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Judicial Elections
Ohio Supreme Court Elections 2026
Ohio Supreme Court justices are chosen in partisan elections to 6-year terms and must run again to keep their seats. 2 seats are on the November 3 ballot.
Rules as of October 15, 2026 · candidates as of October 15, 2026 · source Ballotpedia
Are judges elected in Ohio?
- Highest court
- Ohio Supreme Court — 7 justices
- How chosen
- Partisan election
- Voters
- Voters elect justices
- Term
- 6 years
- To serve again
- Run for re-election
- 2026 ballot
- 2 seats on November 3 — 2 contested
How Ohio chooses its judges
Ohio Supreme Court justices are chosen in partisan elections to 6-year terms and must run again to keep their seats.
- Seats: 7 justices on the Ohio Supreme Court.
- Term: 6 years.
- To serve again: Run for re-election.
- Age rule: Must be under 70 when elected.
- Other courts: Courts of appeals use partisan elections; trial courts use party primaries with a nonpartisan general election.
Ohio used to hold party primaries with a nonpartisan general election for this court; party labels now appear on the November ballot too.
Compare every state on the judicial selection table.
Ohio Supreme Court elections in 2026
2 seats are up in 2026 (partisan election).
Jennifer Brunner’s seat
On the Nov 3 ballot- Jennifer L. BrunnerIncumbentDemocrat
- Colleen O’DonnellRepublican
Dan Hawkins’s seat
On the Nov 3 ballot- Dan HawkinsIncumbentRepublican
- Marilyn ZayasDemocrat
Candidates as of October 15, 2026 from Ballotpedia. Results for November races are added once certified.
How to research judges on your Ohio ballot
- Your sample ballot: Ohio’s official election site shows every judicial race on your ballot, including local courts.
- Deadlines and voting options: How to vote in Ohio — registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
- Candidate details: Ballotpedia tracks each candidate’s background, endorsements and spending; local news and the state bar often publish candidate surveys.
Judicial ethics rules bar candidates from promising how they will rule, so a judge’s record and experience usually say more than campaign ads. This site does not endorse or rate candidates.
Federal judges in Ohio
Federal judges are never on a ballot: the President nominates them and the U.S. Senate confirms them for life. Ohio’s two senators vote on every nominee and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
Ohio’s senators: Bernie Moreno (Republican) and Jon Husted (Republican).
Confirmed by recorded vote in 2026
Matthew R. Byrne
District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio · Sep 15, 2026 · Moreno: Yea, Husted: Yea
Benjamin M. Flowers
Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit · Jul 22, 2026 · Moreno: Yea, Husted: Yea
Michael J. Hendershot
District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio · Jun 24, 2026 · Moreno: Yea, Husted: Yea
District judges for courts in Ohio and circuit judges from the state. Judges confirmed by voice vote leave no roll call; the Senate’s list of confirmed nominations has them. Roll calls from the snapshot refreshed Oct 1, 2026.
Open federal judgeships
The U.S. Courts list no vacant district judgeship in Ohio as of October 15, 2026.
Source: uscourts.gov current judicial vacancies. Every vacancy nationwide is on the judicial elections hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are judges elected in Ohio?
Ohio Supreme Court justices are chosen in partisan elections to 6-year terms and must run again to keep their seats. Courts of appeals use partisan elections; trial courts use party primaries with a nonpartisan general election.
How long is a term on the Ohio Supreme Court?
6 years. At the end of a term, they must run again to keep their seats. Must be under 70 when elected.
Who is running for the Ohio Supreme Court in 2026?
2 seats are on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Jennifer Brunner’s seat: Jennifer L. Brunner (D), incumbent vs. Colleen O’Donnell (R). Dan Hawkins’s seat: Dan Hawkins (R), incumbent vs. Marilyn Zayas (D).
How do I research judges on my Ohio ballot?
Your sample ballot from https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/ lists every judicial race, including local courts. Ballotpedia, local news and the state bar cover candidates' experience and endorsements.
Who appoints federal judges in Ohio?
The President nominates and the U.S. Senate confirms them; they serve for life. Ohio's senators, Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted, vote on every nomination and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state. The Senate confirmed 3 judges tied to Ohio by recorded vote in 2026.
Related
Judicial Elections in Every State
How all 50 states choose judges, every 2026 supreme court race, and federal confirmations.
How to Vote in Ohio
Registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
Ohio Senators & Representatives
Your delegation in Congress and when each term ends.
What Can Congress Do?
Can Congress declare war, override a veto, impeach a cabinet member, remove a senator, overrule the Supreme Court, or invoke the 25th Amendment? Question by question, with live vote math.