Michigan Supreme Court elections, 2026
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The terms of two Michigan Supreme Court justices will expire on January 1, 2027. The two seats are up for nonpartisan election on November 3, 2026.
Judges with expiring terms
- This is a list of the justices who must stand for nonpartisan election in 2026 in order to remain on the bench. Justices may choose not to stand for election. The list is subject to change if justices retire or are appointed.
Candidates and results
Megan Cavanagh's seat
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
Noah Hood's seat
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Michigan
Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.
About the Michigan Supreme Court
- See also: Michigan Supreme Court
The Michigan Supreme Court is the court of last resort in Michigan. The court is located in the Michigan Hall of Justice in Lansing, the state capital. There are seven justices on the court, one being the chief justice. Justices are elected to eight-year terms or appointed by the governor in the case of a vacancy. Most commonly, the court takes appeals from the Michigan Court of Appeals. It is also responsible for the administration and supervision of all lower courts in the state.[1]
Political composition
This is the political composition of the court heading into the 2026 election.
| ■ Richard Bernstein | Elected in 2014 | |
| ■ Kyra Harris Bolden | Appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) in 2022 | |
| ■ Megan Cavanagh | Elected in 2018 | |
| ■ Kimberly Thomas | Elected in 2024 | |
| ■ Elizabeth Welch | Elected in 2020 | |
| ■ Brian Zahra | Appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder (R) in 2011 | |
| ■ Noah Hood | Appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) in 2025 |
Selection
The seven justices of the Michigan Supreme Court are chosen by the Michigan method in which a partisan nomination is followed by nonpartisan elections.[2] 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.[3]
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.[3]
Chief justice
The chief justice of the court is elected by his or her fellow justices and serves a two-year term[3]
Vacancies
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.[3]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
See also
External links
Footnotes
Federal courts:
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan
State courts:
Michigan Supreme Court • Michigan Court of Appeals • Michigan Circuit Court • Michigan Court of Claims • Michigan District Courts • Michigan Municipal Courts • Michigan Probate Courts
State resources:
Courts in Michigan • Michigan judicial elections • Judicial selection in Michigan
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