 Two days after the November 6, 2018 elections, in which numerous Republican appellate justices and trial court judges were defeated, Johnson announced his resignation effective December 31, 2018.This created a vacancy to be filled by Governor Greg Abbott, who had won reelection on November 6, 2018 along with three of Johnson's fellow members of the Supreme Court, notwithstanding the heavy Republican losses in metropolitan appellate districts, which flipped majority control of the appellate courts in Austin, Dallas, and Houston to Democrats.The Texas Supreme Court however remains solidly Republican.