Thomas Smith
Republican | Texas
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Thomas Smith
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary Runoff
Race
Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Candidate did not provide
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (39)
*Texas Home School Coalition THSC PAC
*Texas Patriots PAC
*Montgomery County Tea Party
*Conservative Republicans of Texas
*Rick Green
LIBERAL (1)
Fort Worth Police Officers Association
OTHER (4)
*Texans for Toll-Free Highways TTH
Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas CLEAT PAC
Dallas Police Association PAC
Tarrant County Law Enforcement Association
OTHER INFORMATION
Candidate interview. Montgomery County Tea Party. 12 Nov 2025. 57:58 min.
Smith says he is running to "restore a conservative, limited judicial philosophy" and to oppose "judicial activism."
Smith warns that America and the state of Texas are at risk because of judicial activism:
“Activist judges running rogue courts who shred the Constitution and the rule of law are fueling that. When Republicans vote for a judicial candidate, they expect the Constitution and the rule of law to be protected above all else. They do not expect judges to betray the Constitution and the people by making law from the bench.”
Smith described his career as grounded in “conservative constitutional principles,” noting that his work for Attorney General Paxton (beginning 2013) and support for President Trump (beginning 2020) demonstrate “his dedication to and his willingness to fight for conservative constitutional principles.”
He served as a delegate for Donald Trump in 2020 and worked on the Trump campaign’s election integrity team in Arizona.
Smith stated that he was “instrumental in banning sanctuary cities in Texas” and helped write “multiple bills cracking down on human trafficking.”
Smith stated that “[h]e protected religious liberty, spearheading passage of a law protecting churches from being forced to make adoptions that violate their religious conscience.”
Smith discussed his parents, describing his father as hardworking and principled. He has characterized his mother as exemplifying the “Proverbs 31” ideal and discussed her career as an educator, including her return to teaching after facing opposition from parents and limited support from school officials.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Was Dobbs v. Jackson rightly decided according to the text of the Constitution? Please explain. (Holding: In Dobbs, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the federal constitution does not confer a right to abortion.)
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Does the federal Constitution support the right to physician assisted suicide? Please explain in light of Washington v. Glucksberg (1997).
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Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
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How do you view the judiciary’s role in matters of abortion regulation following Dobbs?
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RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Do you believe religious liberty is at risk in the United States. If so, what is the judiciary's proper role in addressing this issue?
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Does the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment require government to be strictly secular or does it allow for the nation's religious heritage?
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Was Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission rightly decided according to the text of the Constitution? Please explain. (Holding: The U.S. Supreme Court held tha the state may not show religious hostility when enforcing anti-discrimination laws against a business owner.)
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VALUES
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
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What is your understanding of parental rights under the Constitution regarding the upbringing of children, particularly regarding choices about education and sexual identity?
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Is gender identity a protected class under the Constitution? Please explain the constitutional basis for your view.
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ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
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Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
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I voted in these primaries and general elections:
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JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
Describe your judicial philosophy.
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Do you believe judges should primarily apply the law according to its original public meaning, or do you believe the law evolves over time to reflect contemporary values?
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Which current or past U.S. Supreme Court justice best reflects your judicial philosophy?
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Was Obergefell v. Hodges rightly decided according to the text of the Constitution? Please explain. (Holding: The U.S. Supreme Court held Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses create a right for same-sex couples to marry.)
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A. How should a judge approach a case where the constitutional or statutory text is clear on its face? B. Conversely, how should a judge proceed when the text is ambiguous or silent on a disputed issue?
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What is your view of judicial restraint versus judicial activism? How do you define each?
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What is the proper role of a judge?
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When applying or interpreting the text of a statute or constitutional provision, is it ever proper for a judge to consider present day public opinion or consequences?
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If precedent departs from the Constitution’s text or original meaning, should a judge follow it or correct the error? Please explain.
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2ND AMENDMENT
What is your understanding of the Second Amendment’s right to keep and bear arms?
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OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Which branch of government do you believe was intended to wield the most authority?
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