Photo Illustration
Michiganders have some big decisions to make in November —including a choice between electing Kyra Harris Bolden or Patrick O’Grady to a partial term on the state Supreme Court.
MICHIGAN—Incumbent state Supreme Court Justice and former state Rep. Kyra Harris Bolden, a Democrat, will face off in the November election against 16th Circuit Court Judge Patrick O’Grady, a Republican, for one of seven seats on the Michigan Supreme Court.
Every eligible registered voter in Michigan can vote in this race, which may appear on the backside of the ballot, and the winner will go on to finish out a partial term that expires in 2029.
Unlike the US Supreme Court, where judges are appointed and (at least theoretically) expected to be non-partisan, state Supreme Court justices in Michigan are nominated by political parties and have a specific party affiliation—though that party affiliation is not displayed on the ballot.
Democratic-backed justices currently hold a 4-3 majority on the Court. Republican victories could flip control of the court, while two Democratic wins would yield a 5-2 majority.
With crucial decisions involving reproductive rights, abortion bans, gun safety laws, and election integrity all making their way to state supreme courts across the country in recent years, whoever wins will likely have a hand in making some big decisions for the people of Michigan.
Here’s a quick primer on the race, along with links to some other relevant news:
Kyra Harris Bolden
Bolden was appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court in 2022 by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and has since been nominated by the Michigan Democratic Party to finish out the remainder of former Chief Justice Bridget McCormack’s term, which expires in 2029. She’s a former state representative from Southfield and the first Black woman to serve on the state Supreme Court.
Now serving in her second year on the court, Bolden “remains committed to ensuring equal access to justice, applying the law without fear or favor, and treating all who come before our state’s highest court with dignity and respect,” according to her campaign website.
“We are just people trying to make the best decisions possible,” Bolden told The ‘Gander this summer.
“We’re trying to follow the law, and sometimes that means making unpopular decisions, but people should have the opportunity to be heard and respected. That should be non-negotiable. That doesn’t mean that you win, but it means that you had a fair opportunity to be heard.”
As a former member of the state House of Representatives, Bolden was openly pro-choice and pro-labor. She also crafted (and passed) five bipartisan bills focused on criminal justice reform and protecting survivors or sexual violence.
Her experience in the legislature has also informed how she approaches her role on the court.
“I’ve made laws, passed laws, and I’ve voted on countless bills. Sometimes a strict textualist approach is not going to be helpful because our laws are not necessarily clear and they don’t contemplate every situation,” Bolden told The ‘Gander. “I have to leave myself malleable to take in all the information and try to make the best decision based on the information in front of me.”
Bolden graduated from Grand Valley State University and the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, has worked as an attorney in southeast Michigan, and was reportedly inspired to pursue law after she learned the story of her great-grandfather, who was lynched in Tenesee in 1939.
She’s also a member of the Association of Black Judges of Michigan, the Wolverine, Straker, and Oakland County bar associations, and the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Bolden has also received several awards—including the NAACP’s Ida B. Wells Freedom and Justice Award.
Ahead of the election, Bolden has been endorsed by several major reproductive rights groups, which say that Michiganders can trust Bolden to protect their legal right to access abortion.
Patrick O’Grady
Patrick O’Grady is a longtime 15th Circuit Court judge in Branch County, a US Army Reserve veteran, a former Michigan State Police trooper, and a former assistant Branch County prosecutor who claims to have presided over 14,000 cases during his time on the bench.
During a recent debate, O’Grady introduced himself as a Christian man who, if elected, would adhere to a strict, textualist interpretation of the state Constitution as a “rule of law judge.”
That’s the same mentality that guided the majority on the US Supreme Court that overturned Roe v. Wade and peeled back the constitutional right to abortion for millions of women.
“We now have a far left court, and I’m coming before you to run for Supreme Court to take it from the far-left back to normal. And what do I mean by normal? I mean rule of law, constitutional textualist court,” O’Grady told a crowd at a rural church earlier this month.
During the debate, O’Grady also voiced opposition to a recent Michigan Supreme Court decision that will reinstate paid sick leave laws and lead to an increase to the state’s minimum wage. He also spoke at length about how Michigan was formed “pursuant to almighty God.”
“We are very fortunate that we do have a country that was founded on Judeo-Christian principles of our founding fathers. We also have the same thing for our state,” O’Grady said. “If you read the preamble to the state Constitution, they’re basically forming this state pursuant to Almighty God. It’s in the preamble. It’s right there. That’s how they open it up. A group of people saying, ‘we’re getting ready to create this state, and we’re doing it for almighty God.’”
He added: “When you have a Christian worldview as an example, your conscience is in line with [the state Constitution]. It’s really only when you don’t have that or when you’re trying to stretch them, bend them, change them, create something that’s not there, it’s acrimony in your soul.”
During the recent debate, O’Grady also said that he admires US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who, in addition to facing a corruption scandal, generally opposes constitutional protections for abortion and LGBTQ rights. O’Grady said he’s “an incredible man.”
More Coverage from The ‘Gander
Kyra Harris Bolden pledges justice ‘without fear or favor’ on Michigan Supreme Court
Flip it over! The Michigan Supreme Court race could be hiding on your ballot this year.
Gun safety group backs Kyra Harris Bolden and Kimberly Ann Thomas for state Supreme Court
5 things to know about incumbent Michigan Supreme Court Justice Kyra Harris Bolden
Democratic-backed Michigan Supreme Court candidates field questions at voter forum
5 things to know about conservative Michigan Supreme Court candidate Patrick William O’Grady
Shifting majority on state’s top court could spell big changes for Michiganders’ rights
5 things to know about conservative Michigan Supreme Court candidate Patrick O’Grady
Trump endorsement could put abortion back on the ballot in Michigan Supreme Court race
Under-the-radar’ race for Michigan Supreme Court has huge stakes, ACLU says
10 landmark cases that show how the Michigan Supreme Court shapes your rights
Lobbyists bank on Republican state Supreme Court candidates to hold back worker wages
Republican candidates go full MAGA at Michigan Supreme Court debate
Minimum wage and tipped workers to get a raise after Michigan Supreme Court decision
Meet the four candidates running in high-stakes Michigan Supreme Court election
Why you should care about this year’s Michigan Supreme Court election
Reproductive rights groups stand behind Kyra Harris Bolden for Michigan Supreme Court
VIDEO: Kyra Harris Bolden on why she ran for Michigan Supreme Court
Kyra Harris Bolden reflects on representation and the role of the court
Abortion, democracy and the woman who could be Michigan’s first Black woman justice
Explainer: What does the Michigan Supreme Court do?
Check your voter registration status, see who is on your ballot, and make a voting plan.
Author
Support Our Cause
Thank you for taking the time to read our work. Before you go, we hope you'll consider supporting our values-driven journalism, which has always strived to make clear what's really at stake for Michiganders and our future.
Since day one, our goal here at The 'Gander has always been to empower people across the state with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Michigan families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.
What happens next? A timeline of the process between voting and inauguration
My fellow Americans, we have reached the other side. Months of debate, campaign ads, unsolicited text messages, canvassers at the door, and a news...
Presidential race too close to call as vote counts continue in key swing states
Results in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin may not come in until Wednesday morning, and Arizona and Nevada are unlikely to see calls made...
Early results: Democratic-backed candidates win both seats on Michigan Supreme Court
Preliminary election results show that Democratic-backed candidates Kyra Harris Bolden and Kimberly Ann Thomas have defeated their Republican-backed...
Reporter’s notebook: Here’s what the vibe was like at polling places across Michigan
Michiganders are showing up to elect the next president of the United States—and bringing the good vibes with them. MICHIGAN—Election Day is nearly...
On the eve of Election Day, Walz calls on Michigan voters to bring home a Harris presidency
BY KYLE DAVIDSON, MICHIGAN ADVANCE With the clock ticking down to Election Day, Michigan Democrats readied themselves for one last push as they...
