Justice of the Supreme Court, Position 7
Washington
My vote power
Average
Election date
August 4, 2026 · Primary election
How do we calculate my vote power?
What goes into the rating: Representation: how much weight one vote carries here compared with a statewide vote — the smaller the district, the more each vote counts. Decisiveness: how likely this race is to be close, based on past results or current analyst ratings, plus the number of candidates.
Representation: Average · 50 out of 100
This district covers a large share of its state, so each vote carries about average weight — like a vote in a statewide race. About 7,816,116 people live here.
Show the representation math
score = 50 + 50 × ln(state population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(50,000) = 50 + 50 × ln(7,816,116 ÷ 7,816,116) ÷ ln(50,000) = 50, measured against a statewide vote in WA (grades: 66+ high, 55+ above average, 33+ average, otherwise low; a statewide race is the 50 baseline)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No analyst ratings or past results for this contest yet.
Average representation → My vote power: Average.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information.
About this office
- Deciding what state laws and the state constitution mean
- Setting rulings that lower state courts must follow
- Deciding major criminal and civil cases
Affects: Public Safety and Crime Control, Gun Control, Women's Reproductive Rights,
Candidates
David R Shelvey
Did not advanceNonpartisan · lost
David R Shelvey is a Sumner attorney and sole practitioner at Rockcraft, PLLC, running for Washington Supreme Court Justice Position 7 in the 2026 primary. His practice has included family law, probate, estate planning, taxation, administrative matters, and civil litigation.
Records: Legal Competence 2 for
Debra L. Stephens
AdvancedNonpartisan · Incumbent · advanced
Debra Stephens has served on the Washington State Supreme Court since 2008 and is Chief Justice. She is a former appellate attorney, law professor and school board director.
Records: Legal Competence 13 for, Civil Rights 9 for
Karim A. Merchant
Did not advanceNonpartisan · lost
Karim A. Merchant is a Washington criminal-defense attorney and owner of K. Merchant Law, PLLC, running for Washington Supreme Court Justice Position 7 in the 2026 primary. He says he has represented clients for more than 18 years and spent the first 15 years of his career as a King County public defender before entering private practice in 2023.
Records: Civil Rights 1 for, Legal Competence 1 for
Todd A. Bloom
AdvancedNonpartisan · advanced
Todd Bloom has over two decades of experience providing professional services to private and publicly-held companies, executives and high net worth families. His prior experience includes over a decade as a tax attorney and senior manager in Big Four accounting.
Records: Legal Competence 2 for, Impartiality 1 for, Public Safety and Crime Control 1 for
Results
Advanced · Certified
Winners: Debra L. Stephens (Nonpartisan), Todd A. Bloom (Nonpartisan)
Source: sos.wa.gov · researched September 12, 2026
Sources: voter.votewa.gov · sanjuancountywa.gov