Planned Parenthood Endorsed Washington Judicial Candidates
The advocacy organization announced support for two Washington State Supreme Court candidates ahead of the November election.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Elections
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Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates has endorsed Jaime Hawk and Debra Stephens for the Washington State Supreme Court. This announcement completes the group's slate of endorsements for the five seats up for election in 2026.
Why it matters
The organization aims to protect state reproductive health policies from potential anti-abortion majorities on the bench. They also cited an urgent need to counter the influence of out-of-state dark money in nonpartisan judicial races.
Five of the nine total seats on the Washington State Supreme Court are up for election this year. The endorsements follow a vetting process designed to identify judicial candidates aligned with reproductive health values.
The players
Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates
This organization works as an advocacy group focused on reproductive health policies and judicial influence in the Pacific Northwest.
Jaime Hawk
She is a candidate for Position 3 on the Washington State Supreme Court.
Debra Stephens
She is a candidate for Position 7 on the Washington State Supreme Court.
The details
The advocacy group finalized its full list of candidates to inform voters in upcoming nonpartisan contests. Alongside the latest endorsements for Position 3 and Position 7, the organization previously supported Colleen Melody, Theo Angelis, and Ian Birk.
Timeline
Five Washington State Supreme Court seats are up for election in 2026.
Planned Parenthood announced final Supreme Court endorsements on September 24, 2026.
Election Day for the Supreme Court seats is scheduled for November 2026.
Political Context
The endorsements reflect a broader effort to safeguard Washington state reproductive health policies through the judiciary. Opponents frequently argue that such endorsements politicize nonpartisan benches and prioritize ideology over strict legal interpretation.
Voters will see these endorsements reflected in candidate outreach as they prepare for the November 2026 general election. The results of these races will directly determine the judicial composition that interprets state regulations regarding reproductive access.
The takeaway
Judicial elections carry significant weight for the long-term application of state laws and constitutional rights. Voters are encouraged to review the full slate of candidate endorsements to understand how these selections may impact the state supreme court.
Further reading
For more on upcoming judicial contests, visit the Washington Elections page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Journal of the San Juan Islands.
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