Washington state Supreme Court incumbents, including two new appointees of Gov. Bob Ferguson, were leading after early primary voting results were reported Tuesday night.Â
And a King County judge appeared poised to face off with a conservative county judge for an open position on the high court in November, though the race remains close.
Justice Colleen Melody, who Ferguson picked late last year to finish out retiring Justice Mary Yu’s term, is leading attorney Scott Edwards.Â
Justice Theo Angelis, Ferguson’s other appointee, is narrowly ahead of retired Federal Way Municipal Court Judge Dave Larson, with Thurston County Superior Court Judge Sharonda Amamilo a ways back.
In the only primary for a vacant position on the nine-member court, Mason County Superior Court Judge David Stevens leads, as King County Superior Court Judge Jaime Hawk and state appeals court Judge Mike Diaz split the vote on the left. Hawk leads Diaz by about 2%.
Chief Justice Debra Stephens, the only previously elected member of the court on the ballot, is sailing through the primary.Â
The top two candidates for each position will compete in the Nov. 3 general election.
Another open Supreme Court seat wasn’t on the primary ballot, as appeals court Judge Ian Birk and King County Superior Court Judge Sean O’Donnell automatically go on to the general election as the only two candidates running to replace the retiring Justice Charles Johnson.Â
Often these campaigns pass by with little fanfare as incumbents cruise to reelection. But significant turnover means this election cycle will revamp the court, and litigation over the constitutionality of the state’s new income tax is bringing more attention to the races.Â
Combined, candidates have already raised over $2.3 million.
The general election will serve as a referendum on the future of the court, which critics feel has shifted further left in recent years. Progressives and conservatives are facing off in multiple races.
The court decides on appeals from lower courts on both civil and criminal matters. It also guides the work of lower courts. For example, the justices last year slashed caseload limits for the state’s overstretched public defender workforce.Â
Around one million ballots have been counted so far. Votes will continue to trickle in over the coming days, potentially shifting these races.
Originally published on washingtonstatestandard.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.
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