Pierce County, Washington

Pierce County District Court, Judge Position No. 7

2 candidates are tracked for Pierce County District Court, Judge Position No. 7 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Mike Sommerfeld and Pam Nogueira. Candidate information follows official Pierce County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

August 4 top-two primary: Pam Nogueira 36.5 percent, Mike Sommerfeld 36.0 percent; also ran: Eric J. Lawless (27.5 percent), per the county's official results. Nonpartisan countywide judicial seat with three filers, so it prints on the August 4 ballot and the top two advanced to November 3, per Pierce County's sample ballot. The Southeast Electoral District positions on the certified filing list each drew two or fewer filers and are not on the August ballot.

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels.

Washington › Pierce County › Pierce County District Court, Judge Position No. 7

Mike Sommerfeld

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Promoting public trust in the courts
Improving access to justice by removing language barriers and addressing disability access
Expanding approaches focused on rehabilitation and treatment in substance use and mental health cases

Per his questionnaire to the 31st District Democrats.

Biography

A deputy prosecuting attorney in the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office since 1995 who leads the civil division's government operations and litigation team, per his campaign site. He serves as legal adviser to Pierce County District Court and Juvenile Court and has sat as a judge pro tem in Thurston County District Court, per the same site, and his prosecuting work has covered homicide, trafficking, domestic violence, sexual assault and driving under the influence cases.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Pam Nogueira

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Fairness, integrity and transparency on the bench
Public trust, so every person feels heard and treated with dignity
Access to justice through clearer communication, language services and efficient procedures

Per the campaign site.

Biography

An attorney at the Tacoma firm McGavick Graves who serves as a judge pro tem and has previously served as a municipal court judge and a superior court commissioner, per her questionnaire to the 31st District Democrats. She reports about 11 years of legal experience, per her campaign site, and argues district court is where many people have their first and most direct contact with the justice system.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Pierce County District Court, Judge Position No. 7 in 2026?

When is the Pierce County District Court, Judge Position No. 7 election in Washington?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Washington are on the Washington election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Pierce County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Pierce County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Washington election office, or see the full Pierce County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Pierce County ballot

30 tracked races in Pierce County, Washington. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney Pierce County District Court No. 1 Pierce County District Court No. 2 See all 30 Pierce County races

Candidate profiles

Mike Sommerfeld, full profile Pam Nogueira, full profile Official Washington election office