Abortion battle sparks influx of interest — and money — in state Supreme Court races

Washington — The stakes surrounding state Supreme Court races around the country are the highest they have been in recent memory this election cycle, as activists on both sides of the abortion rights debate shift their focus to state judiciaries that could now be the final word on the issue in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade.

There are state Supreme Court elections in 30 states this year and 85 seats in all on the ballot, according to Ballotpedia, although most of the contests are for seats held by nonpartisan justices. But in at least three states — North Carolina, Ohio and Illinois — party control of the high court hangs in the balance in November.

While state judicial races have typically garnered attention from in-state business interests in years past, the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decisions on redistricting and ending the constitutional right to an abortion have elevated the contests, with big money expected to flow into the races this cycle.