Ken Wise, who says he is the senior justice on Texas' 14th Court of Appeals, is seeking re-election to Place 7 in the Nov. 3 general election.
He will face Democrat William Pieratt Demond.
Wise, a Republican and native Houstonian, said he is running to continue his public service, which began in 2002. "I am now in significant leadership roles within the Judiciary and would like to continue that service," Wise said in his response to a Surround Sound News questionnaire.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Office sought: Texas Appeals Court Justice, District 14, Place 7
- Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration, Texas A&M University (1991); law degree, University of Houston Law Center (1994); master's degree in history, Sam Houston State University (2025)
- Family: One daughter, attending the University of Texas
- Memberships: State Bar of Texas, Houston Bar Association, life fellow of the Texas and Houston Bar foundations, elected member of the American Law Institute
Experience and public service
Wise practiced law at a large Houston firm before winning election to the 152nd District Court in 2002, he said in his questionnaire. He served there for nearly seven years. He then worked in private practice as a partner at Fridge, Resendez & Wise from 2009 to 2011 before serving as judge of the 334th District Court. Gov. Rick Perry appointed Wise to the 14th Court of Appeals in October 2013, according to his court biography, and he has served there since.
Beyond the bench, Wise has held leadership roles across the judiciary and civic organizations. He served as vice chairman of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct and as a member of the Texas Judicial Council. He is a past president of the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society and the Texas State Historical Association.
Wise has also served as a director of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the Former Texas Rangers Foundation. He has taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law Center and Houston Christian University. He hosts the "Wise About Texas" podcast, which he has produced since 2015 as part of his Texas history work.
In 2021, the Texas House of Representatives honored Wise for his contributions to preserving Texas history. Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, his alma mater, named him its 2025 Ignatian Award Alumnus of the Year for more than 30 years of dedication to public service, education and the preservation of Texas history.
On the issues
Why he is running: Wise said he has dedicated almost his entire career to state service and his spare time to preserving Texas history. He said he looks forward to continuing both.
Judicial experience: Wise said he is the only candidate in the race with judicial experience, which he called "the most important factor when considering judicial candidates." He said he has served in every leadership role available to a Texas judge, with those opportunities coming through the support of fellow judges and the governor.
Record on the bench: Wise said he authored more majority opinions than any other justice on his court in the last fiscal year. He said his time on the 14th Court of Appeals is evidence that his service "has been valuable to the citizens of the district."
Advice that guides him: Wise said the best advice he received came from a mentor who had served in public office: "Always be yourself, and true to your values, no matter what outside pressure may come."
