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2 GOP-backed justices win Georgia Supreme Court reelection

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by Caroline Vakil - 05/19/26 11:15 PM ET

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by Caroline Vakil - 05/19/26 11:15 PM ET

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Republican-appointed Justices Charlie Bethel and Sarah Warren are projected to defeat their Democratic-backed challengers in their reelection bids for Georgia Supreme Court, according to Decision Desk HQ.

Bethel and Warren defeated liberal-aligned candidates Miracle Rankin and Jen Jordan, respectively. While Georgia Democrats scored two major upsets on the Georgia Public Service Commission last year, Tuesday’s results suggest there might be limits to the party’s success in other statewide elections.

Only one justice on the Georgia Supreme Court has not been appointed by a Republican governor.

While the two high court races are technically nonpartisan, heavy hitters on both sides of the aisle weighed in on Tuesday’s contest. Former President Obama and former Vice President Harris backed Jordan and Rankin, while Gov. Brian Kemp (R) backed the incumbent justices.

There is ongoing litigation in the race, however, regarding the conduct of the two Democratic-backed judicial candidates.

A special committee convened by the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) of Georgia said in statements dated Sunday that both Jordan, an attorney and former Democratic state senator, and Rankin, a trail attorney, and violated judicial conduct rules by campaigning together in advertising and for attending reproductive rights events, conveying that they would “restore abortion rights” if elected.

The special committee noted, however, that those statements were not a final determination of the conduct cases for both candidates.

A federal judge on Monday ruled that the special committee could not make those statements, noting candidates are allowed to weigh in on issues without discussing how they would rule on a potential case before the court. The judge also mentioned that this was happening in the middle of the election.

However, the judge allowed the investigation into both candidates to proceed. Given the election Warren and Bethel’s victories, though, the Democratic-backed candidates’ appeals are likely to moot.

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