Mike Diaz

A candidate for Supreme Court Position 3, State of Washington in the 2026 Washington Primary Election, Aug. 4

City: Seattle, Washington

City: Seattle

Education: Graduated from John F. Kennedy Memorial High School in Seattle in 1992. Earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1996, where he double-majored in philosophy and the Program of Liberal Studies. Studied classical philosophy as a graduate student at Princeton University for two years. Earned a law degree from Cornell Law School in 2002.

Work experience: Practiced law for more than two decades. Began in private practice at Fulbright & Jaworski in Houston, then Yarmuth Wilsdon Calfo in Seattle. Joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington as an assistant U.S. attorney in 2008, where he founded the office’s Civil Rights Program in 2011 and worked on the Seattle Police Department consent decree. Appointed to the King County Superior Court in 2018 and to the Division I state Court of Appeals in 2022, both by Gov. Jay Inslee.

Political experience: Appointed to the bench twice by Gov. Inslee, and won election to the Court of Appeals in 2023. In 2016, President Obama nominated him to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington; the nomination expired without a Senate vote. First run for the state Supreme Court.

Family: Married to Karrie Johnson Diaz, has two girls, one in medical school and one a senior in high school.

Campaign finance: Had raised more than $220,000, according to the PDC as of July 2, 2026, including $7,500 he loaned his campaign. Contributors include Spokane County Superior Court Judge Tony Hazel, the Washington Education Association Political Action Committee and the Washington Federation of State Employees.