDP Rising Gas Prices
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This El Paso County Democratic Party ad calls for “change,” then endorses a slate of candidates, Judge Yanez included.
October 20, 2008 – Rising Gas Prices SP
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This ad by the El Paso County Democratic Party supports a number of candidates, including Linda Yanez.
October 22, 2008 – Jordan Yanez Houston
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This ad by the Texas Democratic Party supports candidates Jim Jordan, Linda Yanez, and Sam Houston.
October 24, 2008 – Rose to Chief Justice
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This ad says, “Wallace Jefferson rose to chief justice through hard work and strong principles.”
October 28, 2008 – Issue EPCDP Rising Gas Prices REV
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This ad says, “Stop Republican croanyism in government contracts. It’s time for a change.”
October 29, 2008 – Wainwright Activist Judges
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In this ad, Justice Wainwright claims he will be fair and will not legislate from the bench.
October 29, 2008 – Yanez Ideal World
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In this ad, Judge Yanez claims that, in an ideal world, politics would not enter the court room, but the Texas Supreme Court is all Republican, and they have sided with insurance companies over 85 percent of the time.
October 29, 2008 – Jefferson Wainwright Johnson
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In this ad, the Harrison County Republican Party says, “Justices Jefferson, Wainwright and Johnson uphold balanced justice.”