Everything you need to know about ranked-choice voting in one spot. Click to learn more!

Election results, 2024: State supreme courts

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
2025 »
« 2023
View all 2024 election results
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
Results by office type
Federal
U.S. Congress
U.S. Senate
U.S. House

State
State executive officials
Governors
State government trifectas
State government triplexes
State legislatures
Attorneys General
Secretaries of State
State financial officers
State supreme courts
Mayors

Election analysis

Mixed-party election outcomes
Pivot Counties in the 2024 presidential election
New members elected to Congress
Comparison of state delegations to the 118th and 119th Congresses
Congressional margin of victory analysis
Congressional elections decided by 10 percentage points or fewer
Incumbents defeated in state legislative elections
State legislative veto-proof majorities
State legislative races decided by fewer than 100 votes
State legislative margin of victory analysis
State legislative seats that changed party control
Minor party candidates who won more than the margin of victory
Results of elected officials seeking other offices
Wave elections
Analysis of voter turnout in the 2024 general election
Candidates with the same last names

Elections by state

Thirty-three states held state supreme court elections in 2024. In total, 82 of the 344 seats on state supreme courts were up for election. Of the courts up in 2024, Democrats had a majority in nine states and Republicans had a majority in 24 states. Of the 82 seats up for election:

  • 61 were held by nonpartisan justices
  • 15 were held by Republican justices
  • six were held by Democratic justices

Republicans lost one state court, Democrats did not gain or lose control of a state court, and one court became a divided court.

Of the states where a supreme court justice was up for election, six (18%) were partisan elections, 11 (33%) were nonpartisan elections, and 15 (45%) were retention elections. In Michigan, there was a partisan primary and a nonpartisan general election, a method known as the Michigan method.

In states where governors appoint justices, one state, New Hampshire, had a governor's election in 2024 that could have affected the makeup of the state's supreme court. Additionally, the governors elected in 2024 in the following states were expected to appoint at least one new justice during their term due to the states' age limit to serve on the court: Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Washington.

In addition, in the U.S. Territories, one judge on the Guam Supreme Court stood in a retention election in 2024.

Ballotpedia identified seven state supreme court races as noteworthy. These were races, which we viewed as having the potential to affect the balance of power in these states. These included elections in Arizona, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, and Oklahoma.

We used three methods to determine a supreme court's partisan balance:

  1. Determined how many justices were registered members of a political party;
  2. The partisan affiliation of the governor who appointed each justice; or
  3. If those methods didn't work, we surveyed media coverage of the court and its decisions to determine partisan leanings.

On this page, you will find:

Click here for information on state intermediate appellate court elections. Click here for information on local trial court elections.

Recent news

All times Eastern Standard Time

May 7, 2025:

Dec 6, 2024

Nov 21, 2024

Nov 19, 2021

Nov 14, 2024

Nov 12. 2024

Nov. 8, 2024

Nov. 7, 2024

Nov. 6, 2024

  • 12:39 a.m.: Two justices, James E. Edmondson and Noma D. Gurich, were retained and one justice, Yvonne Kauger, was defeated in the retention election for Oklahoma's Supreme Court on November 5, 2024.[25] This was the first time in Oklahoma history that a supreme court justice lost retention.[26] Additionally, three justices on the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals were retained. Click here for detailed results. Both courts maintained their Republican majority based on the partisan affiliation of the governors that appointed the justices.

Nov. 5, 2024

  • 9:29 p.m.: Pamela R. Goodwine won election to the 5th District position on the Kentucky Supreme Court, defeating Erin Izzo.[30] While this was a nonpartisan race, Goodwine received endorsements and donations from Democratic officials, and Izzo received the same from Republican groups.[31] As a result of this election, the Kentucky Supreme Court went from having a four-member Republican-affiliated majority to a split make-up, with three members affiliated with the Democratic Party, three affiliated with the Republican Party, and one member whose affiliation was unknown. Ballotpedia identified this as a battleground race. Click here to learn more.

Offices on the ballot in 2024

The table below displays the partisan control of each state supreme court with an election in 2024. The numbers will change after the elections are held.

The map below highlights states holding state supreme court elections in 2024 based on partisan control of the court before and after the election.

Partisan balance of state supreme courts

The table below displays the partisan balance of all state supreme courts across the country. The "after" section currently is a tally of states not holding elections in 2024.

The map below highlights each state by the partisan control of its state supreme court once candidates elected in the 2024 elections are sworn in.

State supreme court election methods

See also: Judicial selection in the states

Thirty-eight states hold elections to select state supreme court justices, using either partisan elections, nonpartisan elections, or retention elections. In the other 12 states, justices are appointed by governors or state legislature. To learn more about those other selection methods, click here.

The following map shows which method each state used in 2024:

Partisan election of judges

In a partisan election, candidates may be nominated by political parties or declare their party affiliations upon filing to stand in the election. Primaries are typically held to narrow down the candidates to one per party before the general election; some states hold primaries in which candidates of all parties compete with each other and the top vote-getters advance regardless of party.

In 2024, there were 18 partisan state supreme court elections. Of these elections, there were:

  • 14 Republican-controlled seats
  • four Democrat-controlled seats

Nonpartisan election of judges

In a nonpartisan election, some states allow candidates to declare their party affiliations, while some states prohibit them from doing so. If primaries are held, they do not narrow the candidates to one per party; instead, they typically narrow the candidates to two for each seat regardless of party.

In Michigan, nonpartisan general elections are combined with a partisan nominating process to create the Michigan method. To read more about the election methods in the state, click here.

In 2024, there were 34 nonpartisan state supreme court elections.

Retention election of judges

In a retention election, an incumbent judge does not face an opponent. A question is placed on the ballot asking whether each judge shall be retained for another term, and voters choose "yes" or "no." Judges must receive majority "yes" votes in order to remain in their seats.

In 2024, there were 30 state supreme court retention elections.

Analysis of state elections

See also: Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2024


State legislative elections

State Houses-Tile image.png
See also: State legislative elections, 2024

In the 50 states, there are 99 state legislative chambers altogether. Across 44 states, 85 of those chambers held regular legislative elections in 2024. These elections were for 5,807 of the country's 7,386 state legislative seats (79%). The general election for state legislative races was held on November 5, 2024.

Two state legislative chambers, the Michigan and Minnesota state Houses, changed party control following the 2024 general election. Republicans won control of the Michigan House from Democrats, and won a tie in the Minnesota House.

To learn more about the state legislative races that were on your ballot, click here to use our Sample Ballot Lookup tool.

States are also holding special state legislative elections in 2024 to fill vacant seats. Click here for more.

In the U.S. Territories, seven legislative chambers held regularly scheduled elections for 169 seats in 2024. Elections were held for the American Samoa House of Representatives, the Guam Legislature, the Puerto Rico Senate and House of Representatives, the Northern Mariana Islands Senate and House of Representatives, and the U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature.

As of September 6th, 2025, Republicans controlled 55.48% of all state legislative seats nationally, while Democrats held 43.68%. Republicans held a majority in 57 chambers, and Democrats held the majority in 39 chambers. Two chambers (Alaska House and Alaska Senate) were organized under multipartisan, power-sharing coalitions. One chamber (Minnesota House of Representatives) was split evenly between both parties.

Partisan balance of all 7,386 state legislative seats
Legislative chamber Democratic Party Republican Party Grey.png Other Vacant
State senates 834 1,121 5 13
State houses 2,392 2,977 20 24
Total: 3,226

4,098

25

37


Featured analysis

  • State legislative seats that changed party control in 2024: As a result of the Nov. 5, 2024, elections, partisan composition of all 7,386 state legislative seats changed by 0.7 percentage points. Democrats had a net loss of 54 seats, representing 0.7% of all state legislative seats. Republicans had a net gain of 55 seats, representing 0.7% of all state legislative seats. Independents and minor party officeholders had a net loss of one seat, representing 0.01% of all state legislative seats.
  • Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report: Vol. 12, 2022: Competitiveness refers to the presence of choice throughout the election cycle. A greater level of competitiveness means voters have the ability to make more decisions. A lower level of competitiveness equals fewer choices. State legislative competitiveness in 2022 reached its highest level compared to all even-year election cycles since 2010. In 2022, the nationwide State Legislative Competitiveness Index is 36.2, beating out 2018 (36.1) and the 2012 post-redistricting cycle (35.2).

More related analysis

Tap the box below to show more analysis articles related to the 2024 state legislative elections.

State executive elections

State-capitol-utah.jpg
See also: State executive official elections, 2024

State executive offices up for election in 2024 included 11 gubernatorial seats, nine lieutenant gubernatorial seats, 10 attorney general seats, and seven secretary of state seats. Including down-ballot races, there were 167 state executive seats up for election across 30 states in 2024.[32]

In 2022, 307 state executive offices were up for election across 44 states. Twenty offices changed party control, including two previously held Republican lieutenant governorships that changed parties because the governor and lieutenant governor ran on a joint ticket. Of the 18 offices which changed partisan control due to direct election, 10 switched from Democrat to Republican, seven switched from Republican to Democrat, and one nonpartisan official was succeeded by a Republican. A total of 26 incumbents seeking re-election to state executive offices were defeated, with 10 of those losing in the general election and 16 losing in their party's primary or nominating convention.

Featured analysis (from 2022)

  • Trifecta vulnerability in the 2022 elections: Thirteen state government trifectas were vulnerable in the 2022 elections, according to Ballotpedia's annual trifecta vulnerability ratings. Democrats defended seven vulnerable trifectas and Republicans defended six. A state government trifecta occurs when one party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. At the time of the 2022 elections, there were 37 state government trifectas: 23 Republican trifectas and 14 Democratic trifectas. The remaining 13 states had a divided government where neither party had a trifecta.
  • State government triplexes: Heading into the November 8 elections, there were 23 Republican triplexes, 18 Democratic triplexes, and 9 divided governments where neither party held triplex control. A state government triplex is a term to describe when one political party holds the following three positions in a state's government: governor, attorney general, and secretary of state.[33] In states where the attorney general or secretary of state are appointed by the governor, Ballotpedia considers the office to be held by the governor's party for the purposes of defining triplexes.[34]
  • Annual State Executive Competitiveness Report: Ballotpedia's 2022 study of competitiveness in state executive official elections found that 37.1% of incumbents did not seek re-election, leaving those offices open. This was higher than in 2020 (35.6%) and 2014 (32.7%) but lower than in 2018 (38.6%) and 2016 (45.2%). The decade average for open offices was 37.8%.

More related analysis

Tap the box below to show more analysis articles related to the 2024 state executive elections.

State judicial elections

Gavel-square.png
See also: State judicial elections, 2024

A total of 306 appellate court seats were up for election in 2024. The seats included:

  • 83 supreme court seats.
  • 223 intermediate appellate court seats.

Ballotpedia provided coverage of supreme court and intermediate appellate court elections, as well as local trial court elections for judges within the 100 largest cities in the United States as measured by population.

In addition, in the U.S. Territories, four judges were on the ballot in retention elections in 2024. One judge on the Guam Supreme Court, two on the Guam Superior Court, and one on the Northern Mariana Islands Superior Court stood for retention to remain on the bench.

Featured analysis

  • Partisanship of state supreme court judges: In June 2020, Ballotpedia conducted a study into the partisanship of state supreme court justices. The study placed each justice into one of five categories indicating confidence in their affiliations with either the Democratic or Republican Parties. These categories were Strong Democratic, Mild Democratic, Indeterminate, Mild Republican, and Strong Republican.

More related analysis

Tap the box below to show more analysis articles related to the 2024 state judicial elections.


Previous elections

2023

See also: State supreme court elections, 2023

Two states—Pennsylvania and Wisconsin—held state supreme court elections in 2023. In total, two of the 344 seats on state supreme courts were up for election.

2022

See also: State supreme court elections, 2022

In 2022, 29 states held elections for 84 state supreme court seats. Republicans gained three seats, and a Democrat gained one seat. As a result, Republicans gained a majority on the North Carolina Supreme Court, and Democrats gained no new majorities.

Two incumbents were defeated. In Illinois, Mary O'Brien (D) defeated Michael Burke (R). In North Carolina, Trey Allen (R) defeated Sam Ervin IV (D).

2021

See also: State supreme court elections, 2021

One state — Pennsylvania — held a state supreme court election in 2021. In total, one of the 344 seats on state supreme courts was up for election.

2020

See also: State supreme court elections, 2020

Thirty-five states held state supreme court elections in 2020. In total, 78 of the nation’s 344 state supreme court seats were up for election. At 23%, this was the greatest number of seats up for election in recent years.

Incumbent win rates

Incumbent win rates by year

Incumbents tend to do better in elections for any office than newcomers facing incumbents. This is no less true in state supreme court elections. Across all types of state supreme court elections, incumbent justices running for re-election won 93% of the time from 2008-2024. The year when the most incumbents lost was 2024, when eight incumbents did not win re-election. The years tied for the lowest incumbent win rate of 89% were 2008 and 2024.

Incumbent win rates in state supreme court elections (2008-2024)
Election year Total incumbent elections Incumbent elections won Incumbent elections lost Incumbent win rate
2024 71 63 8 89%
2023 0
2022 64 62 2 97%
2021 0
2020 70 64 6 91%
2019 0
2018 59 53 6 90%
2017 4 4 0 100%
2016 55 53 2 96%
2015 1 1 0 100%
2014 52 52 0 100%
2013 3 3 0 100%
2012 53 50 3 94%
2011 2 2 0 100%
2010 63 57 6 90%
2009 1 1 0 100%
2008 56 50 6 89%
Total 554 515 39 93%

Incumbent win rates in partisan elections

In partisan elections, incumbents running for re-election won 86% of the time from 2008-2024. The most number of seats lost by incumbents in a single year was 2024, when five incumbents lost.

Incumbent win rates in partisan state supreme court elections (2008-2024)
Election year Total incumbent elections Incumbent elections won Incumbent elections lost Incumbent win rate
2024 15 10 5 67%
2023 0
2022 14 12 2 86%
2021 0
2020 14 12 2 86%
2019 0
2018 14 10 4 71%
2017 3 3 0 100%
2016 2 1 1 50%
2015 0
2014 8 8 0 100%
2013 2 2 0 100%
2012 11 10 1 91%
2011 1 1 0 100%
2010 12 12 0 90%
2009 0
2008 11 11 0 100%
Total 107 92 15 86%

Incumbent win rates in nonpartisan elections

In nonpartisan elections, incumbents running for re-election won 94% of the time from 2008-2024. The years tied for when the most incumbents lost were 2008 and 2010, when six incumbents did not win re-election. Ohio and Michigan had partisan primaries but nonpartisan general elections and so are counted here as holding nonpartisan elections.

Incumbent win rates in nonpartisan state supreme court elections (2008-2024)
Election year Total incumbent elections Incumbent elections won Incumbent elections lost Incumbent win rate
2024 27 25 2 93%
2023 0
2022 20 20 0 100%
2021 0
2020 27 24 3 89%
2019 0
2018 45 43 2 96%
2017 1 1 0 100%
2016 53 52 1 98%
2015 1 1 0 100%
2014 44 44 0 100%
2013 1 1 0 100%
2012 42 40 2 95%
2011 1 1 0 100%
2010 51 45 6 88%
2009 1 1 0 100%
2008 45 39 6 87%
Total 359 337 22 94%

Incumbent win rates by state

Among the 38 states that conduct elections for supreme court justices, 14 have seen incumbents lose elections from 2008-2024. These were Alabama, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. In the other 24 states, incumbent supreme court justices won re-election 100% of the time from 2008-2024.

Incumbent win rates by state in state supreme court elections (2008-2024)
State Total incumbent elections Incumbent elections won Incumbent elections lost Incumbent win rate
Alabama 13 11 2 85%
Alaska 8 8 0 100%
Arizona 16 16 0 100%
Arkansas 7 7 0 100%
California 12 12 0 100%
Colorado 13 13 0 100%
Florida 20 20 0 100%
Georgia 21 21 0 100%
Idaho 12 12 0 100%
Illinois 14 12 2 86%
Indiana 12 12 0 100%
Iowa 20 17 3 85%
Kansas 19 19 0 100%
Kentucky 11 10 1 91%
Louisiana 5 5 0 100%
Maryland 10 10 0 100%
Michigan 17 14 3 82%
Minnesota 21 21 0 100%
Mississippi 20 15 5 75%
Missouri 10 10 0 100%
Montana 13 13 0 100%
Nebraska 16 16 0 100%
Nevada 16 16 0 100%
New Mexico 13 12 1 92%
North Carolina 10 5 5 50%
North Dakota 9 9 0 100%
Ohio 19 12 7 63%
Oklahoma 39 38 1 97%
Oregon 20 20 0 100%
Pennsylvania 6 6 0 100%
South Dakota 9 9 0 100%
Tennessee 14 14 0 100%
Texas 43 39 4 91%
Utah 7 7 0 100%
Washington 27 26 1 96%
West Virginia 7 5 2 71%
Wisconsin 8 6 2 75%
Wyoming 10 10 0 100%

See also

External links

Election coverage by office

Click the tiles below to navigate to 2024 election coverage:
  1. Associated Press, "Republican concedes long-unsettled North Carolina court election to Democratic incumbent," May 7, 2025
  2. The New York Times, "Mississippi Supreme Court District 1, Position 3 Runoff Election Results," accessed December 6, 2024
  3. Government of Alaska, "Election Results, 2024
  4. Seattle Times, "Sal Mungia defeats Dave Larson for open WA Supreme Court seat," November 19, 2024
  5. The New York Times, "Washington Election Results," accessed November 21, 2024
  6. The Raleigh News & Observer, "NC Supreme Court race headed to recount with Allison Riggs leading Republican challenger," November 19, 2024
  7. 7.0 7.1 The Downballot, "Morning Digest: State supreme court races were a mixed bag in 2024," November 11, 2024
  8. Utah Secretary of State, "Election results," accessed November 12, 2024
  9. Texas Election Results, "Unofficial Results, accessed November 8, 2024
  10. South Dakota Secretary of State, "Election results, accessed November 8, 2024
  11. The New York Times, "Montana election results, accessed November 12, 2024
  12. Minnesota Secretary of State, "Statewide results," accessed November 8, 2024
  13. Nebraska Secretary of State, "Unofficial Results: General Election - November 5, 2024," accessed November 8, 2024
  14. Missouri Secretary of State, "State of Missouri - State of Missouri - General Election, November 05, 2024," accessed November 8, 2024
  15. Maryland State Board of Elections, "Unofficial 2024 Presidential General Election Results for Justice, Supreme Court of Maryland," accessed November 8, 2024
  16. Indiana Election Division, "Indiana Election Results," accessed November 8, 2024
  17. Colorado Secretary of State, "November 5, 2024, General election results," accessed November 8, 2024
  18. State of Arkansas, '2024 General Election and Nonpartisan Judicial Runoff Election," accessed November 8, 2024
  19. New Mexico Secretary of State, "Statewide Offices & Questions," accessed November 7, 2024
  20. The New York Times, "Alabama Election Results," accessed November 7, 2024
  21. The Florida Bar, "Florida voters retain Supreme Court justices and 23 appellate judges in November 5 election," November 6, 2024
  22. The Gazette, "Iowa Supreme Court Justice David May, appellate judges retained," November 7, 2024
  23. Decision Desk HQ, "2024 Michigan General," accessed November 6, 2024
  24. Decision Desk HQ, "2024 Michigan General," accessed November 6, 2024
  25. The Oklahoman, "Voters appear to oust just one of three Supreme Court justices targeted by dark-money groups," November 5, 2024
  26. News 9, "Oklahoma Voters Cast Decisive Votes On Supreme Court Justices Amid Historic Retention Races," November 5, 2024
  27. Decisions Desk HQ, "2024 Ohio General," accessed November 5, 2024
  28. Decisions Desk HQ, "2024 Ohio General," accessed November 5, 2024
  29. Decisions Desk HQ, "2024 Ohio General," accessed November 5, 2024
  30. Louisville Public Media, "Kentucky elects Pamela Goodwine as state’s first Black female Supreme Court justice," Nov. 5, 2024
  31. Kentucky Lantern, "Voters in eight Central Kentucky counties must choose a new Supreme Court justice," Sept. 25, 2024
  32. Ballotpedia describes the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and secretary of state as top-ballot state executive offices. Down-ballot state executive offices that exist in all 50 states include superintendent of schools, insurance commissioner, agriculture commissioner, labor commissioner, and public service commissioner. Examples of other down-ballot state executive offices include treasurer, auditor, and comptroller.
  33. Ballotpedia chose to highlight these offices because they are typically the most visible positions in states and serve important administrative functions.
  34. This is because it is very uncommon for an attorney general or secretary of state appointed by a governor to often be in direct conflict with that governor.