There will be no retention election this year for N.C. Supreme Court Justice Bob Edmunds. The other members of the state’s highest court split, 3-3, on a lawsuit challenging the state law that created retention elections.

That means a three-judge panel’s ruling against the retention elections stands with no precedential value. It also means that voters heading to the polls for a June 7 congressional primary election will narrow the field for a November election involving Edmunds’ seat on the high court.

Edmunds and three challengers will appear on the ballot. The top two finishers in that June 7 election will square off in November.