State supreme court elections, 2024

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Click here to view changes in state supreme court control as a result of the 2024 elections.


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.

Offices up for election in 2024

See also: Election results, 2024: State supreme courts

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.

The following table showed the number of justices up in each state and the method of election.

2024 State Supreme Court Elections
StateSeats up for electionElection method
Alabama5Partisan
Alaska2Retention
Arizona2Retention
Arkansas3Nonpartisan
Colorado3Retention
Florida2Retention
Georgia4Nonpartisan
Idaho1Nonpartisan
Illinois2Partisan and retention
Indiana3Retention
Iowa1Retention
Kentucky1Nonpartisan
Louisiana1Partisan
Maryland3Retention
Michigan2Partisan
Minnesota3Nonpartisan
Mississippi4Nonpartisan
Missouri2Retention
Montana2Nonpartisan
Nebraska1Retention
Nevada3Nonpartisan
New Mexico1Retention
North Carolina1Partisan
Ohio3Partisan
Oklahoma6Retention
Oregon5Nonpartisan
South Dakota1Retention
Tennessee1Retention
Texas6Partisan
Utah1Retention
Washington3Nonpartisan
West Virginia2Nonpartisan
Wyoming2Retention

Noteworthy elections

Arizona

See also: Arizona Supreme Court elections, 2024

Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn Hackett King were retained in the retention election for Arizona's Supreme Court on Nov. 5, 2024. Click here for detailed results.

In Arizona, governors select all supreme court justices from a list of names that the Arizona Commission on Appellate Court Appointments compiles. Once appointed, justices serve at least two years on the court before they must stand for retention in an uncontested yes-no election. Justices who are retained serve six-year terms.

Then-Gov. Doug Ducey (R) appointed Bolick to succeed Justice Rebecca White Berch on the court in 2016. Bolick won retention in 2018 with 70% of the vote. Ducey appointed King, who succeeded Justice Andrew W. Gould, in 2021. This was King's first retention election. Republican governors appointed all seven justices who sat on the nonpartisan court at the time of the election.

As a result of his retention, Bolick may serve on the court until 2027, when he will reach the court’s mandatory retirement age of 70.[1] King's retention meant she could serve a full, six-year term. Gov. Katie Hobbs would have selected a successor if either had lost retention.

Arizona voters defeated Proposition 137, a statewide ballot measure ending retention elections for judges, on Nov. 5, 2024. Click here for detailed results. If voters had approved the measure, Bolick and King's retention election results would have been nullified.[2] This meant that even if voters decided not to retain the justices, they would not have been removed from the court.[3] According to the Arizona Mirror's Caitlin Sievers, the justices would then only need to stand retention if the "Judicial Performance Review Commission finds a judge committed 'a pattern of malfeasance' in office or if the judge: is convicted of a felony; is convicted of a crime involving fraud or dishonesty; files for personal bankruptcy; or has a mortgage that is foreclosed upon."[4]

This election took place against the backdrop of the court’s April 2024 ruling regarding an 1864 abortion law.[5] At the time of the ruling, Arizona had two conflicting abortion laws—an 1864 territorial law banning abortion and a 2022 law with a 15-week ban.[6] The Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the 1864 law took precedence.[6] Bolick and King were part of the 4-2 majority that upheld the law.[7][8]The Arizona Legislature repealed the 1864 law in May 2024.[6]

The Arizona Republic’s Stacey Barchenger wrote that Bolick and King’s decision in the case received attention from organizations that support and oppose their retention.[9] According to Barchenger, two organizations—The Judicial Independence Defense and Arizonans for an Independent Judiciary—had raised about $500,000 through Sept. 30, 2024, to retain Bolick and King.[9] Barchenger also wrote that the organization Protect Abortion Rights: No Retention Bolick & King, which had not reported any fundraising through Sept. 30, 2024, “was relying on individual interaction with voters to oust the judges.”[9]

Arizona was one of 33 states that held state supreme court elections in 2024 and one of 16 that held supreme court retention elections. To read more about which states held supreme court elections in 2024, click here.

Kentucky

See also: Kentucky Supreme Court elections, 2024


Pamela R. Goodwine defeated Erin Izzo in the general election for the Kentucky Supreme Court 5th District on November 5, 2024. Kentucky was one of 13 states to elect state supreme court justices in nonpartisan elections and one of four states to elect justices by district instead of statewide.[10][11]

Goodwine and Izzo ran to replace retiring incumbent Chief Justice Laurance VanMeter.[12] The winner did not replace VanMeter as chief justice, however. The court selected Justice Debra Hembree Lambert as chief justice on September 23, 2024, effective January 6, 2025.[13]

Kentucky's seven-justice Supreme Court was officially nonpartisan. However, Democrats and Republicans both endorsed and donated to opposing candidates. Governor Andy Beshear (D) endorsed Goodwine, and former Govs. Steve Beshear (D) and Paul Patton (D) donated to her campaign. The Clark County Republican Party endorsed Izzo, and local Republican groups in Fayette and Madison counties donated to her campaign.[13]

According to Bolts, "While Kentucky is now staunchly red, its judicial elections are nonpartisan, and the court’s politics can be difficult to decipher. ... [W]ith Chief Justice Laurance VanMeter—a Republican even if he ran for judge without a party label—retiring and leaving an open seat on the ballot … [t]he race to replace him could shift the court one step to the left."[14]

Goodwine, a judge for the Kentucky Court of Appeals 5th Appellate District, said, "I have been a registered independent since I became a judge and I am known for continually displaying a strong work ethic along with honesty and integrity to ensure justice for all. ... I have staunch supporters from all parties and welcome and accept invitations from all parties to participate in their events."[13] Izzo, a partner at Lexington law firm Landrum & Shouse, said she was also open to appearing before groups that lean left, right, or were neutral, and that it "'would be dangerous for Kentucky' to open up judicial races to more partisanship in the future."[13]

According to Sabato's Crystal Ball's Louis Jacobson, Kentucky was one of five states — the other four having been Michigan, Ohio, Montana, and North Carolina — to "have competitive supreme court elections this year with results that could shift the court’s ideological balance, at least to a degree."[15]

In an interview with the Kentucky Lantern, both candidates spoke on their experience, motivations for running, and judicial philosophy. Having served on an intermediate appellate, circuit, and district court, Goodwine said, "Upon election to the Kentucky Supreme Court, I will be the first woman and only the fifth person in history to serve at all levels of the judiciary in Kentucky. And I pledge to bring ... not only the legal expertise, work ethic, preparedness and passion for the law ... but also a commitment to approaching each case with a dedication to the rule of law and justice for all."[13] She also said that the Supreme Court was "'the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution, laws and rulings' ... and renders rulings with binding legal precedents."[13]

Izzo said her 19 years of work on litigation, arbitration, and mediation qualified her to serve on the Supreme Court and that "[a]s an arbitrator, we do a lot of the same things that judges do. We look at cases. We have attorneys come before us. I hear arguments. I make decisions. I hear evidence. I preside over trials."[13] She also described herself as a constitutionalist. She said, "If there’s something there that might be better socially, or might (be) something that I disagree with, it’s not my place to change. I look at how things are, what the intention of the founding fathers were with our Constitution, and that kind of carries over to what legislative intent was when a law was adopted."[13]

The Kentucky Supreme Court 5th District was last up for election in 2016, with VanMeter defeating Glenn Acree 74.05% to 25.95%. At the time of the election, both ran nonpartisan campaigns, but VanMeter was registered to vote as a Republican and Acree as a Democrat.[16] The district included Franklin, Scott, Woodford, Jessamine, Fayette, Bourbon, Clark, and Madison counties.[17]

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 these seats: nonpartisan justices held 61, Republican justices held 15, and Democratic justices held six.


Michigan

See also: Michigan Supreme Court elections, 2024

Democrats expanded their majority on the Michigan Supreme Court from 4-3 to 5-2 after the November 5, 2024, elections.

Both parties aimed to have control of the court based on the outcome of the races. Heading into the elections, the Associated Press wrote, "Democratic-backed justices currently hold a 4-3 majority. Republican victories in both races would flip control of the court, while two Democratic wins would yield a 5-2 supermajority. Republicans have framed the races as a fight to stop government overreach, while Democrats say it is a battle to preserve reproductive rights."[18]

Kimberly Thomas defeated Andrew Fink in the election for a full eight-year term. Incumbent Kyra Harris Bolden defeated Patrick W. O'Grady in a special election. Michigan's Supreme Court elections are nonpartisan, but candidates are nominated through a party convention. Thomas and Bolden were affiliated with the Democratic Party. Fink and O'Grady were affiliated with the Republican Party. Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) appointed Bolden in November 2022. The special election determined who would serve the remaining four years of Bridget Mary McCormack's term.[19] Incumbent David Viviano (R) did not run for re-election.

In 2022, incumbent justices Richard Bernstein (D) and Brian Zahra (R) both won re-election, defeating three other candidates, including Bolden. Bernstein received 33.9% of the vote, Zahra received 23.9%, and Bolden came in third place, receiving 21.9%. Democrats won control of the court in the 2020 elections. That year, McCormack (D) and Elizabeth Welch (D) won 32.3% and 20.2% of the vote respectively, defeating two Republican-nominated candidates and three other candidates.

All four candidates completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Click here to read their responses.

Fink was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2020. He earned a bachelor's degree from Hillsdale College and a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. Before he was elected to the House, Fink was a commissioner-at-large of the State Bar of Michigan, served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a judge advocate, and worked in private practice.[20] In his Candidate Connection survey, Fink said he was running "to restore our judiciary’s commitment to protecting the will of the people, interpreting the law as it is written, and ensuring everyone receives due process, not just insiders."

At the time of the election, Thomas was a lawyer and professor at the University of Michigan Law School. At the university, she was also the director and co-founder of the Juvenile Justice Clinic. [21] She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland, and a law degree from Harvard Law School.[22] In her Candidate Connection survey, Thomas said, "I will bring over two decades of experience as a trial and appellate lawyer and a law professor to ensure that the Michigan Supreme Court fulfills its constitutional role in our democracy and that the people of Michigan can have access to, and be respected in, our court system."

Bolden assumed office on January 1, 2023. Before her appointment, she served in the state House from 2019 to 2023. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University and a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Before holding public office, Bolden was a criminal defense attorney and a civil litigation attorney.[23] In her Candidate Connection survey, Bolden said, "I believe in upholding the rule of law and ensuring equal access to justice for all. My philosophy is based on the belief that all legal decisions should be guided by principles of thoughtfulness, fairness, impartiality, and adherence to legislative intent and the Michigan Constitution. Additionally, I believe in the importance of judicial independence and the separation of powers to safeguard the integrity of the legal system."

O'Grady was a judge of the Michigan 15th Circuit Court, at the time of the election. He previously served in the U.S. Army Reserve and worked as an attorney, Michigan state trooper, and Michigan State Police officer. O'Grady earned a bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University and a law degree from Cooley Law School.[24] In Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, O'Grady said, "My unwavering commitment to safeguarding families, championing individual rights, and upholding the integrity of our beloved Michigan is evident in my distinguished record. My steadfast adherence to the Rule of Law in the trial court is a testament to my judicial philosophy, one that I pledge to bring to bear as a Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court."

Michigan was one of 33 states that held state supreme court elections in 2024. In total, 82 of the 344 seats on state supreme courts were up for election in 2024. Nonpartisan justices held 61 of those seats, Republicans held 15, and Democrats held six. Click here to learn about Ballotpedia's coverage of state supreme court elections in 2024.

Montana

See also: Montana Supreme Court elections, 2024

Cory Swanson defeated Jerry Lynch for chief justice of the Montana Supreme Court, and Katherine M. Bidegaray defeated Dan Wilson for associate justice of the Montana Supreme Court on November 5, 2024. The seats were open, as Chief Justice Mike McGrath and Justice Dirk M. Sandefur retired.[25][26] The conservative and liberal blocs each remained without a majority after the elections. Click here for detailed results.

While the election was nonpartisan, Montana Free Press' Arren Kimbel-Sannit wrote before the election, "Partisan interests have already taken sides in these elections. ... Generally, Democratic-aligned groups like the Montana Federation of Public Employees and Montana Conservation Voters have endorsed Lynch and Bidegaray while Swanson and Wilson have received support from some prominent conservatives, including Gov. Greg Gianforte."[27]

MTN News' Mike Dennison wrote before the election, "Justices James Shea, Mike McGrath and Dirk Sandefur often are seen as the liberal-leaning justices on the high court. ... [Justice Laurie] McKinnon and Justice Jim Rice are usually considered more conservative, while Justices Ingrid Gustafson and Beth Baker are viewed as judges that could identify with either side, depending on the issue."[28] If two conservative-leaning justices had won in 2024, the majority would have leaned conservative as a result. Since at least one liberal-leaning justice won in 2024, both blocs remained without a majority.[29][30]

Gustafson and Baker won re-election unopposed in 2018. In 2020, Shea won re-election unopposed, and McKinnon defeated Mike Black 57%-43%. In 2022, Rice defeated Bill D'Alton 77.5%-22.5%, and Gustafson defeated James Brown 54.3%-45.7%.

Lynch earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Carroll College, a master's degree in zoology and genetics from Montana State University, and a law degree from the University of Montana Law School.[31] He worked as a federal magistrate in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, a law clerk, and an attorney in private practice.[31] Lynch described his judicial philosophy as "fair, impartial and independent of any partisan or political motivation."[31]

Swanson earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Carrol University, a law degree from the University of Montana Law School, and a master's degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.[32][33] Swanson worked as an attorney in a Helena law firm, deputy attorney general, Broadwater county attorney, and served in the Montana Army National Guard.[33] Swanson said that in his judicial philosophy, "judges should be as fair and impartial as possible in every instance. ... That means rigorously applying the appellate standards for decisions, relying upon the plain text of the statute to understand the law, and avoiding personal temptations to re-write the law in a particular direction."[33]

Bidegaray earned a bachelor's degree in political science and philosophy from the University of Montana and a law degree from the University of Montana School of Law.[34] Bidegaray owned and operated a family ranch and worked as an attorney in the state auditor's office, an attorney in private practice, and a district court judge.[34] She said, "My judicial philosophy centers on fairness, respect, and impartiality, devoid of political or personal bias. I adhere strictly to the 1972 Montana Constitution, the United States Constitution, and established legal precedents and statutes."[34]

Wilson earned a bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University and a law degree from the University of Minnesota.[35] Wilson's experience included working as an attorney, Flathead County Justice of the Peace, and a district court judge.[35] Wilson said, "My judicial philosophy is simple: interpret and apply the provisions of the United States and Montana Constitutions and all laws according to their original intent and plain meaning, and do not follow the views of special interests or personal views to determine the outcome of any case."[35]

Montana was one of 33 states that held state supreme court elections in 2024. Click here to learn more about state judicial elections.

North Carolina

See also: North Carolina Supreme Court elections, 2024

Incumbent Justice Allison Riggs (D) and Jefferson Griffin (R) ran in the partisan general election for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court on November 5, 2024.

On May 7, 2025, Griffin conceded the election, ending all recounts and legal challenges to the outcome.[36] To read more about recount laws in North Carolina and to read a detailed timeline of events surrounding the recount, click here.

The Raleigh News & Observer's Kyle Ingram wrote the race "lack[s] much of the public vitriol or big personalities present in races higher on the ballot — but the stakes are high."[37]

At the time of election, the court had a 5-2 Republican majority. Heading into the 2020 election, Democrats held a 6-1 majority on the court. They lost 2 seats, reducing their majority on the court to 4-3. In 2022, Republicans won two seats, changing the balance of the court to a 5-2 Republican majority. In 2024, the court could have remained a 5-2 Republican majority or could have turned into a 6-1 Republican majority. To read more about past court elections, click here.

Both parties saw this race as crucial for control of the court. Riggs said, "The supreme court isn't flipping control in this election. I am employing a plan, working with Justice Anita Earls and many others to help win back our courts in the 2028 election. Still, we're going to have to defend my seat in 2024. Justice Earls’ seat in 2026 before we can do that."[38] North Carolina GOP Judicial Victory Fund Chair Susan Mills highlighted the importance of winning this seat, saying, "Having the majority this cycle doesn't guarantee we will keep it in the future."[37] The Charlotte Observer's Paige Masten wrote, "If Democrats lose in November, they technically still have a chance of flipping the court in 2028. But that will be significantly harder."[39]

Gov. Roy Cooper (D) appointed Riggs to replace Justice Michael R. Morgan (D) in 2023.[40] She said her "record demonstrates without question my commitment to our constitution and the protections it provides for the people of this state."[41] She said that she "value[s] reproductive freedoms. I value democracy and know that it doesn’t defend itself without people on the bench being willing to enforce the Constitution."[37] Riggs described Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's judicial method as an influence and said that she has "been intentional in applying this in my own judicial work. By focusing on process, rather than 'brand,' I believe I am best complying with my constitutional duty to rule without fear or favor."[42] Riggs was a former appellate justice and civil rights attorney.

Griffin campaigned on his experience and said, "I’ve been able to show the people of North Carolina that I’m a constitutional conservative, that I believe in the rule of law."[43] Griffin said that he is "more of an originalist than anything...My interpretation of it is, I’m gonna look at this legal document...as of the time it was written."[37] He said that he admires "Clarence Thomas’s judicial philosophy. He’s always consistent."[43] Griffin believed that North Carolina voters "want judges who interpret the law and aren’t activists, who don’t go up there with any agenda...I’m there to do my job, I have no policy agenda — I’m there to interpret the law."[37] Griffin served on the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

According to the most recent fundraising data before the election, Riggs had raised $1.1 million and spent $456,619, and Griffin raised $1.2 million and spent $198,521. To read more about campaign finance data, click here

North Carolina was one of 33 states that held state supreme court elections in 2024 and one of seven that held partisan supreme court elections. To read more about which states that held supreme court elections in 2024, click here.

Ohio

See also: Ohio Supreme Court elections, 2024


Six candidates ran for three seats on the Ohio Supreme Court in the partisan general election on November 5, 2024. Republicans won in all three races, defeating two incumbent Democrats.

Dan Hawkins (R) defeated Lisa Forbes (D) in the race for the open seat on the court. Megan Shanahan (R) defeated Michael Donnelly (D) in the race for Donnelly's seat. Joseph Deters (R) defeated Melody Stewart (D) in the race for Stewart's seat.

The three wins meant that Republicans maintained their majority on the court.

The Ohio Capital Journal wrote that the outcome of the race would “have major impacts on a wide variety of issues that affect the lives of Ohioans," including the state’s universal school voucher program, energy decisions like ratemaking and where oil and gas drilling can take place, challenges to the state’s 2023 abortion amendment, and redistricting.[44][45]

Before the election, the court had a 4-3 Republican majority. If all three Democrats had won the races, Democrats would have held a 4-3 majority. For Republicans to maintain their majority, at least one Republican needed to win a race. In 2024, Republicans had held a majority on the court since 1986.[46]

Three of the seven justices on the court ran for re-election in two seats, leaving the third seat open. In one contest, two incumbent justices ran against each other for a seat that carried with it a full, six-year term on the court. Justice Joseph Deters (R), whom Gov. Mike DeWine (R) appointed to the court in January 2023, decided to run for a full term against incumbent Justice Melody Stewart (D). Deters replaced Justice Sharon L. Kennedy (R), who won election to the chief justice seat in the 2022 general election.[47]

In the race for Deters’ open seat, Lisa Forbes (D) ran against Dan Hawkins (R). In the race for Justice Michael Donnelly's (D) seat, the incumbent ran against Megan Shanahan (R).

In 2022, all three Republican candidates won their elections by at least 10 percentage points.

This was just the second election cycle in which judicial candidates appeared on the ballot under partisan labels. In 2021, the state passed a law that judges must be listed alongside a political party affiliation on the general election ballot. Before that, judges were selected through partisan primaries and nonpartisan general elections.[48]

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 these seats, 61 were held by nonpartisan justices, 15 were held by Republican justices, and six were held by Democratic justices. Click here to learn more.


Oklahoma

See also: Oklahoma Supreme Court elections, 2024

Two justices, James 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. Additionally, three justices on the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals were retained. Click here for detailed results.

At the time of the election, Oklahoma was one of two states with two courts of last resort. The Oklahoma Supreme Court was the court of last resort for civil matters, while the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals was the court of last resort for criminal matters. As of 2024, Texas was the only other state with this system. To read more about each state's court of last resort, click here.

In Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Commission sends a list of three possible Supreme Court nominees to the governor, who then appoints a new justice from that list. [49][50]

The Center for Politics' Louis Jacobson wrote, "While Oklahoma has become a ruby red state in recent years, the three supreme court justices facing retention elections this year were all appointed by Democratic governors."[51] Oklahoma's government is a Republican trifecta. The state Supreme Court is narrowly Republican, with a 5-4 majority.[51]

Three of nine justices on the Oklahoma Supreme Court were up for retention election—James Edmondson, Noma D. Gurich, and Yvonne Kauger. Governor George Nigh (D) appointed Kauger to the court in 1984.[52] Gov. Brad Henry (D) appointed Edmonson in 2003 and Gurich in 2011.[53][54] If she had been retained and served another six-year term, Kauger would have become the longest-serving justice on the court. In 2018, Edmondson, Gurich, and Kauger were retained with 59.4% of the vote, 61.6% of the vote, and 62.2% of the vote, respectively. In 2012, Edmondson, Gurich, and Kauger were retained with 66.9% of the vote, 66.5% of the vote, and 65.7% of the vote, respectively.

The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals had three justices up for retention—William J. Musseman, Scott Rowland, and David B. Lewis. Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) appointed Musseman in 2022, Gov. Mary Fallin (R) appointed Rowland in 2017, and Gov. Brad Henry (D) appointed Lewis in 2005.[55] Four of the justices up for retention were among the last five appointed by Democrats.[56] In 2018, Rowland and Lewis were retained with 62.3% of the vote, and 61.8% of the vote respectively. This election was Musseman's first election as a justice on the court.

This election marked the first time that an appellate judge from Oklahoma lost a retention election.[56] When a justice loses a retention election, the Judicial Nomination Commission chooses three new judges from a pool of applicants. The governor then chooses one to fill the vacant seat.[50] Oklahoma Bar Association President Miles Pringles said that the system "ensures the people have a voice – and further assures that those who enter Oklahoma’s appellate courtrooms can expect fairness and impartiality."[57]

Some of the decisions ruled on by the three justices included:

  • joining the 5-4 majority to strike down the state's ban on abortions in cases where the mother's life is threatened[58]
  • joining the 6-2 majority[59] against a religious charter school receiving public funds[60]
  • joining the 9-0 majority in favor of the legislature over Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) on the governor's veto power on tribal matters[61]
  • Kauger and Gurich joined the 8-1 majority against reparations for survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre; Edmondson partially dissented[62]

People for Opportunity, a group whose website said they wanted to "take the appointments process for selecting justices and judges for our state’s highest courts out of the hands of unelected individuals and put it back closer to the hands of the voters," ran ads critical of the justices' records.[63][64] The ads attacked the justices' records as liberal for the state.[63] People for Opportunity representative Dave Bond said, "The Oklahoma Bar Association, big medical, and others have had an outsized influence on the Oklahoma Supreme Court...We don’t think that typically works in the favor of most Oklahoma citizens, or of our state economy, or for the ability of good, sustainable jobs to be created in our state." Former Chief Justice Joseph Watt defended the court's record and said, "I think they all ought to be retained because they are doing their job. ... They have years of appellate experience. They are entitled to be retained."[63]

Oklahoma was one of 33 states that held state supreme court elections in 2024 and one of 16 that held retention supreme court elections. To read more about which states that held supreme court elections in 2024, click here.

List of candidates

The table below contains a list of all candidates who ran for state supreme courts in 2024. The table is fully searchable by candidate, party and candidacy status. Depending on the size of your screen, you'll either see a menu to the left of the table or an arrow at the top right corner, which you can use to select a state.

Alabama Supreme court Candidates - 2024
candidatepartyofficestatus
Republican
Won General
Republican
Lost Primary
Democratic
Lost General
Republican
Disqualified Primary
Jay Mitchell
Jay Mitchell Incumbent
Republican
Won General
Republican
Won General
William Sellers
William Sellers Incumbent
Republican
Won General
Tommy Bryan
Tommy Bryan Incumbent
Republican
Won General

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Arkansas Supreme court Candidates - 2024
candidatepartyofficestatus
Nonpartisan
Won General Runoff
Nonpartisan
Lost General
Nonpartisan
Lost General
Nonpartisan
Lost General Runoff
Shawn Womack
Shawn Womack Incumbent
Nonpartisan
Won General

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Georgia Supreme court Candidates - 2024
candidatepartyofficestatus
John Ellington
John Ellington Incumbent
Nonpartisan
Won General
Nels Peterson
Nels Peterson Incumbent
Nonpartisan
Won General
Andrew Pinson
Andrew Pinson Incumbent
Nonpartisan
Won General
Nonpartisan
Lost General
Nonpartisan
Won General

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Idaho Supreme court Candidates - 2024
candidatepartyofficestatus
Nonpartisan
Won General

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Illinois Supreme court Candidates - 2024
candidatepartyofficestatus
Joy Cunningham
Joy Cunningham Incumbent
Democratic
Won General
Democratic
Lost Primary
Republican
Won General

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Kentucky Supreme court Candidates - 2024
candidatepartyofficestatus
Nonpartisan
Won General
Nonpartisan
Lost General

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Louisiana Supreme court Candidates - 2024
candidatepartyofficestatus
Democratic
Won Primary
Democratic
Disqualified Primary
Democratic
Disqualified Primary

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Michigan Supreme court Candidates - 2024
candidatepartyofficestatus
Nonpartisan
Won General
Nonpartisan
Lost General

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Minnesota Supreme court Candidates - 2024
candidatepartyofficestatus
Nonpartisan
Won General
Nonpartisan
Lost General
Anne K. McKeig
Anne K. McKeig Incumbent
Nonpartisan
Won General
Karl Procaccini
Karl ProcacciniCandidate Connection Incumbent
Nonpartisan
Won General
Nonpartisan
Lost General

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Nevada Supreme court Candidates - 2024
candidatepartyofficestatus
Elissa Cadish
Elissa Cadish Incumbent
Nonpartisan
Won General
Patricia Lee
Patricia Lee Incumbent
Nonpartisan
Won General
Lidia Stiglich
Lidia Stiglich Incumbent
Nonpartisan
Won General

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

New York Supreme court Candidates - 2024
candidatepartyofficestatus
Cynthia Kern
Cynthia Kern Incumbent
Democratic
Won General
Gerald Lebovits
Gerald Lebovits Incumbent
Democratic
Won General
Democratic
Won General
Democratic
Won General
Democratic, Conservative Party
Won General
Democratic, Conservative Party
Won General
Democratic, Conservative Party
Won General
Democratic, Conservative Party
Won General
Democratic, Conservative Party
Won General
Republican, Democratic, Conservative Party
Won General
Republican, Democratic, Conservative Party
Won General
Henry J. Nowak Incumbent
Republican, Democratic, Working Families Party, Conservative Party
Won General
Republican, Democratic, Working Families Party, Conservative Party
Won General

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

North Carolina Supreme court Candidates - 2024
candidatepartyofficestatus
Allison Riggs
Allison Riggs Incumbent
Democratic
Won General
Republican
Lost General
Democratic
Lost Primary

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Ohio Supreme court Candidates - 2024
candidatepartyofficestatus
Joseph Deters
Joseph Deters Incumbent
Republican
Won General
Melody Stewart
Melody StewartCandidate Connection Incumbent
Democratic
Lost General
Republican
Won General
Democratic
Lost General

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Oregon Supreme court Candidates - 2024
candidatepartyofficestatus
Nonpartisan
Won General
Rebecca Duncan
Rebecca Duncan Incumbent
Nonpartisan
Won Primary
Meagan A. Flynn
Meagan A. Flynn Incumbent
Nonpartisan
Won Primary
Aruna Masih Incumbent
Nonpartisan
Won Primary
Bronson James
Bronson James Incumbent
Nonpartisan
Won General

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Texas Supreme court Candidates - 2024
candidatepartyofficestatus
Jimmy Blacklock
Jimmy Blacklock Incumbent
Republican
Won General
Democratic
Lost General
Democratic
Lost Primary
John Devine
John Devine Incumbent
Republican
Won General
Republican
Lost Primary
Democratic
Lost General
Libertarian
Disqualified General
Jane Bland
Jane Bland Incumbent
Republican
Won General
Democratic
Lost General
Democratic
Lost Primary
Libertarian
Lost General

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

West Virginia Supreme court Candidates - 2024
candidatepartyofficestatus
Nonpartisan
Won General
Haley Bunn
Haley Bunn Incumbent
Nonpartisan
Won General

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

What's on your ballot?

See also: Sample Ballot Lookup


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 May 10th, 2025, Republicans controlled 55.63% of all state legislative seats nationally, while Democrats held 43.65%. 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 833 1,124 5 11
State houses 2,391 2,985 19 18
Total: 3,224

4,109

24

29


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.[65]

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.[66] 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.[67]
  • 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 94% of the time from 2008-2023. No more than six incumbent justices lost in a single year during this time frame. 2008 was the year with the lowest incumbent win rate at 89%.

Incumbent win rates in state supreme court elections (2008-2023)
Election year Total incumbent elections Incumbent elections won Incumbent elections lost Incumbent win rate
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 483 452 31 94%

Incumbent win rates in partisan elections

In partisan elections, incumbents running for re-election won 89% of the time from 2008-2023. 2018 saw incumbents lose four seats, the greatest number of seats lost by incumbents during this timeframe.

Incumbent win rates in partisan state supreme court elections (2008-2023)
Election year Total incumbent elections Incumbent elections won Incumbent elections lost Incumbent win rate
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 92 82 10 89%

Incumbent win rates in nonpartisan elections

In nonpartisan elections, incumbents running for re-election won 94% of the time from 2008-2023. 2008 and 2010 both saw six incumbents lose in nonpartisan elections. 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 (2008-2023)
Election year Total incumbent elections Incumbent elections won Incumbent elections lost Incumbent win rate
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 332 312 20 94%

Incumbent win rates by state

Among the 38 states that conduct elections for supreme court justices, 13 have seen incumbents lose elections from 2008-2023. These were Alabama, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. In the other 25 states, incumbent supreme court justices won re-election 100% of the time from 2008-2023.

Incumbent win rates by state in state supreme court elections (2008-2023)
State Total incumbent elections Incumbent elections won Incumbent elections lost Incumbent win rate
Alabama 10 8 2 80%
Alaska 6 6 0 100%
Arizona 14 14 0 100%
Arkansas 6 6 0 100%
California 12 12 0 100%
Colorado 10 10 0 100%
Florida 18 18 0 100%
Georgia 17 17 0 100%
Idaho 11 11 0 100%
Illinois 12 10 2 83%
Indiana 9 9 0 100%
Iowa 19 16 3 84%
Kansas 19 19 0 100%
Kentucky 11 10 1 91%
Louisiana 5 5 0 100%
Maryland 7 7 0 100%
Michigan 14 11 3 79%
Minnesota 18 18 0 100%
Mississippi 16 13 3 81%
Missouri 8 8 0 100%
Montana 13 13 0 100%
Nebraska 15 15 0 100%
Nevada 13 13 0 100%
New Mexico 12 11 1 92%
North Carolina 9 4 5 44%
North Dakota 9 9 0 100%
Ohio 16 11 5 69%
Oklahoma 33 33 0 100%
Oregon 15 15 0 100%
Pennsylvania 6 6 0 100%
South Dakota 8 8 0 100%
Tennessee 13 13 0 100%
Texas 37 36 1 97%
Utah 6 6 0 100%
Washington 25 24 1 96%
West Virginia 6 4 2 67%
Wisconsin 8 6 2 75%
Wyoming 8 8 0 100%

See also

External links

Election coverage by office

Click the tiles below to navigate to 2024 election coverage:


Footnotes

  1. The Copper Courier, "Could an Arizona Supreme Court retirement happen this year?" July 2, 2024
  2. Bolts, "Arizona GOP Asks Voters to Nullify the Judicial Elections They’ll Be Voting On," September 27, 2024
  3. Arizona Mirror, "SHOULD JUDGES ONLY FACE VOTERS IF THEY ARE CONVICTED OF A FELONY OR GET A NEGATIVE PERFORMANCE REVIEW?" accessed October 30, 2024
  4. Arizona Mirror, "Progressive group asks AZ Supreme Court to block ballot measure giving judges lifetime appointments," August 16, 2024
  5. NBC News, "Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signs repeal of 1864 abortion ban," May 2, 2024
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 NBC News, "Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signs repeal of 1864 abortion ban," May 2, 2024
  7. Justice Bill Montgomery recused himself from the case.
  8. The New York Times, "Read the Arizona Supreme Court’s Abortion Ruling," April 9, 2024
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 The Arizona Republic, "Voters to decide if Clint Bolick, Kathryn King will remain Arizona Supreme Court justices," October 18, 2024
  10. Decision Desk HQ, "KY State Supreme Court Nonpartisan General Election 5," accessed November 5, 2024
  11. New York Times, "Kentucky Election Results," accessed November 5, 2024
  12. Bolts, "Your State-by-State Guide to the 2024 Supreme Court Elections," accessed April 29, 2024
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 Kentucky Lantern, "Voters in eight Central Kentucky counties must choose a new Supreme Court justice," September 25, 2024
  14. Bolts, "Your State-by-State Guide to the 2024 Supreme Court Elections," April 3, 2024
  15. Sabato's Crystal Ball, "The State Supreme Court Skirmishes," May 16, 2024
  16. Lexington Herald Leader, "Two Lexington appeals court judges compete for seat on Kentucky Supreme Court," October 16, 2016
  17. Kentucky Legislature, "Kentucky Supreme Court Districts," accessed November 4, 2024
  18. AP News, "Michigan GOP nominates judge for Supreme Court after man charged in election tampering drops out," August 24, 2024
  19. AP News, "Whitmer appoints first Black woman to Michigan’s top court," November 22, 2022
  20. Michigan House Republicans, "Andrew Fink," accessed September 27, 2024
  21. University of Michigan Law School, "Juvenile Justice Clinic," accessed September 27, 2024
  22. LinkedIn, "Kim Thomas," accessed September 27, 2024
  23. Kyra Harris Bolden campaign website, "About," accessed September 27, 2024
  24. Patrick W. O'Grady campaign website, "About Judge Patrick William O'Grady," accessed September 27, 2024
  25. Montana Free Press, "Candidate filing deadline firms up 2024 election bracket," March 11, 2024
  26. Montana Free Press, "Neither Chief Justice Mike McGrath nor Justice Dirk Sandefur will seek re-election to Montana Supreme Court in 2024," June 7, 2023
  27. Montana Free Press, "Lynch, Swanson, Wilson and Bidegaray advance to Montana Supreme Court general election," June 5, 2024
  28. Missoula Current, "Montana Supreme Court Justice McKinnon Won't Seek Re-election," June 4, 2019
  29. Daily Kos, "Montana's top court, a bulwark against GOP abuses, could become a conservative bastion next year," December 15, 2023
  30. Bolts Magazine, "“It’s Our Last Backstop”: How Voting Access in Montana Rides on Supreme Court Races," September 19, 2024
  31. 31.0 31.1 31.2 Montana Public Radio, "Q&A: Jeremiah Lynch, Candidate for Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court," May 15, 2024
  32. Linkedin, "Cory Swanson," accessed September 27, 2024
  33. 33.0 33.1 33.2 Montana Public Radio, "Q&A: Cory Swanson, Candidate for Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court," accessed September 27, 2024
  34. 34.0 34.1 34.2 Montana Public Radio, "Q&A: Katherine Bidegaray, Candidate for Montana Supreme Court Seat #3," May 15, 2024
  35. 35.0 35.1 35.2 Montana Public Radio, "Q&A: Dan Wilson, Candidate for Montana Supreme Court Seat #3," May 15, 2024
  36. WCNC, "Jefferson Griffin concedes North Carolina Supreme Court race," May 7, 2025
  37. 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 37.4 The Raleigh News & Observer, "‘The power levers in our state’ run through its courts. Your choices for NC’s next justice," accessed September 14, 2024
  38. The Daily Tar Heel, "Q&A: Allison Riggs speaks about civil rights experience, keeping seat on N.C. Supreme Court," accessed September 15, 2024
  39. Charlotte Observer, "Democrats are changing their strategy for 2024’s must-win NC Supreme Court race | Opinion," accessed September 15, 2024
  40. North Carolina Governor's Website, "Governor Cooper Announces Two Judicial Appointments," accessed September 15, 2024
  41. Rocky Mount Telegram, "Appointed justice seeks election to NC Supreme Court seat," accessed September 14, 2024
  42. The Raleigh News & Observer, "Candidate for NC Supreme Court, Democrat Allison Riggs, answers our questions," accessed September 15, 2024
  43. 43.0 43.1 North State Journal, "Jefferson Griffin looks to join Republican majority on NC Supreme Court ," accessed September 15, 2024
  44. Ohio Capital Journal, "Meet the candidates running for Ohio Supreme Court," September 5, 2024
  45. Ohio Capital Journal, "Ohio Supreme Court races: What’s at stake," September 11, 2024
  46. Ohio Capital Journal, "Three Ohio Supreme Court races on the November ballot will have a huge impact in the coming years," August 27, 2024
  47. Ohio Governor's Office, "Governor DeWine to Appoint Joseph T. Deters to Ohio Supreme Court," December 22, 2022
  48. Ohio Capital Journal, "Ohio ballots will list party affiliations for top judicial candidates," July 2, 2021
  49. State Court Report, "Oklahoma," accessed October 9, 2024
  50. 50.0 50.1 Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Commission, "RULES OF THE OKLAHOMA JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION," accessed September 25, 2024
  51. 51.0 51.1 "Center for Politics, "The State Supreme Court Skirmishes," accessed October 15, 2024
  52. Oklahoma Supreme Court, "Yvonne Kauger," accessed September 21, 2024
  53. Oklahoma Supreme Court, "James Edmonson," accessed September 21, 2024
  54. Oklahoma Supreme Court, "Norma Gurich," accessed September 21, 2024
  55. Court Facts, "Who is on the 2024 Retention Ballot?" accessed September 25, 2024
  56. 56.0 56.1 Bolts, "Your State-by-State Guide to the 2024 Supreme Court Elections," accessed April 29, 2024
  57. Oklahoma Bar Association, "OBA Hosts Online Resource for Voter Information," accessed September 27, 2024
  58. Associated Press, "Oklahoma Supreme Court keeps anti-abortion laws on hold while challenge is pending," accessed September 24, 2024
  59. Chief Justice M. John Kane IV recused himself from this case
  60. EdWeek, "Religious Charter School Is Unconstitutional, Oklahoma Supreme Court Rules," accessed September 24, 2024
  61. KFOR, "‘Divisive rhetoric’: OK Supreme Court rules against Gov. Stitt in tribal compact litigation," accessed September 24, 2024
  62. State Court Report, "Oklahoma Supreme Court Rejects Reparations for Tulsa Race Massacre," accessed September 24, 2024
  63. 63.0 63.1 63.2 Oklahoma Voice, "Ads target three Oklahoma Supreme Court justices," accessed October 4, 2024
  64. People for Opportunity, "Priorities," accessed October 6, 2024
  65. 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.
  66. Ballotpedia chose to highlight these offices because they are typically the most visible positions in states and serve important administrative functions.
  67. 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.