Elections: 1857-present. The original term for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was set at seven years at statehood and the office was nonpartisan. The appointment of a new Chief Justice required the seat be on the ballot at the next annual election occuring more than 30 days following the vacancy. The term for Chief Justice was reduced to six years after a constitutional amendment passed in 1883. Partisan elections for the office were held 1894, 1900, and 1906 with nonpartisan elections returning in 1912. The first primary election for the office was also held in 1912. A 1956 constitutional amendment required that an appointment to the seat trigger a new election one year after the appointment is made.
Most recent elections
Date
Office
Stage
Winners
Details
11/05/2024
Supreme Court Chief Justice
General
Natalie Hudson (Nonpartisan) won with 1,529,063 votes (63.43%) and a winning margin of +27.23
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
Natalie Hudson
Incumbent
Woman
Nonpartisan
1,529,063
63.43
Stephen A. Emery
Man
Nonpartisan
872,720
36.20
Scattering
Write-In
9,023
0.37
Chief Justice Hudson was elected to a second term. Emery was a legal analyst and writer from Montevideo.
Lorie Skjerven Gildea (Nonpartisan) won with 1,636,533 votes (99.07%) and a winning margin of +99.07
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
Lorie Skjerven Gildea
Incumbent
Woman
Nonpartisan
1,636,533
99.07
Scattering
Write-In
15,390
0.93
Gildea was reelected to a third term as Chief Justice without opposition. Gildea resigned on October 1, 2023 to practice law. Governor Tim Walz appointed Associate Justice Natalie Hudson to the seat on October 2, 2023.
Lorie Skjerven Gildea (Nonpartisan) won with 1,284,064 votes (60.02%) and a winning margin of +20.43
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
Lorie Skjerven Gildea
Incumbent
Woman
Nonpartisan
1,284,064
60.02
Dan Griffith
Man
Nonpartisan
846,956
39.59
Scattering
Write-In
8,370
0.39
Governor Tim Pawlenty appointed Associate Justice Gildea to Chief Justice on July 1, 2010 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Chief Justice Eric Magnuson on June 30, 2010 to return to private practice.
Griffith was an attorney from International Falls.
Clark was an attorney from Golden Valley and candidate for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 2008.
Lorie Skjerven Gildea (Nonpartisan) won with 145,018 votes (49.64%) and a winning margin of +28.68
Dan Griffith (Nonpartisan) won with 85,853 votes (29.39%) and a winning margin of +8.42
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
Lorie Skjerven Gildea
Incumbent
Woman
Nonpartisan
145,018
49.64
Dan Griffith
Man
Nonpartisan
85,853
29.39
Jill Clark
Woman
Nonpartisan
61,251
20.97
Governor Tim Pawlenty appointed Associate Justice Gildea to Chief Justice on July 1, 2010 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Chief Justice Eric Magnuson on June 30, 2010 to return to private practice.
Griffith was an attorney from International Falls.
Clark was an attorney from Golden Valley and candidate for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 2008.
Kathleen Blatz (Nonpartisan) won with 1,412,359 votes (73.13%) and a winning margin of +46.26
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
Kathleen Blatz
Incumbent
Woman
Nonpartisan
1,412,359
73.13
Burton Hanson
Man
Nonpartisan
518,912
26.87
Blatz was appointed to Chief Justice by Governor Arne Carlson on January 29, 1998 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Chief Justice Sandy Keith on January 29, 1998 to retire from public office. Blatz was an Associate Justice at the time of the appointment. Blatz resigned on January 10, 2006. Governor Tim Pawlenty appointed Associate Justice Russell Anderson to fill the vacancy on January 11, 2006. Anderson resigned on June 1, 2008 to retire from public office. Governor Pawlenty appointed Eric Magnuson to fill the vacancy effective June 3, 2008. Magnuson was an attorney from Inver Grove Heights. Magnuson resigned effective June 30, 2010 to return to private practice. Governor Pawlenty appointed Associate Justice Lorie Gildea fill the vacancy on July 1, 2010.
Hanson was an attorney from Edina, former Minnesota Supreme Court Deputy Commissioner, and GOP candidate for the 3rd CD in 2004.