These state supreme court races could decide abortion access and trans rights

Ohio, North Carolina and Michigan have open seats on their state supreme court, and these hotly contested races will influence how those courts rule in several high-stakes cases.

By: Rachel Rebouché, The University of Texas at Austin, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: October 7, 2026

Words: 1,240

Last Updated: 1 week, 3 days ago

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By Rachel Rebouché, The University of Texas at Austin

In the heated news coverage of what’s at stake in the 2026 midterms, state supreme court races are drawing relatively little attention. Yet these are highly significant elections.

Thirty-one states are holding supreme court elections in 2026, with voters nationwide picking judges to fill more than 60 open seats.

As a law professor whose research and writing focuses on reproductive health, I’m watching these races …

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