Texas voters rejected a proposed constitutional amendment on Tuesday night that would have extended the retirement age for district judges. With the change in state law failing to pass, voters will now likely see a completely different field of candidates on their ballot next year for one local judicial position.

In the race for 108th District Judge, incumbent Judge Doug Woodburn was widely expected to seek re-election if Proposition 13 passed. Woodburn, 74, is term-limited out of office at the end of this term due to his age. State law requires judges to retire if they turn 74 during their term.

Woodburn had already launched a campaign website and a social media account for his campaign. Additionally, he had already picked up one challenger — Samuel Brown Silverman. Silverman, a local attorney and University of Houston Law Center graduate, launched his candidacy to unseat Woodburn earlier this year, highlighting his commitment to term limits as a selling point for voters.

Another candidate, criminal defense lawyer Joe Marr Wilson, had also filed an appointment of campaign treasurer for a possible campaign for Woodburn’s bench, but had not yet announced his candidacy. Wilson previously ran for the 47th District Court bench in 2022, losing in a primary runoff to Dee Johnson.

With Woodburn now effectively out of the race due to the failure of Proposition 13, many questions remain about who could jump into the race for the 108th District Court, which will be decided by Potter County voters. Silverman had previously stated publicly that he intended to run regardless of whether Proposition 13 passed. Meanwhile, there is no word yet on Wilson’s plans.

Candidates can begin filing their applications for places on the ballot on Saturday, November 11. Filing will run until Monday, December 11. The primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, March 5, 2024.