"She said, 'Don't you know you don't run against an incumbent judge?' "

Ordinarily she would sail to re-election; incumbent judges don't often get challenged.

The three-judge panel had ruled that the incumbent judges could remain in their positions while the state pursued its appeal of the Justice Department's declaration.

The incumbent Republican judge was re-elected.

The incumbent judge declined to run for re-election.

As of 2004, this was the last time an incumbent appellate judge in Oregon lost an election.

For the eighth seat up for grabs, we recommend a well-regarded incumbent judge, Michael Pesce.

Otherwise, the incumbent judge is retained in office for a ten-year term.

Before getting reappointed, though, an incumbent judge must be recommended by the nine-member judicial nominating commission appointed by the governor.

Sometimes, the parties cross-endorse each other's candidates, while at other times they do not and incumbent judges must actively campaign for re-election.