2026 Washington Supreme Court election

The 2026 Washington Supreme Court election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect five members of the Washington Supreme Court. It will be held concurrently with the 2026 US midterm election, as well as elections to the US House of Representatives, Washington State Senate and House, and various county and local offices. Primary elections will be held on August 4, 2026 using a top-two primary where all candidates are listed on the same ballot and the two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election.

There are three regular elections for the seats held by Justices Raquel Montoya-Lewis, Charles W. Johnson, and Debra Stephens. Justice Montoya-Lewis is not seeking re-election and Justice Johnson reached the mandatory retirement age making him ineligible to seek re-election. ^[1] In addition, there will be two special elections to retain appointed Justices Colleen Melody and Theo Angelis to finish the terms of Justices Mary Yu and Barbara Madsen respectively. ^[2] It is notable that there will be two open seats on the court and an additional two justices up for election for the first time.

Position 1

In September of 2025, Justice Mary Yu, the first LGBTQ+ justice in Washington, announced she would retire in December triggering the special election to be held in November 2026. ^[3] In November of 2025, Governor Bob Ferguson announced he would appoint Colleen Melody to serve in Justice Yu's position. The election will be for a two-year term with the next regular election for this position scheduled for 2028. ^[4] Justice Melody has filed to run to retain the seat. ^[5]

Candidates

Filed Paperwork

• Scott Edwards, tax lawyer ^[6]
• Colleen Melody, incumbent appointed justice ^[7]

Position 3

In January of 2026, Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis, the first Native American elected to a statewide office in Washington, announced she would not seek re-election to a second term. She will serve out the remainder of her term making this an open seat for the November election. ^[8]

Candidates

Declared

• David Stevens, Mason County superior court judge ^{[9] [10]}

Filed Paperwork

• J. Michael Diaz, Washington appeals court judge ^[11]

Position 4

Justice Charles W. Johnson reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 and is therefore ineligible to seek re-election. ^[1]

Candidates

Declared

• Ian Birk, Washington appeals court judge ^{[12] [13]}

Filed Paperwork

• David Shelvey, family law attorney and candidate for justice in 2024 ^{[14] [15]}

Position 5

In February of 2026, Justice Barbra Madsen, the first woman to become a justice in Washington via election, announced she would retire effective April 3rd triggering the special election to be held in November 2026. ^[16] In March, Governor Bob Ferguson announced he would appoint Theo Angelis to serve in Justice Madsen's position making him the first Washington justice of Middle Eastern descent. The election will be for a two-year term with the next regular election for this position scheduled for 2028. ^[4] Soon-to-be Justice Angelis has declared he will run to retain the seat. ^[5]

Candidates

Declared

• Theo Angelis, incumbent appointed justice ^{[17] [18]}
• Dave Larson, retired Federal Way municipal court judge, candidate for justice in 2024, 2020, 2016, and 2000 ^[19]

Filed Paperwork

• Sharonda Amamilo, Thurston County superior court judge ^[20]

Endorsements

Theo Angelis

State officials

• Bob Ferguson, incumbent governor ^[18]
• Denny Heck, incumbent lieutenant governor ^[18]
• Christine Gregoire, former governor (2005-2013) and attorney general (1993-2005) ^[18]

Justices

• Charles W. Johnson, incumbent Washington supreme court justice ^[18]
• Sal Mungia, incumbent Washington supreme court justice ^[18]
• G. Helen Whitener, incumbent Washington supreme court justice ^[18]

State Senators

• Jamie Pedersen, State Senate Majority Leader, state senator from the 43rd district ^[18]
• Marcus Riccelli, state senator from the 3rd district ^[18]
• Bob Hasegawa, state senator from the 11th district ^[18]
• Adrian Cortes, state senator from the 18th district ^[18]
• Marko Liias, state senator from the 21st district ^[18]
• Jessica Bateman, state senator from the 22nd district ^[18]
• Drew Hansen, state senator from the 23rd district ^[18]
• Mike Chapman, state senator from the 24th district ^[18]
• Deb Krishnadasan, state senator from the 26th district ^[18]
• Claire Wilson, state senator from the 30th district ^[18]
• Tina Orwall, state senator from the 33rd district ^[18]
• June Robinson, state senator from the 38th district ^[18]
• Lisa Wellman, state senator from the 41st district ^[18]
• Sharon Shewmake, state senator from the 42nd district ^[18]
• John Lovick, state senator from the 44th district ^[18]
• Claudia Kauffman, state senator from the 47th district ^[18]
• Annette Cleveland, state senator from the 49th district ^[18]

State Representatives

• Laurie Jinkins, Speaker of the House, state representative from the 27th district ^[18]
• Timm Ormsby, state representative from the 3rd district ^[18]
• Lisa Callan, state representative from the 5th district ^[18]
• Steve Bergquist, state representative from the 11th district ^[18]
• David Hackney, state representative from the 11th district ^[18]
• Lillian Ortiz-Self, state representative from the 21st district ^[18]
• Strom Peterson, state representative from the 21st district ^[18]
• Beth Doglio, state representative from the 22nd district ^[18]
• Lisa Parshley, state representative from the 22nd district ^[18]
• Greg Nance, state representative from the 23rd district ^[18]
• Mari Leavitt, state representative from the 28th district ^[18]
• Cindy Ryu, state representative from the 32nd district ^[18]
• Chipalo Street, state representative from the 37th district ^[18]
• Mary Fosse, state representative from the 38th district ^[18]
• Debra Lekanoff, state representative from the 40th district ^[18]
• Alex Ramel, state representative from the 40th district ^[18]
• Joe Timmons, state representative from the 42nd district ^[18]
• Gerry Pollet, state representative from the 46th district ^[18]
• Osman Salahuddin, state representative from the 48th district ^[18]
• Sharon Wylie, state representative from the 49th district ^[18]

Local

• Girmay Zahilay, King County Executive ^[18]
• Rod Dembowski, King County Council member from the 1st district ^[18]
• Anders Ibsen, Mayor of Tacoma ^[18]
• Dontae Payne, Mayor of Olympia ^[18]

Position 7

Chief Justice Debra Stephens is running for re-election. ^[21]

Candidates

Declared

• Debra Stephens, incumbent chief justice ^{[22] [21]}

Position yet to be specified

These are candidates who have filed paperwork to run for supreme court justice, but have not yet specified which position they will be seeking

• Karl Triebel, court commissioner for the division two court of appeals ^{[23] [24]}
• Sean O'Donnell, King County superior court judge ^[25]

References

1. Clarridge, Christine (March 4, 2026). "Five seats up for grabs on Washington Supreme Court". Axios. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
2. Goldstein-Street, Jake (March 9, 2026). "Seattle litigator appointed to Washington Supreme Court • Washington State Standard". Washington State Standard. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
3. Cornfield, Jerry (September 11, 2025). "Justice Mary Yu to step down from WA Supreme Court this year • Washington State Standard". Washington State Standard. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
4. Cornfield, Jerry (November 24, 2025). "Gov. Bob Ferguson makes his pick for WA Supreme Court seat • Washington State Standard". Washington State Standard. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
5. "Candidate Finance Report | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
6. "Candidate Finance Report | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
7. "Candidate Finance Report | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
8. Goldstein-Street, Jake (January 27, 2026). "WA Supreme Court Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis won't seek reelection • Washington State Standard". Washington State Standard. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
9. "Candidate Finance Report | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
10. Rantz, Jason (February 19, 2026). "Open WA Supreme Court seat sparks conservative challenge". seattlered.com. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
11. "Candidate Finance Report | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
12. "Candidate Finance Report | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
13. Staff, Lynnwood Times (February 5, 2026). "Judge Ian Birk to Run for State Supreme Court Justice". Lynnwood Times. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
14. "Candidate Finance Report | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
15. "Four candidates are vying to fill the open WA Supreme Court seat". Cascade PBS. July 10, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
16. Goldstein-Street, Jake (February 2, 2026). "Another WA Supreme Court justice to retire • Washington State Standard". Washington State Standard. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
17. "Candidate Finance Report | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
18. Staff, Lynnwood Times (March 23, 2026). "Theo Angelis launches WA State Supreme court campaign with strong statewide endorsements". Lynnwood Times. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
19. Square, Brett Davis | The Center (February 23, 2026). "Dave Larson coming out of retirement to again run for WA Supreme Court". The Center Square. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
20. "Candidate Finance Report | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
21. "State Supreme Court Races to Watch in 2026 | State Court Report". statecourtreport.org. February 10, 2026. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
22. "PRIMARY 2024 Candidate List". voter.votewa.gov. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
23. "Candidate Finance Report | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
24. "Washington State Courts - Members of the Court of Appeals - Div II Bio - Commissioner Karl Triebel". www.courts.wa.gov. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
25. "Candidate Finance Report | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved March 27, 2026.