Minnesota Supreme Court elections

There are seven justices on the Minnesota Supreme Court. For more information about these elections, visit the Minnesota judicial elections page.

Judicial selection

See also: Judicial selection in Minnesota

The seven judges of the Minnesota Supreme Court are chosen in nonpartisan general elections to six-year terms. Sitting judges must run for re-election if they wish to serve additional terms. While party affiliation is not designated on the ballot, incumbency is.

Qualifications

Judges of the supreme court are required to be "learned in the law" and under 70 years old. Sitting judges who reach the age of 70 while in office are allowed to serve until the last day of that month.

Chief justice

The chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court is directly chosen by voters in a nonpartisan election. He or she serves in that capacity for a full six-year term.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state supreme courts

Interim vacancies on the supreme court are filled via gubernatorial appointment. After serving for at least one year, the appointed judge can run for a full term in the next general election. Other candidates may file to run against them in the election.

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

Elections

• 2030
• 2028
• 2026
• 2024
• 2022
• 2020
• 2018

See also: Minnesota Supreme Court elections, 2030

Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 4

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 5

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 6

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 3

See also: Minnesota Supreme Court elections, 2028

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

See also: Minnesota Supreme Court elections, 2026

Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 1

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 2

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 6

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

See also: Minnesota Supreme Court elections, 2024

Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice

General election

General election for Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice

Incumbent Natalie E. Hudson (Nonpartisan) defeated Stephen Emery (Nonpartisan) in the general election for Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Natalie E. Hudson (Nonpartisan)	63.4	1,529,063
		Stephen Emery (Nonpartisan)	36.2	872,720
		Other/Write-in votes	0.4%	9,023

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,410,806
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Nonpartisan primary

The primary scheduled for August 13, 2024, was canceled. Incumbent Natalie E. Hudson (Nonpartisan) and Stephen Emery (Nonpartisan) advanced from the primary for Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice without appearing on the ballot.

Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 5

General election

General election for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 5

Incumbent Anne K. McKeig (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 5 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Anne K. McKeig (Nonpartisan)	98.7	1,888,791
		Other/Write-in votes	1.3%	24,247

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,913,038
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary

The primary scheduled for August 13, 2024, was canceled. Incumbent Anne K. McKeig (Nonpartisan) advanced from the primary for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 5 without appearing on the ballot.

Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 6

General election

General election for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 6

Incumbent Karl Procaccini (Nonpartisan) defeated Matthew Hanson (Nonpartisan) in the general election for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 6 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Karl Procaccini (Nonpartisan)	56.6	1,322,180
		Matthew Hanson (Nonpartisan)	43.0	1,003,978
		Other/Write-in votes	0.4%	8,908

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,335,066
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary

The primary scheduled for August 13, 2024, was canceled. Incumbent Karl Procaccini (Nonpartisan) and Matthew Hanson (Nonpartisan) advanced from the primary for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 6 without appearing on the ballot.

See also: Minnesota Supreme Court elections, 2022

Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 3

General election

General election for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 3

Incumbent Gordon Moore (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 3 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Gordon Moore (Nonpartisan)	99.0	1,382,896
		Other/Write-in votes	1.0%	13,872

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,396,768
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary

The primary scheduled for August 9, 2022, was canceled. Incumbent Gordon Moore (Nonpartisan) advanced from the primary for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 3 without appearing on the ballot.

Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 6

General election

General election for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 6

Incumbent Natalie E. Hudson (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 6 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Natalie E. Hudson (Nonpartisan)	99.1	1,372,369
		Other/Write-in votes	0.9%	12,723

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,385,092
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary

The primary scheduled for August 9, 2022, was canceled. Incumbent Natalie E. Hudson (Nonpartisan) advanced from the primary for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 6 without appearing on the ballot.

Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 4

See also: Minnesota Supreme Court elections, 2020

General election

General election for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 4

Incumbent Paul Thissen (Nonpartisan) defeated Michelle L. MacDonald (Nonpartisan) in the general election for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 4 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Paul Thissen (Nonpartisan)	59.0	1,477,672
		Michelle L. MacDonald (Nonpartisan)	40.6	1,016,245
		Other/Write-in votes	0.3%	8,559

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,502,476
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary

The primary scheduled for August 11, 2020, was canceled.

See also: Minnesota Supreme Court elections, 2018

Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice

General election

General election for Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice

Incumbent Lorie Gildea (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lorie Gildea (Nonpartisan)	99.1	1,636,533
		Other/Write-in votes	0.9%	15,390

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,651,923 (100% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary

The primary scheduled for August 14, 2018, was canceled.

Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 1

General election

General election for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 1

Incumbent Barry Anderson (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 1 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Barry Anderson (Nonpartisan)	99.1	1,582,996
		Other/Write-in votes	0.9%	13,719

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,596,715 (100% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary

The primary scheduled for August 14, 2018, was canceled.

Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 2

General election

General election for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 2

Incumbent Margaret Chutich (Nonpartisan) defeated Michelle L. MacDonald (Nonpartisan) in the general election for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 2 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Margaret Chutich (Nonpartisan)	55.9	1,054,841
		Michelle L. MacDonald (Nonpartisan)	43.7	825,770
		Other/Write-in votes	0.4%	7,128

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,887,739 (100% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary

The primary scheduled for August 14, 2018, was canceled.

Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 5

General election

General election for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 5

Incumbent Anne K. McKeig (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 5 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Anne K. McKeig (Nonpartisan)	99.2	1,571,384
		Other/Write-in votes	0.8%	12,615

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,583,999 (100% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary

The primary scheduled for August 14, 2018, was canceled.

Previous election results

2016

General election candidates

Seat 6

■ Natalie Hudson (Incumbent)
■ Michelle L. MacDonald

Election results

November 8 general election

Incumbent Natalie Hudson defeated Michelle L. MacDonald in the general election for Seat 6 on the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Minnesota Supreme Court, Seat 6, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Natalie Hudson Incumbent	58.81%	1,266,827
Michelle L. MacDonald	40.77%	878,270
Write-in votes	0.42%	8,945
Total Votes (4073 of 4120 precincts reporting: 99%)		2,154,042
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State

August 9 primary election

Incumbent Justice Natalie Hudson and challenger Michelle L. MacDonald were the top two finishers and advanced to the November 8 general election.

Minnesota Supreme Court Primary, Seat 6, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Natalie Hudson Incumbent	64.96%	173,884
Michelle L. MacDonald	20.49%	54,853
Craig Foss	14.55%	38,960
Total Votes (4110 of 4120 Precincts Reporting)		267,697
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State Official Results

2014

See also: Minnesota judicial elections, 2014

For more in-depth information, see: Minnesota Supreme Court elections, 2014

Seat 2

Candidate	Incumbency	Primary Vote	Election Vote
HancockJohn Hancock	No		42.9%   D
WrightWilhelmina WrightA	Yes		56.8%   A

Seat 3

Candidate	Incumbency	Primary Vote	Election Vote
MacDonaldMichelle L. MacDonald	No		46.5%   D
LillehaugDavid LillehaugA	Yes		53.2%   A

2012

See also: Minnesota judicial elections, 2012

Chief justice

Candidate	Incumbency	Place	Primary Vote	Election Vote
GriffithDan Griffith	No	Chief Justice	29.4%A	39.59%   A
ClarkJill Clark (Minnesota)	No	Chief Justice	21%
GildeaLorie Gildea   A	Yes		49.7%A	60.0%   A

Place 1

Candidate	Incumbency	Place	Primary Vote	Election Vote
AndersonBarry Anderson (Minnesota)   A	Yes	Seat 1		58.94%   A
BarkleyDean Barkley	No	Place 1		40.65%   A

Place 4

Candidate	Incumbency	Place	Primary Vote	Election Vote
NelsonAlan Nelson	No	Place 4	21.7%
StrasDavid Stras   A	Yes		48.8%A	55.95%   A
TingelstadTim Tingelstad	No	Place 4	29.4%A	43.62%   A

2010

See also: 2010 State Supreme Court elections

Incumbent Helen Meyer defeated challenger Greg Wersal.

Minnesota Supreme Court 2010 General election results

Candidate	Votes	Percent
Helen Meyer (D)	n/a	58%
Greg Wersal (R)	n/a	n/a

Incumbent Alan Page defeated challenger Tim Tingelstad.

Minnesota Supreme Court 2010 General election results

Candidate	Votes	Percent
Alan Page	n/a	63.3%
Tim Tingelstad	n/a	n/a

Christopher Dietzen ran unopposed to retain his seat.

Minnesota Supreme Court 2010 General election results

Candidate	Votes	Percent
Christopher Dietzen	n/a	n/a

2008

See also: State Supreme Court elections, 2008

Incumbent Paul H. Anderson defeated challenger Tim Tingelstad.

Minnesota Supreme Court 2008 General election results

Candidate	Votes	Percent
Paul H. Anderson	n/a	60.4%
Tim Tingelstad	n/a	39.2%

Incumbent Lorie Skjerven Gildea defeated challenger Deborah Hedlund.

Minnesota Supreme Court 2008 General election results

Candidate	Votes	Percent
Lorie Skjerven Gildea	n/a	55%
Deborah Hedlund	n/a	45%

See also

Minnesota	Judicial Selection	More Courts
Courts in Minnesota Minnesota Court of Appeals Minnesota Supreme Court	Elections: 2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 Gubernatorial appointments Judicial selection in Minnesota	Federal courts State courts Local courts

External links

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• Search Google News for this topic
• Minnesota Supreme Court

Footnotes

Minnesota courts

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Federal courts:

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Minnesota • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Minnesota

State courts:

Minnesota Supreme Court • Minnesota Court of Appeals • Minnesota District Courts • Minnesota Problem-Solving Courts • Minnesota Tax Court • Minnesota Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals

State resources:

Courts in Minnesota • Minnesota judicial elections • Judicial selection in Minnesota