Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh And Justice Noah Hood Launch Reelection Bids To Maintain Democratic Majority On Michigan Supreme Court

Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh and Justice Noah Hood have launched their 2026 reelection campaigns, aiming to keep their seats on the Michigan Supreme Court.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 10, 2026, 9:38 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Michigan Public

Incumbent Justices Seek To Extend Tenures On State High Court

The race for Michigan’s highest judicial bench has officially begun as Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh and Justice Noah Hood announced a joint reelection effort this Monday. Both justices are reaching the end of their current terms and are seeking to maintain the court’s current ideological balance. Cavanagh, who was first elected to the bench in 2018 and rose to the position of Chief Justice in 2025, emphasized her ongoing focus on children and family outcomes within the legal system. Hood, a former appellate judge appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in May 2025 to fill a vacancy, is running for his first full eight-year term on the court.

Chief Justice Cavanagh Highlights Systemic Fairness In Campaign Launch

During her announcement, Chief Justice Cavanagh pointed to her experience as a bridge between various judicial stakeholders, including her role as the Supreme Court Liaison to Tribal Courts and the Michigan Judicial Council. "My commitment to justice is ongoing," Cavanagh stated, asserting that her focus remains on ensuring the system treats every individual with equity. Having been unanimously selected by her peers to lead the court last year, Cavanagh’s campaign will likely lean on her administrative leadership and her history as one of the state's top appellate attorneys prior to her 2018 election.

Justice Noah Hood Vies For First Full Eight-Year Term

Justice Noah Hood, who joined the court following the retirement of former Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement, is centering his campaign on the accessibility of the justice system. Hood’s appointment by Governor Whitmer in 2025 solidified the court’s 6-1 majority of Democratic-nominated justices. In his reelection statement, Hood expressed a desire to continue working toward a framework where the court remains a fair arbiter for everyone who comes before it. His campaign represents his first statewide electoral test for the Supreme Court, having previously served on the Michigan Court of Appeals.