The incumbent advantage stands out conspicuously in the latest campaign contribution disclosures filed by candidates for the Georgia Supreme Court.

Justices Charles Bethel and Sarah Warren are both running for the job for the first time—having been appointed to vacancies on the high court by former Gov. Nathan Deal. Both reported total contributions of more than $700,000. Bethel reported nearly that much still on hand. Warren reported slightly less than $600,000 still available.

Of the opponents, former state legislator Beth Beskin made the strongest showing, reporting contributions of nearly $240,000. Beskin reported a net cash balance of slightly more than $115,000.

Beskin is running against Bethel following a highly publicized switch from other plans. She first campaigned for an open seat to be vacated by the announced retirement of Justice Robert Benham at the end of this term on Dec. 31. She was one of four candidates campaigning. But Benham changed his plan last December, instead stepping down in March to allow Gov. Brian Kemp to fill the opening. Kemp appointed Justice Carla Wong McMillian, moving her up from the Georgia Court of Appeals.

Then Beskin announced she had planned to run instead against Justice Keith Blackwell. But on the Friday before qualifying began on a Monday in March, Blackwell announced he would leave the court in November of this year and allow the governor to fill his position instead of leaving it open in the next election.

Beskin and former Congressman John Barrow, another would-be candidate for Blackwell's seat, filed a legal action to try to keep the job on the ballot. But they lost their case—at the Supreme Court.

Warren also has a competitor, Dougherty County assistant district attorney Harold Moroz. Moroz reported raising just under $7,000. His biggest expense was the nearly $5,400 filing fee. He reported a $0 cash balance.

The nonpartisan judicial elections will be held with the primary June 9. The election was postponed from the original May 19 date because of the coronavirus pandemic. Some Georgia Supreme Court incumbents have faced serious competition before, but not one has ever lost an election.