Minnesota Voters Face Three Contested Judicial Races

While most judicial seats remain unopposed, voters in select Minnesota districts will choose between multiple candidates this fall.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Criminal Justice

Minnesota Voters Face Three Contested Judicial Races

Live Poll

Do you feel well-informed when voting for local district court judges in your community?

Minnesota voters will head to the polls in fall 2026 to weigh in on three contested district court judicial seats. While Supreme Court Justices Paul Thissen and Sarah Hennesy face no opposition, voters in the Fifth, Ninth, and 10th Districts will select from competitive candidate fields.

Why it matters

Judicial elections allow the public to influence the bench, which oversees critical criminal, civil, family, juvenile, and probate cases across the state.

Three judicial seats are contested in the 2026 election, while other high-court races remain unopposed. Candidates for the contested benches bring years of legal experience, including 30 years from Christopher Cain and 20 years from Rebecca A. Waxse.

The players

Paul Thissen

He is a Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court who is running unopposed for re-election.

Sarah Hennesy

She serves as a Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court and is currently seeking a new term without opposition.

Gregory G. Galler

He is an outgoing judge who was originally appointed to the 10th District Court in 2001.

Christina M. Wietzema

She is a candidate for the Fifth District bench who previously spent 17 years working as a public defender.

Rebecca A. Waxse

She is a candidate for the 10th District bench who has practiced law for 20 years.

The details

Christopher Cain and Christina M. Wietzema are vying for the Fifth District, Henry C. Ambelang and Matthew R. Mallie for the Ninth, and Ben Lacy and Rebecca A. Waxse for the 10th District. The 10th District race follows the decision by Judge Gregory G. Galler not to seek re-election.

2012: Christina M. Wietzema appointed to the Fifth District bench.
2014: Christina M. Wietzema elected to the Fifth District bench.
2019: Matthew R. Mallie appointed to the Ninth District bench.
2020: Christina M. Wietzema elected to the Fifth District bench.
Fall 2026: Minnesota judicial elections take place.

Legal Context

These races operate within the framework of Minnesota's nonpartisan judicial election system. The process highlights the role of contested elections in a landscape where most judicial positions are typically filled through appointment.

Residents in the affected northern, southwest, and east-central Minnesota districts will see multiple candidates listed on their ballots for the upcoming term. Voters are encouraged to review these judicial candidates, as these judges will ultimately oversee local family, civil, and criminal proceedings.

The takeaway

Judicial elections offer a rare opportunity for voters to directly select the jurists presiding over their community's legal disputes. Residents should research the professional backgrounds of their district's candidates to make an informed choice at the ballot box this fall.