Bloom leads Stephens in Washington Supreme Court Position 7 race

Todd A. Bloom holds a narrow lead over Chief Justice Debra L. Stephens in the race for Washington State Supreme Court Position 7. Bloom has 55,211 votes (50.0%) to Stephens' 54,785 votes (49.7%), a margin of 426 votes with 5 of 39 reporting units counted, according to unofficial results from Washington Secretary of State. The count is not complete, and 110,338 votes have been counted so far.

Washington conducts elections primarily by mail. Ballots postmarked by Election Day will be counted if received by Nov. 23, according to KBTX's state-by-state guide. In the 2024 general election, about 33% of Washington's vote was not counted on election night.

What was at stake

The Washington Supreme Court is the state's highest court. It is composed of a chief justice and eight associate justices elected to six-year terms in nonpartisan races.

Five of the court's nine seats are on the Nov. 3 ballot, an unusually large number that could reshape the court's direction on taxes, criminal justice and constitutional rights, as Fox 13 Seattle reported.

The key issues:

• Judicial philosophy: Bloom, a Tacoma attorney and Navy veteran, said in a candidate questionnaire that he believes judges should exercise judicial restraint and respect the separation of powers. Stephens said in her questionnaire that she approaches the law with "judicial humility and a deep respect for text and structure."
• Income tax challenge: The Legislature approved a 9.9% tax on annual income above $1 million in 2026, according to Fox 13 Seattle. The law could face constitutional challenges, and justices elected this year could help decide the outcome.
• Initiative 2066: In September 2026, the court ruled 6-3 that the voter-approved natural gas initiative was unconstitutional, according to Fox 13 Seattle. That ruling drew attention to the court's direction.

Todd Myers, vice president of research at the Washington Policy Center, told Fox 13 Seattle that the court's decisions "increasingly affect Washingtonians' lives."

A little history

Stephens has served on the Washington Supreme Court since 2008, when she was appointed by Gov. Christine Gregoire. She was elected that year and re-elected in 2014 and 2020.

She is the current chief justice. Before joining the court, she served as a judge on Division Three of the Washington Court of Appeals and taught at Gonzaga University School of Law.

Bloom is an attorney, certified public accountant and Navy veteran based in Tacoma. He also ran for the seat in 2024, according to The Center Square.

He has served as a FINRA arbitrator for about 20 years. The Washington State Republican Party recommended Bloom, according to a WAGOP statement. Stephens has received support from the AFL-CIO and various Democratic officials.

The last time a Washington Supreme Court justice lost re-election was in 2010.

What's next

The results remain unofficial until the canvass is complete. County canvassing boards must certify results by Nov. 24, and the Secretary of State must certify statewide results by Dec. 3. Mail ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 remain eligible if received by Nov. 23.

Under Washington law, a recount is required if the margin is less than 2,000 votes and less than 0.5% of the total votes cast, according to Verified Voting.

Election results: Washington State Supreme Court Justice - Position 7 (Washington General Election, 2026-11-03)

Source: Washington Secretary of State. Results current as of Nov. 3, 2026, 8:08 p.m. PST. Reporting: 5 of 39. Unofficial results; the count is not complete.