10 candidates are on the ballot. One ballot can carry several appellate seats, and the note below sets out which contest is which. For each judge: the record, any official performance evaluation, and the arguments published for and against them.
Five of the nine seats on the Washington Supreme Court are on the November 3, 2026 ballot, an unusually large number, and every voter in the state votes on all five. Washington judicial elections are nonpartisan: no party label is printed beside any name, which is why no party is listed below. Candidates ran in a top-two primary on August 4, 2026, and the two highest finishers in each position advanced. In ballot order by position: Position 1 (a two-year short term finishing Justice Mary Yu's term) — Colleen Melody, appointed by Governor Bob Ferguson in January 2026, against tax attorney Scott Edwards. Position 3 (open; Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis is not seeking re-election) — Mason County Superior Court judge David Stevens against King County Superior Court judge Jaime Hawk. Position 4 (open; Justice Charles W. Johnson reached the mandatory retirement age of 75) — Court of Appeals Division I judge Ian Birk against King County Superior Court judge Sean O'Donnell; only those two filed, so there was no primary for this seat. Position 5 (a two-year short term finishing Justice Barbara Madsen's term) — Theo Angelis, appointed by Governor Ferguson in April 2026, against retired Federal Way Municipal Court judge Dave Larson. Position 7 — Chief Justice Debra Stephens, on the court since 2008, against attorney Todd Bloom. Two open seats plus two first-time appointees means four new justices in two years, a high rate of turnover for this court. Washington also elects Court of Appeals judges, but those judges run in one of three geographic divisions rather than statewide, so which Court of Appeals race appears on a ballot depends on where the voter lives; those races are not covered here. Roster and primary results from the Washington Secretary of State as reported by the Washington State Standard.
10 candidates · ballot order · Colleen Melody currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Civil rights enforcement experience as preparation for the court's constitutional docket.
Access to the courts for people bringing discrimination claims.
Continuity on a court undergoing heavy turnover.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Justice, Washington Supreme Court, since January 2026, appointed by Governor Bob Ferguson.
Head of the civil rights division, Washington Attorney General's office, under then-Attorney General Bob Ferguson.
Helped lead Washington's 2017 legal challenge to President Donald Trump's first travel ban covering seven predominantly Muslim countries.
No prior judicial experience before her appointment.
Led the August 4, 2026 top-two primary with 51.2% of the vote.
Endorsed by Governor Bob Ferguson, Attorney General Nick Brown, former Governor Jay Inslee, all eight other sitting Supreme Court justices, The Seattle Times, The Stranger, Planned Parenthood and Third Act.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No criticism of Melody by name was found. Her opponents have criticised the practice of justices retiring mid-term so a governor can appoint a successor, but that criticism is directed at the practice rather than at Melody. Searched: Washington State Republican Party material, the Edwards campaign, Washington State Standard, Cascadia Daily News, The Columbian and Seattle Times coverage.
Washington does not run an official judicial performance evaluation commission; bar association ratings of Supreme Court candidates were not found.
Melody joined the court in January 2026 and no analysis of her opinions was found.
Letting voters rather than the governor choose justices, by objecting to mid-term retirements that trigger appointments.
Tax and revenue law expertise on a court facing litigation over the state's new income tax.
Appellate advocacy experience before this specific court.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Tax attorney; adjunct professor of tax law, University of Washington.
Has argued before the Washington Supreme Court, including in a challenge to the state's capital gains tax.
Finished second in the August 4, 2026 top-two primary with about 30% of the vote.
Recommended by the Washington State Republican Party, in a co-recommendation with the third-place candidate.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No campaign website for Edwards was located.
No published criticism of Edwards by name was found. Searched: Washington State Democratic Party material, the Melody campaign, Washington State Standard, Cascadia Daily News, The Columbian and Seattle Times coverage.
Edwards has no judicial record, so there are no opinions to describe.
Washington does not run an official judicial performance evaluation commission.
A more conservative approach on a court its critics say has moved left.
Rural and small-county trial court experience as a perspective the court lacks.
Deference to the legislature on questions of state tax policy.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Judge, Mason County Superior Court, since 2023, elected after defeating a judge appointed by Governor Jay Inslee.
United States Navy veteran.
Led the August 4, 2026 top-two primary for Position 3 with 35.8% of the vote.
Backed by the Washington State Republican Party.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No campaign website for Stevens was located.
No published criticism of Stevens by name was found. Searched: Washington State Democratic Party material, the Hawk campaign, Washington State Standard, Cascadia Daily News and The Columbian coverage.
No independent analysis of his rulings as a superior court judge was found.
Washington does not run an official judicial performance evaluation commission.
Civil liberties and constitutional rights work as preparation for the court.
Access to the courts for people without resources.
Criminal legal system reform, the focus of her advocacy work before the bench.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Judge, King County Superior Court, since 2022, appointed by Governor Jay Inslee.
Attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union before her appointment.
Finished second in the August 4, 2026 top-two primary with 32.9% of the vote, ahead of Court of Appeals judge Mike Diaz at 30.9%.
Endorsed by Governor Bob Ferguson, former Justice Mary Yu, Justice Helen Whitener, U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, Court of Appeals judge Cecily Hazelrigg and Third Act.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No campaign website for Hawk was located.
No published criticism of Hawk by name was found. Searched: Washington State Republican Party material, the Stevens campaign, Washington State Standard, Cascadia Daily News, The Columbian and Seattle Times coverage.
No independent analysis of her rulings as a superior court judge was found.
Washington does not run an official judicial performance evaluation commission.
Existing appellate experience as the direct qualification for the Supreme Court.
Consistency in the court's published decisions.
Access to the courts.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Judge, Washington Court of Appeals, Division I.
Advanced automatically to the November 3, 2026 general election as one of only two filers for Position 4.
Raised approximately $395,000 for the campaign, the largest total in the five 2026 Supreme Court races.
Endorsed by former Governor Jay Inslee, Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer, former Justice Mary Yu, four sitting Supreme Court justices, Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen and other legislators, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay, The Stranger, Planned Parenthood and Third Act.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No campaign website for Birk was located.
No published criticism of Birk by name was found. Searched: Washington State Republican Party material, the O'Donnell campaign, Washington State Standard, Cascadia Daily News, The Columbian and Seattle Times coverage.
No independent analysis of his Court of Appeals opinions was found.
Washington does not run an official judicial performance evaluation commission.
Trial-court experience in the state's largest county as preparation for the court.
Practical handling of criminal and civil caseloads.
Public safety considerations in criminal appeals.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Judge, King County Superior Court.
Advanced automatically to the November 3, 2026 general election as one of only two filers for Position 4.
Raised approximately $334,000 for the campaign.
Endorsed by former Governor Christine Gregoire, Justice Helen Whitener, former Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, former interim Mayor Tim Burgess and several current and former Seattle City Council members.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No campaign website for O'Donnell was located.
No published criticism of O'Donnell by name was found. Searched: Washington State Democratic Party material, the Birk campaign, Washington State Standard, Cascadia Daily News, The Columbian and Seattle Times coverage.
No independent analysis of his rulings as a superior court judge was found.
Washington does not run an official judicial performance evaluation commission.
Appellate litigation experience as preparation for the court's work.
Continuity on a court losing four members in two years.
Access to the courts.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Justice, Washington Supreme Court, since April 2026, appointed by Governor Bob Ferguson.
Litigator at K&L Gates, focusing on intellectual property and appellate litigation; worked alongside Ferguson on cases more than twenty years ago.
No prior judicial experience before his appointment.
Led the August 4, 2026 top-two primary with 34.2% of the vote, narrowly ahead of Dave Larson at 32.6%.
Endorsed by Governor Bob Ferguson, Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck, former Governor Christine Gregoire, five sitting Supreme Court justices, Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, Speaker Laurie Jinkins and many other legislators, The Stranger, Planned Parenthood and Third Act.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No criticism of Angelis by name was found. Criticism in this race has been directed at the appointment process rather than at him. Searched: Washington State Republican Party material, the Larson campaign, Washington State Standard, Cascadia Daily News, The Columbian and Seattle Times coverage.
Angelis joined the court in April 2026, and no analysis of his opinions was found.
Washington does not run an official judicial performance evaluation commission.
Creating a judicial elections commission to evaluate candidates for judicial appointment, rather than leaving the choice to the governor alone.
Municipal and trial court experience as preparation for the court.
Reducing the advantage that gubernatorial appointment gives incumbents.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Judge, Federal Way Municipal Court, for nearly twenty years; retired in 2025.
Candidate for the Washington Supreme Court in 2024, 2020, 2016 and 2000.
Lost the 2024 race to Justice Sal Mungia by about 20,000 votes out of nearly 3.3 million cast.
Finished second in the August 4, 2026 top-two primary with 32.6% of the vote.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No campaign website for Larson was located.
No published criticism of Larson by name was found. Searched: Washington State Democratic Party material, the Angelis campaign, Washington State Standard, Cascadia Daily News, The Columbian and Seattle Times coverage.
No independent analysis of his rulings as a municipal judge was found.
Washington does not run an official judicial performance evaluation commission.
Continuity and institutional memory on a court losing four members in two years.
Administration of the state court system, including the caseload limits the court set for public defenders.
Access to counsel in criminal cases.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Justice, Washington Supreme Court, since 2008; Chief Justice since January 2025.
Ran unopposed for re-election in 2020.
Led the August 4, 2026 top-two primary with 54.5% of the vote against three challengers.
The court under her leadership sharply reduced caseload limits for Washington's public defenders.
Endorsed by The Seattle Times, The Stranger and Third Act.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No criticism of Stephens by name from a named organisation or her opponent was found. One eliminated primary candidate, Karim Merchant, argued that partisan politics has coloured the court's decisions, but that was directed at the court rather than at Stephens. Searched: Washington State Republican Party material, the Bloom campaign, Washington State Standard, Cascadia Daily News, The Columbian and Seattle Times coverage.
Washington does not run an official judicial performance evaluation commission.
No independent analysis of her published opinions over eighteen years on the court was found in the sources reviewed.
A more conservative approach on a court its critics say has moved left.
Financial and accounting expertise on a court facing litigation over the state's new income tax.
Turnover on a court where one member has served since 2008.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Attorney and certified accountant; United States Navy veteran.
Candidate for the Washington Supreme Court in 2024.
Republican candidate for Washington's 6th congressional district in 2022 and 2016.
Finished second in the August 4, 2026 top-two primary with 27.5% of the vote.
Recommended by the Washington State Republican Party.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No campaign website for Bloom was located.
No published criticism of Bloom by name was found. Searched: Washington State Democratic Party material, the Stephens campaign, Washington State Standard, Cascadia Daily News, The Columbian and Seattle Times coverage.
Bloom has no judicial record, so there are no opinions to describe.
Washington does not run an official judicial performance evaluation commission.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Washington ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Washington Secretary of State.