-166331-800px.jpeg)
Elections & Campaigns
How Do State Supreme Court Elections Work? (Plus What to Watch For This Year)
June 26, 2024 | Bill Kramer
This year, 83 of the 344 state supreme court seats are up for election in 33 states. Races to watch this year include Michigan, Montana, and Ohio. In 12 states, state supreme court justices are appointed by governors or state legislatures (a nominating commission may also be involved). In the 38 other states, justices to the state’s highest court must either run for election against other candidates or they must go to the voters in a retention election (a yes-or-no vote to keep a sitting justice on the court). Of the 38 states where supreme court justices must face voters, 18 states hold partisan elections where only one nominee is put forward for each major political party. Thirteen states have non-partisan elections where party affiliation is not listed on the ballot. And Michigan uniquely combines partisan candidate selection with a nonpartisan general election.
-702270-400px.jpeg)
-0e6320-400px.jpeg)
-54c632-400px.jpeg)
-4a5997-400px.jpeg)
-7adaef-400px.jpeg)
-166331-400px.jpeg)
-f98485-400px.jpeg)
-3d834e-400px.jpeg)
