Every Texas Death Row Inmate Executed or Granted A Stay in 2025

I recently asked a colleague of mine to guess how many people Texas executed this year. He guessed 20 with some confidence; however, the answer is much lower. Only five men met the needle this year, out of a total of seven that were scheduled. If that seems sparse, consider this: only two men have been added to Death Row this year.

Read More: The Crimes of the Two Men Added to Death Row In 2025 

Why Are Executions Getting Rarer In Texas?

With fewer people added to death row, there are fewer who get executed. And for those who have been on the row for years or decades, they may have mitigating factors that make them good candidates for the (very expensive) appeals process. Additionally, the State of Texas has faced challenges accessing the drugs it uses for lethal injection.

Read More: Alabama Executes Man With Nitrogen Gas, Could Texas Be Next?

There also just seems to be a lack of enthusiasm for it. At its peak in the year 2000, 40 executions took place under Governor George W Bush, who was running for president and wanted to appear tough on crime.

Why Do People End Up On Texas Death Row?

I've seen plenty of, quite frankly, ignorant comments and stereotypes about Texas Death Row- that we put anyone on there, and that we always execute more than other states. There have been many years in which Texas trailed behind other states, or even the Federal Government in executions.

To qualify for the death penalty in Texas, the person must be convicted of a capital crime, and the prosecution must successfully demonstrate the defendant's "future dangerousness". These trials are expensive, so prosecutors generally won't seek the death penalty unless they are fairly confident they can secure it.

Read More: Death Penalty: Should Texas Expand Which Crimes Are Eligible?

So who was executed? And which two men missed the needle this year? Here is a look at everyone executed and the two stays of execution. It is already mid-October, and Texas generally does not execute near the holidays, so this is probably it for 2025: