Michigan is gearing up for a significant political showdown as both major parties convene to select nominees for the state Supreme Court. The outcome of these nominations will determine the majority control of the tribunal, with two seats up for grabs.
One notable candidate vying for the Republicans' endorsement is attorney Matthew DePerno, who gained attention for propagating false claims about the 2020 election and is currently facing felony charges related to attempting to unlawfully access and manipulate voting machines.
Although Supreme Court races in Michigan are officially nonpartisan, candidates are chosen through party conventions. Presently, Democratic-backed justices hold a slim 4-3 majority. A Republican victory in both races would shift control of the court, while two Democratic wins would result in a commanding 5-2 supermajority.
The Republican narrative portrays these races as a defense against government overreach, while Democrats view it as a crucial stand to safeguard reproductive rights, which were enshrined by Michiganders in 2022.
At the Republican convention in Flint, delegates are deliberating between DePerno, Detroit Attorney Alexandria Taylor, and Circuit Court Judge Patrick O’Grady for the seat currently occupied by Justice Kyra Harris Bolden. DePerno has refuted any wrongdoing in the voting machine tampering case, dismissing the prosecution as politically motivated.
Meanwhile, at the Democratic convention in Lansing, Justice Bolden, appointed by Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2022, is expected to secure the nomination uncontested. Bolden, the first Black woman appointed to Michigan's highest court, could become the first elected Black woman if successful in November.
The second contested seat, currently held by Republican-backed conservative Justice David Viviano, who opted not to seek reelection, has Court of Appeals Judge Mark Boonstra and State Rep. Andrew Fink vying for the Republican nomination. On the Democratic side, University of Michigan Law School professor Kimberly Ann Thomas is unopposed.
These conventions mark the beginning of what promises to be fiercely competitive and financially intensive general election campaigns. Democratic candidates have notably outpaced their Republican counterparts in fundraising, as indicated by campaign finance reports.
