Justice of the Supreme Court, Position 1
August 4, 2026 · Washington · Statewide · primary
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: Average · 38 out of 100
This district is mid-sized for its type, so each vote carries average weight. About 7,816,116 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(39,287,377 ÷ 7,816,116) ÷ ln(39,287,377 ÷ 582,397) = 38.34, comparing all statewide districts nationwide (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
Average representation + unknown decisiveness → Average vote impact.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".
This office is responsible for:
- Hearing appeals and major cases under state law
- Deciding what the state constitution and state laws mean
- Setting rulings that lower state courts must follow
Affected Areas: Public Safety and Crime Control, Gun Control, Women's Reproductive Rights, Election Integrity, Civil Rights, Impartiality, Legal Competence
Candidates
Colleen Melody
Nonpartisan · Incumbent · declared
Colleen Melody has served as a justice of the Washington Supreme Court since January 1, 2026, following her appointment by Governor Bob Ferguson. She previously led the Washington Attorney General's Civil Rights Division for 11 years and earlier worked as a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. She is running to retain Washington Supreme Court Justice Position 1 in the 2026 primary.
Records: Civil Rights 8 for, Legal Competence 9 for, Women's Reproductive Rights 1 for
Laura Christensen Colberg
Nonpartisan · declared
Laura Christensen Colberg is a family-law attorney, court-appointed arbitrator, and Snohomish County Superior Court commissioner pro tem running for Washington Supreme Court Justice Position 1 in the 2026 primary. Her official voter-pamphlet statement reports 29 years in family-law practice, including 18 years making judicial decisions as a commissioner pro tem and arbitrator. She earned her law degree from the University of Washington and joined the Washington bar in 1996.
Records: Civil Rights 1 against, Impartiality 1 for, Legal Competence 3 for
Scott Edwards
Nonpartisan · declared
Scott Edwards is a Ballard Spahr partner and state-and-local tax attorney running for Washington Supreme Court Justice Position 1 in the 2026 primary. He reports nearly 30 years representing clients in tax planning, administrative disputes, refund claims, and litigation, including matters before the Washington Supreme Court. His official voter statement says he has also taught at the University of Washington School of Law for more than 20 years.
Records: Election Integrity 1 for, Impartiality 1 for, Legal Competence 6 for
Election sources
Source: voter.votewa.gov
Source: sos.wa.gov