Washington Supreme Court elections
There are nine justices on the Washington Supreme Court. For more information about these elections, visit the Washington judicial elections page.
Judicial selection
- See also: Judicial selection in Washington
The nine justices of the supreme court are selected through contested nonpartisan elections and must run for re-election when their terms expire. Supreme court judges serve for six years.[1]
Qualifications
To serve on the supreme court, a judge must be:
- admitted to practice law in Washington; and
- under the age of 75.[2]
Chief justice
The chief justice of the supreme court is selected through a peer vote and has a set term of four years.[3]
Vacancies
In the event of a midterm vacancy, the governor appoints a replacement. The appointee serves until the next general election, at which point he or she may run to serve for the remainder of the predecessor's term.[4] If the resignation and subsequent appointment takes place after the filing period opens for that year's elections, the appointee must stand in the next year's election to remain on the bench.[5]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
Elections
See also: Washington Supreme Court elections, 2030
Washington State Supreme Court Position 2
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
Washington State Supreme Court Position 8
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
Washington State Supreme Court Position 9
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
See also: Washington Supreme Court elections, 2028
Washington State Supreme Court Position 5
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
Washington State Supreme Court Position 6
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
See also: Washington Supreme Court elections, 2026
Washington State Supreme Court Position 1
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
Washington State Supreme Court Position 3
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
Washington State Supreme Court Position 4
General election
The primary will occur on August 4, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Nonpartisan primary
Nonpartisan primary election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 4
Ian Birk (Nonpartisan) and Sean O'Donnell (Nonpartisan) are running in the primary for Washington State Supreme Court Position 4 on August 4, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Ian Birk (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Sean O'Donnell (Nonpartisan) | ||
= 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. | ||||
Washington State Supreme Court Position 7
General election
The primary will occur on August 4, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Nonpartisan primary
Nonpartisan primary election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 7
Incumbent Debra Stephens (Nonpartisan) is running in the primary for Washington State Supreme Court Position 7 on August 4, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| | Debra Stephens (Nonpartisan) | |
= 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. | ||||
See also: Washington Supreme Court elections, 2024
Washington State Supreme Court Position 2
General election
General election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 2
Sal Mungia (Nonpartisan) defeated Dave Larson (Nonpartisan) in the general election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 2 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sal Mungia (Nonpartisan) ![]() | 50.1 | 1,644,253 |
| | Dave Larson (Nonpartisan) ![]() | 49.4 | 1,624,309 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.5% | 16,654 | ||
| Total votes: 3,285,216 | ||||
= 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
Nonpartisan primary election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 2
Sal Mungia (Nonpartisan) and Dave Larson (Nonpartisan) defeated Todd Bloom (Nonpartisan) and David Shelvey (Nonpartisan) in the primary for Washington State Supreme Court Position 2 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sal Mungia (Nonpartisan) ![]() | 43.4 | 762,797 |
| ✔ | | Dave Larson (Nonpartisan) ![]() | 36.4 | 640,116 |
| | Todd Bloom (Nonpartisan) | 16.3 | 286,298 | |
| | David Shelvey (Nonpartisan) ![]() | 3.4 | 59,676 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4% | 7,347 | ||
| Total votes: 1,756,234 | ||||
= 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Michelle Adams (Nonpartisan)
Washington State Supreme Court Position 8
General election
General election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 8
Incumbent Steven Gonzalez (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 8 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Steven Gonzalez (Nonpartisan) | 97.6 | 2,564,372 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.4% | 61,866 | ||
| Total votes: 2,626,238 | ||||
= 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 6, 2024, was canceled. Incumbent Steven Gonzalez (Nonpartisan) advanced from the primary for Washington State Supreme Court Position 8 without appearing on the ballot.
Washington State Supreme Court Position 9
General election
General election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 9
Incumbent Sheryl Gordon McCloud (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 9 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sheryl Gordon McCloud (Nonpartisan) | 97.5 | 2,534,783 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.5% | 65,479 | ||
| Total votes: 2,600,262 | ||||
= 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 6, 2024, was canceled. Incumbent Sheryl Gordon McCloud (Nonpartisan) advanced from the primary for Washington State Supreme Court Position 9 without appearing on the ballot.
See also: Washington Supreme Court elections, 2022
Washington State Supreme Court Position 1
General election
General election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 1
Incumbent Mary Yu (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 1 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mary Yu (Nonpartisan) | 97.4 | 1,961,152 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.6% | 52,447 | ||
| Total votes: 2,013,599 | ||||
= 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 2, 2022, was canceled. Incumbent Mary Yu (Nonpartisan) advanced from the primary for Washington State Supreme Court Position 1 without appearing on the ballot.
Washington State Supreme Court Position 5
General election
General election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 5
Incumbent Barbara A. Madsen (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 5 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Barbara A. Madsen (Nonpartisan) | 97.8 | 1,937,634 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.2% | 43,453 | ||
| Total votes: 1,981,087 | ||||
= 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 2, 2022, was canceled. Incumbent Barbara A. Madsen (Nonpartisan) advanced from the primary for Washington State Supreme Court Position 5 without appearing on the ballot.
Washington State Supreme Court Position 6
General election
General election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 6
Incumbent G. Helen Whitener (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 6 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | G. Helen Whitener (Nonpartisan) | 97.8 | 1,918,080 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.2% | 42,740 | ||
| Total votes: 1,960,820 | ||||
= 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 2, 2022, was canceled. Incumbent G. Helen Whitener (Nonpartisan) advanced from the primary for Washington State Supreme Court Position 6 without appearing on the ballot.
See also: Washington Supreme Court elections, 2020
Washington State Supreme Court Position 3
General election
General election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 3
Incumbent Raquel Montoya-Lewis (Nonpartisan) defeated Dave Larson (Nonpartisan) in the general election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 3 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Raquel Montoya-Lewis (Nonpartisan) | 58.2 | 2,057,623 |
| | Dave Larson (Nonpartisan) | 41.4 | 1,462,764 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4% | 13,661 | ||
| Total votes: 3,534,048 | ||||
= 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 4, 2020, was canceled. Incumbent Raquel Montoya-Lewis (Nonpartisan) and Dave Larson (Nonpartisan) advanced from the primary for Washington State Supreme Court Position 3 without appearing on the ballot.
Washington State Supreme Court Position 4
General election
General election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 4
Incumbent Charles W. Johnson (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 4 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Charles W. Johnson (Nonpartisan) | 97.7 | 2,850,924 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.3% | 66,407 | ||
| Total votes: 2,917,331 | ||||
= 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 4, 2020, was canceled. Incumbent Charles W. Johnson (Nonpartisan) advanced from the primary for Washington State Supreme Court Position 4 without appearing on the ballot.
Washington State Supreme Court Position 6
General election
Special general election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 6
Incumbent G. Helen Whitener (Nonpartisan) defeated Richard Serns (Nonpartisan) in the special general election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 6 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | G. Helen Whitener (Nonpartisan) | 66.1 | 2,263,513 |
| | Richard Serns (Nonpartisan) ![]() | 33.3 | 1,140,338 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6% | 19,416 | ||
| Total votes: 3,423,267 | ||||
= 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 4, 2020, was canceled. Incumbent G. Helen Whitener (Nonpartisan) and Richard Serns (Nonpartisan) advanced from the special primary for Washington State Supreme Court Position 6 without appearing on the ballot.
Washington State Supreme Court Position 7
General election
General election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 7
Incumbent Debra Stephens (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 7 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Debra Stephens (Nonpartisan) | 97.9 | 2,852,879 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.1% | 60,808 | ||
| Total votes: 2,913,687 | ||||
= 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 4, 2020, was canceled. Incumbent Debra Stephens (Nonpartisan) advanced from the primary for Washington State Supreme Court Position 7 without appearing on the ballot.
See also: Washington Supreme Court elections, 2018
Washington State Supreme Court Position 2
General election
General election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 2
Incumbent Susan Owens (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 2 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Susan Owens (Nonpartisan) | 100.0 | 2,062,701 |
| Total votes: 2,062,7010 | ||||
= 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- John Scannell (Nonpartisan)
Nonpartisan primary
The primary scheduled for August 7, 2018, was canceled. Incumbent Susan Owens (Nonpartisan) advanced from the primary for Washington State Supreme Court Position 2 without appearing on the ballot.
Washington State Supreme Court Position 8
General election
General election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 8
Incumbent Steven Gonzalez (Nonpartisan) defeated Nathan Choi (Nonpartisan) in the general election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 8 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Steven Gonzalez (Nonpartisan) ![]() | 67.6 | 1,687,073 |
| | Nathan Choi (Nonpartisan) | 32.4 | 809,176 | |
| Total votes: 2,496,2490 | ||||
= 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 7, 2018, was canceled. Incumbent Steven Gonzalez (Nonpartisan) and Nathan Choi (Nonpartisan) advanced from the primary for Washington State Supreme Court Position 8 without appearing on the ballot.
Washington State Supreme Court Position 9
General election
General election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 9
Incumbent Sheryl Gordon McCloud (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Washington State Supreme Court Position 9 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sheryl Gordon McCloud (Nonpartisan) | 100.0 | 2,005,244 |
| Total votes: 2,005,2440 | ||||
= 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Stan Lippmann (Nonpartisan)
Nonpartisan primary
The primary scheduled for August 7, 2018, was canceled. Incumbent Sheryl Gordon McCloud (Nonpartisan) advanced from the primary for Washington State Supreme Court Position 9 without appearing on the ballot.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, Methods of Judicial Selection: Washington," accessed April 16, 2025
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, Methods of Judicial Selection: Washington," accessed April 16, 2025
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, Methods of Judicial Selection: Washington," accessed April 16, 2025
- ↑ Washington State Legislature, "Washington State Constitution," accessed April 16, 2025 (Scroll to Article IV, Section 3)
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, Methods of Judicial Selection: Washington," accessed April 16, 2025
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "2008 General Election Results"
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "August 2008 Primary Results"
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Past Election Results: Position #2, State Supreme Court"
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Past Election Results: Position #1, State Supreme Court"
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Past Election Results: Position #4, State Supreme Court"
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Past Election Results: Position #6, State Supreme Court"
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Past Election Results: Position #7, State Supreme Court"
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Past Election Results: Position #3, State Supreme Court"
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Past Election Results: Position #4, State Supreme Court"
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Past Election Results: Position #2, State Supreme Court"
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Past Election Results: Position #7, State Supreme Court"
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Past Election Results: Position #6, State Supreme Court"
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Past Election Results: Position #1, State Supreme Court"
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Past Election Results: Position #2, State Supreme Court"
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Past Election Results: Position #2, State Supreme Court"
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Past Election Results: Position #3, State Supreme Court"
Federal courts:
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Washington, Western District of Washington • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Washington, Western District of Washington
State courts:
Washington Supreme Court • Washington Court of Appeals • Washington Superior Court • Washington District Courts • Washington Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in Washington • Washington judicial elections • Judicial selection in Washington
= candidate completed the