Two incumbent justices seeking reelection to the Minnesota Supreme Court held early leads late Tuesday night. The third incumbent on the ballot did not face a challenger.

Chief Justice Natalie Hudson had nearly 66% of the vote around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, while Stephen Emery, had around 34%. A little more than a third of precincts across the state had reported results at that time.

Hudson, who was appointed Chief Justice by Gov. Tim Walz in October 2023, was appointed to fill a vacancy on the court in 2015 by former DFL Gov. Mark Dayton. She won a six-year term in 2016 and in 2022.

Terms on the state Supreme Court are usually six years, Since the minimum retirement age for judges is 70, Hudson, 67, can serve a little over two more years at the helm of the state’s highest court.

Associate Justice Karl Procaccini faced Matthew Hanson and had just more than 59% of the vote as of late Tuesday. Walz appointed Procaccini to fill a vacancy in October 2023, and he’s now been elected to serve a six-year term starting in 2025.

Associate Justice Anne McKieg ran unopposed and won another six-year term on the court. She was first appointed to the court in 2016 and first elected in 2018.

Judicial races are nonpartisan in Minnesota, though the current lineup of seven justices were all appointed by DFL governors. The last GOP appointee, Associate Justice G. Barry Anderson, retired this spring. Gov. Tim Pawlenty appointed Anderson in 2004.

Check back on TwinCities.com for results on this and other races.

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