Chief Justice Debra L. Stephens is seeking reelection to Washington Supreme Court Position 7 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. The official Pierce County sample ballot lists Stephens and Todd A. Bloom in the nonpartisan contest.
Experience and public service
Stephens has served on the Supreme Court since January 2008 and began a second period as chief justice in January 2025, according to Washington Courts’ official biography. Before joining the high court, she was a judge in Division Three of the Court of Appeals.
A Spokane native, Stephens previously practiced law and taught as an adjunct professor at Gonzaga University School of Law. The court biography also notes more than a decade of service as a school board director and chair. She was the first woman from Eastern Washington and the first judge from Division Three to join the state Supreme Court.
Her official biography identifies work in civic education, judicial education on science and water law, and judicial independence. She co-chairs the Washington Board for Judicial Administration.
Campaign principles
Stephens’ campaign website emphasizes judicial independence, access to courts and decisions based on law. The campaign presents her experience as an appellate attorney, teacher and school board director as preparation for continued service. These are her campaign’s stated principles; they are not answers to a submitted Surround Sound Media questionnaire.
The statewide Supreme Court race appears on ballots throughout Washington, including Thurston County.
Sources: Washington Courts biography, https://www.courts.wa.gov/appellate_trial_courts/supreme/bios/?fa=scbios.display_file&fileID=stephens; Stephens campaign, https://justicestephens.com/; official November sample ballot, https://www.piercecountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/161564/Sample-Ballot
Responses are based on public data and answers to a Surround Sound Media questionnaire if they were provided.
