Justice Jeffrey Alley, twice appointed to the Eighth Court of Appeals, must overcome a challenge from within the court as contract attorney Lisa Soto stands in the way.

Alley was first appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2019 as chief justice, but left that position after his November 2020 general election defeat at the hands of Yvonne Rodriguez. On Dec. 31, 2020, Abbott again appointed Alley, this time to the Place 2 vacancy. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary.