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Editor’s note: The Michigan Daily Editorial Board has also provided endorsements for other races on the Ann Arbor ballot this November. You can find them all here.
There are two coinciding races for Michigan’s Supreme Court this fall. The candidates for the first race are current Justice Kyra Harris Bolden and Judge Patrick O’Grady. Harris Bolden was appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court in 2023 by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and is running for reelection. O’Grady is a former prosecutor and the chief judge for the 15th Circuit Court. The candidates for the second race are Kimberly Thomas and Andrew Fink. Thomas is a Fulbright Scholar and professor at the University of Michigan Law School. Fink has been a member of Michigan’s House of Representatives since 2021 and is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School.
Down the ballot, the race for each open spot on Michigan’s Supreme Court might be the most clear-cut choice. The impact of the Dobbs decision, which gave states the power to enact their own abortion legislation, has left its mark on the electorate. As the fate of abortion has become increasingly volatile, the candidates in this race have made their stances clear. On one side, Harris Bolden and Thomas support access to abortion and have been endorsed by Planned Parenthood. On the other, O’Grady and Fink are men who support restricting access to abortion and have the endorsements to prove it.
O’Grady and Fink are endorsed by Citizens for Traditional Values, which opposes the Voting Rights Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Fink also attended a “Stop the Steal” rally on Jan. 6, 2021, following President Joe Biden’s election the previous November.
The Supreme Court vacancies might be the most pertinent elections on the Michigan state ballot. Pivotal legal issues nationwide, including abortion and free elections, have courts scrambling for solutions. One side is committed to securing a woman’s right to an abortion and a Michigander’s right to vote. The other is seemingly unconcerned with these issues.
For these reasons, The Michigan Daily Editorial Board is choosing to endorse Kyra Harris Bolden and Kimberly Thomas for the Michigan Supreme Court in their respective elections. Given their endorsements and stated position defending abortion and voting rights, in contrast to their opponents, the choice is clear. Michigan voters should vote for Harris Bolden and Thomas in November to place utmost value on the protection of civic, individual and community rights.
This editorial represents the opinion of The Michigan Daily’s Editorial Board. If you are interested in submitting an Op-Ed or Letter to the Editor, please send your submission to tothedaily@michigandaily.com.
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