Both Democratic-backed justices win seats on the Michigan Supreme Court

Democrats expanded their majority on the Michigan Supreme Court after two Democratic candidates defeated two Republican candidates.

According to the Associated Press, Justices Kyra Harris Bolden and Kimberly Ann Thomas have won their races for the Michigan Supreme Court. Both won on Tuesday evening during a Michigan Democrats watch party in Detroit.

The victory gives Democrats a 5-2 majority on the state's highest court.

Complete election results for Michigan can be found here

While the election itself is nonpartisan, candidates for the Michigan Supreme Court are nominated by both the Democratic and Republican parties.

The bank's term of office is eight years.

Thomas, a law professor at the University of Michigan, defeated Republican lawmaker Andrew Fink, unofficial results obtained by the Associated Press show. The seat Thomas won is currently held by Judge David Viviano, a Republican candidate who has decided not to run again.

With 78% of the votes counted by 6:30 a.m., Thomas secured 60.1% of the vote to Fink's 39.1%.

Bolden also won her race against Branch County Circuit Court Judge Patrick William O'Grady by a vote of 61.3% to 38.7%.

Bolden was appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to fill a vacancy in 2022 and will only serve four years to complete the remainder of the term.

Thomas and Bolden will serve alongside Democratic appointees Judges Richard Bernstein, Megan Cavanagh and Elizabeth Welch, and Republican appointees Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement and Judge Brian K. Zahra.