Kyle Hawkins is the Republican candidate for Texas Supreme Court Justice, Place 7, in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Democrat Kristen Hawkins, according to the official certified ballot.
Experience and public service
Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Hawkins to the court in October 2025, according to his official court biography.
Hawkins previously served as counselor to the solicitor general at the U.S. Department of Justice and as Texas solicitor general, representing the state in appellate litigation. He clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and Fifth Circuit Judge Edith Jones.
The court biography credits him with arguing five cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and nine before the Texas Supreme Court. His private-practice experience included Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and leading the Texas appellate practice at Lehotsky Keller Cohn. He also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas School of Law.
Responses are based on public data and answers to a Surround Sound Media questionnaire if they were provided.
