Mary Beth Kelly

About this race

A judge on the state's main trial court. Hears serious criminal cases (felonies), large civil lawsuits and, in many states, family and probate matters.

16 candidates ran for 3rd Circuit Court Judge (Incumbent Position) (Wayne County) in the general election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

About Mary Beth Kelly

Judge, Third Judicial Circuit Court. First appointed to the Wayne County Circuit Court in 1999 (by Gov. John Engler) and its first woman chief judge (2002–07); a Michigan Supreme Court justice 2011–2015, then elected back to the Third Circuit in 2020. J.D., Notre Dame Law School. In 2020 Legal News reported the Detroit Bar Association's Judicial Evaluation Committee gave her “outstanding ratings.”

Summarized in our words from source 1, source 2, source 3, source 4, checked October 2026. Not an endorsement.

Where they stand

Moderately right, from the giving patterns of their campaign donors (DIME campaign-finance score, Stanford). Based on the 492 donors to their 2020 campaign for judge. DIME doesn't name donors: it places each one by everyone they give to, then places the candidate by their donors.

Source: data · how scores are linked to one scale.

More about Mary Beth Kelly

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Also running

• David J. Allen
• Chandra W. Baker-Robinson
• Christopher M. Blount
• Nicole L. Castka
• Bradley L. Cobb
• Chris Dingell
• Charlene M. Elder
• Helal A. Farhat
• Nicole N. Goodson
• Margaret M. Van Houten
• Edward J. Joseph
• Don Knapp
• Cylenthia LaToye Miller
• Carla G. Testani
• Shannon Nicol Walker

Compare everyone in this race →

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Quick answers

Is Mary Beth Kelly the incumbent?

Yes. Mary Beth Kelly currently holds this office.

What does the 3rd Circuit Court Judge (Incumbent Position) seat do?

A judge on the state's main trial court. Hears serious criminal cases (felonies), large civil lawsuits and, in many states, family and probate matters.

Who is Mary Beth Kelly running against?

David J. Allen, Chandra W. Baker-Robinson, Christopher M. Blount, Nicole L. Castka, Bradley L. Cobb, Chris Dingell, Charlene M. Elder, Helal A. Farhat, Nicole N. Goodson, Margaret M. Van Houten, Edward J. Joseph, Don Knapp, Cylenthia LaToye Miller, Carla G. Testani and Shannon Nicol Walker, for 3rd Circuit Court Judge (Incumbent Position) (Wayne County).

Is Mary Beth Kelly liberal or conservative?

On SpectrumVote's left–right scale, Mary Beth Kelly is moderately right, from the giving patterns of their campaign donors (DIME campaign-finance score, Stanford). This comes from published research, not our opinion.

Should I vote for Mary Beth Kelly?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Compare Mary Beth Kelly's record, funding and endorsements with the other candidates in this race and decide based on what matters to you.