Washington Supreme Court elections

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There are nine justices on the Washington Supreme Court. In Washington, judges are appointed to fill midterm vacancies. Newly appointed judges must run in a nonpartisan election during the next general election to serve the remainder of their predecessor's term. When the term expires, judges must compete for re-election to their first full term. After that, justices must run for re-election every six years to remain on the bench. For more information about these elections, visit the Washington judicial elections page.

Judicial selection[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

The chief justice of the supreme court is selected through peer vote and has a set term of four years.^[3]

Vacancies[edit]

See also: How vacancies are filled in state supreme courts

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][5] If the resignation and subsequent appointment take place after the filing period for that year's elections opens, the appointee must stand in the next year's election in order to remain on the bench.^[6]

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

Elections[edit]

2020[edit]

See also: Washington Supreme Court elections, 2020

Position 3[edit]

The primary election was canceled. Incumbent Raquel Montoya-Lewis and Dave Larson advanced from the primary for Washington State Supreme Court Position 3.

Position 4[edit]

The primary election was canceled. Incumbent Charles W. Johnson advanced from the primary for Washington State Supreme Court Position 4.

Position 6[edit]

The primary election was canceled. Incumbent G. Helen Whitener and Richard Serns advanced from the special primary for Washington State Supreme Court Position 6.

Position 7[edit]

The primary election was canceled. Incumbent Debra Stephens advanced from the primary for Washington State Supreme Court Position 7.

2018[edit]

See also: Washington Supreme Court elections, 2018

Position 2[edit]

The primary election was canceled. Incumbent Susan Owens advanced from the primary for Washington State Supreme Court Position 2.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• John Scannell (Nonpartisan)

Position 8[edit]

The primary election was canceled. Incumbent Steven Gonzalez and Nathan Choi advanced from the primary for Washington State Supreme Court Position 8.

Position 9[edit]

The primary election was canceled. Incumbent Sheryl Gordon McCloud advanced from the primary for Washington State Supreme Court Position 9.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Stan Lippmann (Nonpartisan)

2016[edit]

Main article: Washington Supreme Court elections, 2016

General election candidates[edit]

Election results[edit]

November 8 general election[edit]

Washington Supreme Court, Position 1, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Mary Yu Incumbent	57.33%	1,577,495
David DeWolf	42.67%	1,174,263
Total Votes (100% reporting)		2,751,758
Source: Washington Secretary of State Official Results

Washington Supreme Court, Position 5, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Barbara Madsen Incumbent	61.95%	1,679,786
Greg Zempel	38.05%	1,031,698
Total Votes (100% reporting)		2,711,484
Source: Washington Secretary of State Official Results

Washington Supreme Court, Position 6, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Charlie Wiggins Incumbent	57.49%	1,535,554
Dave Larson	42.51%	1,135,285
Total Votes (100% reporting)		2,670,839
Source: Washington Secretary of State Official Results

August 2 primary election[edit]

Incumbent Justice Barbara Madsen and challenger Greg Zempel defeated John Scannell and advanced to the November 8 general election.

Washington Supreme Court Primary, Position 5, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Barbara Madsen Incumbent	63.90%	759,475
Greg Zempel	29.71%	353,149
John Scannell	6.38%	75,849
Total Votes (2000 of 2000 reporting: 100%)		1,188,473
Source: Washington Secretary of State Official Results

2014[edit]

See also: Washington judicial elections, 2014

Unopposed	Judge Mary Yu (Position 1)

Unopposed	Judge Mary Fairhurst (Position 3)

Position 4

Candidate	Incumbency	Primary Vote	Election Vote
JohnsonCharles W. JohnsonA	Yes		73.3%   A
YoonEddie Yoon	No		26.7%   D

Position 7

Candidate	Incumbency	Primary Vote	Election Vote
ScannellJohn Scannell	No		21.9%   D
StephensDebra StephensA	Yes		78.1%   A

2012[edit]

See also: Washington judicial elections, 2012

Candidate	Incumbency	Office	Primary Vote	Election Vote
HilyerBruce Hilyer	No	Position 9	25.6%
DanielsonBruce O. Danielson	No	Position 8	43.1%
McQuaidDouglas W. McQuaid	No	Position 2	24.14%
LadenburgJohn Ladenburg	No	Position 9	15.31%
SandersRichard Sanders	No	Position 9	27.48%A	44.76%   A
Scott Stafne
McCloudSheryl McCloud   A	No	Position 9	31.61%A	55.24%   A
GonzalezSteven Gonzalez   A	Yes	Position 8	56.9%A	100%   A
OwensSusan Owens   A	Yes	Position 2	63.5%A	100%   A

2010[edit]

See also: Washington judicial elections, 2010

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Election votes	Election %
Charlie Wiggins A		Position #6	984,948	50.3%
Richard Sanders		Position #6	971,803	49.7%

^[7]

^[8]

2008[edit]

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Mary Fairhurst A	Yes	Position #3	701,259	60.6%		100%
Michael Bond	No	Position #3	455,893	39.4%

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Charles W. Johnson A	Yes	Position #4	663,330	59.2%		100%
James Beecher	No	Position #4	340,004	30.4%
Frank Vulliet	No	Position #4	116,970	10.4%

^[9][10]

2006[edit]

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Susan Owens A		Position #2	460,923	46%	1,058,020	59.8%
Stephen Johnson		Position #2	347,732	34.7%	710,144	40.2%
Richard Smith		Position #2	54,790	5.5%
Norman J. Ericson		Position #2	53,867	5.4%
Michael Johnson		Position #2	83,308	8.3%

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Gerry Alexander A		Position #8	554,328	54.3		100%
John Groen		Position #8	465,680	45.7%

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Tom Chambers A		Position #9	596,095	59.7%		100%
Jeanette Burrage		Position #9	403,255	40.3%

^[11]

2004[edit]

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
James Johnson A		Position #1	214,159	22.3%	1,178,194	52%
Mary Kay Becker		Position #1	210,815	22%	1,086,319	48%
Gary Carpenter		Position #1	89,271	9.3%
William Murphy		Position #1	121,273	12.6%
Maureen Hart		Position #1	124,314	13%
Robert H. Alsdorf		Position #1	196,550	20.5%

^[12]

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Barbara Madsen A		Position #5	571,919	60.9%		100%
Terry Lukens		Position #5	367,105	39.1%

^[13]

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Richard Sanders A		Position #6	279,905	31.3%	1,310,998	61%
Terry Sebring		Position #6	171,418	19.2%	837,077	39%
James White		Position #6	159,097	17.8%
Steve Merrival		Position #6	57,738	6.4%
Doug Shafer		Position #6	142,733	15.9%
Fred L. Stewart		Position #6	81,498	9.3%

^[14]

2002[edit]

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Mary Fairhurst A		Position #3	245,272	30.2%	722,084	50.1%
James Johnson		Position #3	250,315	30.8%	718,707	49.9%
Stan Morse		Position #3	82,103	10.1%
Michael Spearman		Position #3	233,863	28.8%

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Charles W. Johnson A		Position #4	319,798	40.8%	752,546	54.6%
Pamela Loginsky		Position #4	287,885	36.7%	626,071	45.4%
Doug Shafer		Position #4	175,452	22.4%

^[15][16][17]

2000[edit]

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Susan Owens A		Position #2	251,265	26.3%	982,275	52.4%
Jeff Sullivan		Position #2	176,700	18.5%	891,535	47.6%
Barrie Althoff		Position #2	81,071	8.5%
David Larson		Position #2	133,742	14%
Terry Carroll		Position #2	151,682	15.9%
Doug Schafer		Position #2	100,990	10.5%
Geoff Crooks		Position #2	57,890	6%

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Bobbe Bridge A		Position #7	560,345	61.8%		100%
Scott S. Schwieger		Position #7	345,781	38.1%

^[18][19]

1998[edit]

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Faith Ireland A		Position #1	237,086	29.9%	933,647	60.8%
Jim Foley		Position #1	156,586	19.7%	602,290	39.2%
Douglas J. Smith		Position #1	76,281	9.6%
Eric Nielsen		Position #1	45,762	5.7%
Kris Sundberg		Position #1	131,310	16.5%
Glen Prior		Position #1	21,529	2.7%
Hugh Spitzer		Position #1	123,795	15.6%

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Barbara Madsen A		Position #5	361,403	46%	1,026,430	68.1%
Jim Bates		Position #5	248,329	31.6%	480,088	31.9%
Linda Callahan McCaslin		Position #5	174,826	22.2%

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Richard Sanders A		Position #5	497,668	63.7%		100%
Greg Canova		Position #5	283,155	36.2%

^[20][21]

1996[edit]

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Barbara Durham A		Position #1	479,244	52.5%		100%
Kathryn Ross		Position #1	259,402	28.4%
Mark Mestel		Position #1	173,899	19%

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Charles W. Johnson A		Position #3	390,191	46.9%	975,945	62.2%
Douglas J. Smith		Position #3	284,113	34.2%	592,007	37.8%
Barnett N. Kalikow		Position #3	155,992	18.7%

1995[edit]

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Election votes	Election %
Richard Sanders A		Position #1	575,822	53.6%
Roselle Pekelis		Position #1	496,595	46.3%

^[22]

1994[edit]

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Richard Guy A		Position #1	357,216	52.6%		100%
Kevin Patrick Dolan		Position #1	321,647	47.3%

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Gerry Alexander A		Position #2	319,027	44.2%	731,090	52.8%
Janice Niemi		Position #2	232,272	32.2%	653,131	47.2%
Faith Enyeart Ireland		Position #2	169,115	23.4%

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Phil Talmadge A		Position #3	257,549	35.6%	804,669	57%
Grant L. Anderson		Position #3	92,391	12.7%

^[23]

1992[edit]

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Barbara Madsen A		Position #1	252,505	27.6%	900,614	50.6%
Elaine Houghton		Position #1	238,503	26.1%	877,489	49.3%
Keith Callow		Position #1	208,412	22.8%
Edward Heavey		Position #1	139,669	15.3%
Philip Rodriguez		Position #1	73,005	8%

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
James M. Dolliver A		Position #2	345,476	42.9%	1,033,638	61.7%
Kevin Patrick Dolan		Position #2	245,658	30.5%	639,168	61.7%
David A. Summers		Position #2	212,614	26.4%

^[24]

See also[edit]

Washington	Judicial Selection	More Courts
Courts in Washington Washington Court of Appeals Washington Supreme Court	Elections: 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 Gubernatorial appointments Judicial selection in Washington	Federal courts State courts Local courts

External links[edit]

• Search Google News for this topic
• Washington Secretary of State

Footnotes[edit]