Michigan Supreme Court elections

There are seven justices on the Michigan Supreme Court. In Michigan, judges are elected to eight-year terms in nonpartisan elections. In the event of a vacancy, the governor appoints a replacement to serve until the next scheduled general election. For more information about these elections, visit the Michigan judicial elections page.

Judicial selection

See also: Judicial selection in Michigan

The seven justices of the Michigan Supreme Court are chosen by the Michigan method in which a partisan nomination is followed by nonpartisan elections.^[1] Incumbent judges seeking re-election may file an affidavit of candidacy requesting to be placed on the ballot, while non-incumbent candidates must either file a nominating petition or obtain a partisan nomination at a party convention. Incumbency is noted on the ballot, though party affiliation is not. Judges serve eight-year terms and must be re-elected if they wish to remain on the court.^[2]

Qualifications

To be elected to the supreme court, a judge must:

be a qualified elector;
be licensed to practice law in the state;
have at least five years of law practice experience;
be under the age of 70.^[2]

Chief justice

The chief justice of the court is elected by his or her fellow justices and serves a two-year term^[2]

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state supreme courts

In the event of a midterm vacancy, the governor appoints a temporary replacement to serve until the next general election. At the governor's request, the state bar's standing committee on judicial qualifications interviews, evaluates, and rates all candidates, submitting a confidential report to the governor. However, the governor is not required to request candidates from the committee, nor is the governor bound by the committee's evaluations.^[2]

The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.

Elections

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Megan Cavanagh's seat

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Noah Hood's seat

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Special election

General election

Special general election for Michigan Supreme Court

Incumbent Kyra Harris Bolden (Nonpartisan) defeated Patrick W. O'Grady (Nonpartisan) in the special general election for Michigan Supreme Court on November 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Kyra Harris Bolden (Nonpartisan)	61.5	2,597,567
	Patrick W. O'Grady (Nonpartisan)	38.5	1,623,460

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,221,027
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic convention

Special Democratic convention for Michigan Supreme Court

Incumbent Kyra Harris Bolden (D) advanced from the special Democratic convention for Michigan Supreme Court on August 24, 2024.

		Candidate
✔		Kyra Harris Bolden

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican convention

Special Republican convention for Michigan Supreme Court

Patrick W. O'Grady (R) advanced from the special Republican convention for Michigan Supreme Court on August 24, 2024.

		Candidate
✔		Patrick W. O'Grady

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Regular election

General election

General election for Michigan Supreme Court

Kimberly Thomas (Nonpartisan) defeated Andrew Fink (Nonpartisan) in the general election for Michigan Supreme Court on November 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Kimberly Thomas (Nonpartisan)	61.1	2,568,043
	Andrew Fink (Nonpartisan)	38.9	1,634,510

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,202,553
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic convention

Democratic convention for Michigan Supreme Court

Kimberly Thomas (D) advanced from the Democratic convention for Michigan Supreme Court on August 24, 2024.

		Candidate
✔		Kimberly Thomas

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican convention

Republican convention for Michigan Supreme Court

Andrew Fink (R) advanced from the Republican convention for Michigan Supreme Court on August 24, 2024.

		Candidate
✔		Andrew Fink

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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General election

General election for Michigan Supreme Court (2 seats)

Incumbent Richard Bernstein (Nonpartisan) and incumbent Brian Zahra (Nonpartisan) defeated Kyra Harris Bolden (Nonpartisan), Paul Hudson (Nonpartisan), and Kerry Lee Morgan (Nonpartisan) in the general election for Michigan Supreme Court on November 8, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Richard Bernstein (Nonpartisan)	33.9	2,120,661
✔	Brian Zahra (Nonpartisan)	23.9	1,493,317
	Kyra Harris Bolden (Nonpartisan)	21.9	1,368,652
	Paul Hudson (Nonpartisan)	13.3	834,436
	Kerry Lee Morgan (Nonpartisan)	7.0	438,595

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,255,661
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic convention

Democratic convention for Michigan Supreme Court (2 seats)

Incumbent Richard Bernstein (D) and Kyra Harris Bolden (D) advanced from the Democratic convention for Michigan Supreme Court on August 21, 2022.

		Candidate
✔		Richard Bernstein
✔		Kyra Harris Bolden

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican convention

Republican convention for Michigan Supreme Court (2 seats)

Incumbent Brian Zahra (R) and Paul Hudson (R) advanced from the Republican convention for Michigan Supreme Court on August 27, 2022.

		Candidate
✔		Brian Zahra
✔		Paul Hudson

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian Party convention

Libertarian convention for Michigan Supreme Court (2 seats)

Kerry Lee Morgan (L) advanced from the Libertarian Party convention for Michigan Supreme Court on July 10, 2022. .The remaining seat are too close to call.

		Candidate
✔		Kerry Lee Morgan

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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General election

General election for Michigan Supreme Court (2 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Michigan Supreme Court on November 3, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Bridget Mary McCormack (Nonpartisan)	32.3	2,377,410
✔	Elizabeth Welch (Nonpartisan)	20.2	1,490,550
	Mary Kelly (Nonpartisan)	17.0	1,252,692
	Brock Swartzle (Nonpartisan)	13.7	1,009,320
	Susan L. Hubbard (Nonpartisan)	8.3	611,019
	Kerry Lee Morgan (Nonpartisan)	4.6	340,396
	Katie Nepton (Nonpartisan)	3.9	290,377

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,371,764
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic convention

Democratic convention for Michigan Supreme Court (2 seats)

Incumbent Bridget Mary McCormack (D) and Elizabeth Welch (D) advanced from the Democratic convention for Michigan Supreme Court on August 29, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Bridget Mary McCormack
✔		Elizabeth Welch

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican convention

Republican convention for Michigan Supreme Court (2 seats)

Mary Kelly (R) and Brock Swartzle (R) advanced from the Republican convention for Michigan Supreme Court on August 29, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Mary Kelly
✔		Brock Swartzle

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian Party convention

Libertarian convention for Michigan Supreme Court (2 seats)

Kerry Lee Morgan (L) and Katie Nepton (L) advanced from the Libertarian Party convention for Michigan Supreme Court on July 18, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Kerry Lee Morgan
✔		Katie Nepton

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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General election

General election for Michigan Supreme Court (2 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Michigan Supreme Court on November 6, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Elizabeth Clement (R)	29.9	1,871,462
✔	Megan Cavanagh (D)	25.3	1,584,512
	Kurtis Wilder (R)	24.3	1,519,394
	Samuel Bagenstos (D)	11.5	717,062
	Kerry Lee Morgan (L)	5.8	360,858
	Doug Dern (Natural Law Party)	3.3	209,103

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,262,391
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Previous election results

2016

Candidates

Main article: Michigan Supreme Court elections, 2016

Viviano's seat

■ David Viviano (Incumbent)
■ Frank S. Szymanski
■ Doug Dern

Larsen's seat

■ Joan Larsen (Incumbent)
■ Deborah Thomas
■ Kerry L. Morgan

Election results

November 8 general election

Incumbent David Viviano defeated Frank S. Szymanski and Doug Dern in the general election for the Michigan Supreme Court, Viviano's seat.

Michigan Supreme Court, Viviano's Seat, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	David Viviano Incumbent	67.23%	2,316,459
	Democratic	Frank S. Szymanski	23.01%	792,944
	Natural Law Party of Michigan	Doug Dern	9.76%	336,160
Total Votes (83 of 83 counties: 100%)				3,445,563
Source: Michigan Secretary of State Official Results

Incumbent Joan Larsen defeated Deborah Thomas and Kerry L. Morgan in the general election for the Michigan Supreme Court, Larsen's seat.

Michigan Supreme Court, Larsen's Seat, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Joan Larsen Incumbent	57.62%	1,940,260
	Democratic	Deborah Thomas	29.23%	984,107
	Libertarian	Kerry L. Morgan	13.15%	442,781
Total Votes (84 of 83 counties: 100%)				3,367,148
Source: Michigan Secretary of State Official Results

2014

8-year term, candidates competed for 2 open seats

Candidate	Incumbency	Election Vote
ZahraBrian Zahra A	Yes	32.2% A
MurphyWilliam B. Murphy	No	14.2% D
RedfordJames Robert Redford	No	20.1% D
DernDoug Dern	No	4% D
BernsteinRichard Bernstein A	No	28.9% A

2-year term

Candidate	Incumbency	Election Vote
MorganKerry L. Morgan	No	9% D
VivianoDavid Viviano A	Yes	62.1% A
ThomasDeborah Thomas	No	28.9% D

2012

Candidates competed for two seats.

Candidate	Incumbency	Election Vote
RoddisBob Roddis	No	2.79% A
McCormackBridget Mary McCormack A	No	23.59% A
O'BrienColleen O'Brien	No	21.42% A
KelleyConnie Marie Kelley	No	21.61% A
DernDoug Dern	No	3.38% A
MorganKerry L. Morgan	No	4.07% A
MarkmanStephen Markman A	Yes	23.1% A

Candidates competed for one seat.

Candidate	Incumbency	Election Vote
ZahraBrian Zahra A	Yes	49.54% A
BarryMindy Barry	No	8.73% A
JohnsonShelia Johnson	No	41.72% A

2010

See also: 2010 State Supreme Court elections

Incumbent Robert P. Young, Jr. defeated challenger Denise Langford-Morris

General election

Candidate	Percent for
YoungRobert P. Young, Jr. (R)	56.62% A
MorrisDenise Langford-Morris (D)	N/A

Incumbent Alton Davis was defeated by challenger Mary Beth Kelly.

General election

Candidate	Percent for
KellyMary Beth Kelly (R)	61.8% A
DavisAlton Davis (D)	N/A

2008

See also: State Supreme Court elections, 2008

Incumbent Clifford W. Taylor was defeated by challenger Diane Hathaway.

General election

Candidate	Percent for
HathawayDiane Hathaway (S)	49.3% A
TaylorClifford W. Taylor (R)	39.4%

External links

Suggest a link

Footnotes

[general-1] American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Michigan," archived October 2, 2014

[MIselect-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 National Center for State Courts, "Methods of Judicial Selection," accessed August 27, 2021

[1]

[2]

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Michigan Supreme Court elections

Judicial selection

Qualifications

Chief justice

Vacancies

Elections

Megan Cavanagh's seat

Noah Hood's seat

Special election

General election

Special general election for Michigan Supreme Court

Democratic convention

Special Democratic convention for Michigan Supreme Court

Republican convention

Special Republican convention for Michigan Supreme Court

Regular election

General election

General election for Michigan Supreme Court

Democratic convention

Democratic convention for Michigan Supreme Court

Republican convention

Republican convention for Michigan Supreme Court

General election

General election for Michigan Supreme Court (2 seats)

Democratic convention

Democratic convention for Michigan Supreme Court (2 seats)

Republican convention

Republican convention for Michigan Supreme Court (2 seats)

Libertarian Party convention

Libertarian convention for Michigan Supreme Court (2 seats)

General election

General election for Michigan Supreme Court (2 seats)

Democratic convention

Democratic convention for Michigan Supreme Court (2 seats)

Republican convention

Republican convention for Michigan Supreme Court (2 seats)

Libertarian Party convention

Libertarian convention for Michigan Supreme Court (2 seats)

General election

General election for Michigan Supreme Court (2 seats)

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

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