A nonpartisan election to the North Dakota Supreme Court will be held on November 3, 2026 for the seat currently held by Justice Jerod E. Tufte to serve a ten-year term. A top-two primary will be held on June 9, 2026.
Justice Tufte, who was first elected in 2016, is running for re-election. He is opposed by attorney Ariston Johnson, along with any write-in candidate that may field a candidacy. This is the first Supreme Court election since 2018 in which an incumbent justice who is running for re-election will face an opponent.
Primary election Candidates Advanced to General Ariston Johnson, attorney Jerod E. Tufte, incumbent justice (2017–present) Results
General election The top-two placing candidates in the primary election will advance to the general election. Tufte is likely to be a favorite among many Conservatives because, in 2020, Ballotpedia gave him a confidence score of, “Strong Republican.” https://ballotpedia.org/Jerod_Tufte Johnson has stated that he, “generally identif[ies] as apolitical,” and has stated, “I don’t bring my politics to work and I would not bring them to the Supreme Court.”https://www.inforum.com/opinion/columns/plain-talk-i-dont-bring-my-politics-to-work-and-i-would-not-bring-them-to-the-supreme-court
Special election
A special election for the 8-year unexpired term caused by the resignation of Justice Gerald W. VandeWalle on January 31, 2023 is also on the ballot.
Interim appointee Justice Douglas Bahr is running for re-election. He is unopposed.
Primary election Candidates Advanced to General Douglas Bahr, incumbent justice (2023–present) Results
See also List of justices of the North Dakota Supreme Court
References
External links Official campaign websites Ariston Johnson for Supreme Court