Nikki McGowan

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Nikki McGowan

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 4, 2025

Education

High school

North Royalton High School

Bachelor's

Cleveland State University, 2009

Law

Western Michigan University, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, 2014

Personal

Birthplace

Cleveland, Ohio

Religion

Catholic

Profession

Assistant public defender

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Nikki McGowan ran in a special election for judge of the Cleveland Municipal Court in Ohio. She lost in the special general election on November 4, 2025.

McGowan completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Nikki McGowan was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She graduated from North Royalton High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from Cleveland State University in 2009 and a law degree from Western Michigan University, Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2014. Her career experience includes working as an assistant public defender. She has been affiliated with the Cuyahoga Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the League of Women Voters.

Elections

2025

See also: City elections in Cleveland, Ohio (2025)

General election

Special general election for Cleveland Municipal Court

Brett Horton defeated Nikki McGowan, Joseph F. Russo, and incumbent Christopher Woodworth in the special general election for Cleveland Municipal Court on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Brett Horton (Nonpartisan)	37.9	14,880
		Nikki McGowan (Nonpartisan)	29.7	11,662
	Submit photo	Joseph F. Russo (Nonpartisan)	23.9	9,394
	Submit photo	Christopher Woodworth (Nonpartisan)	8.6	3,362

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Source	Total votes: 39,298
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Ray Tarasuck (Nonpartisan)

Endorsements

McGowan received the following endorsements. To view a full list of McGowan's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here.

• American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Ohio Council 8
• Carpenters Local 435
• Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council
• I.A.T.S.E-Theatrical Stage Employees Local Union No. 27
• International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6
• Laborers Local 310
• Millwrights & Pile Drivers Local 1090
• North Shore AFL-CIO
• Pipefitters Local 120
• Plumbers Union Local 55
• Cleveland Fire Fighters IAFF Local 93
• Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association
• Latinx N.E.O. Fund
• The Carl Stokes Brigade
• United Auto Workers Northeast Ohio Community Action Program Council

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Nikki McGowan completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by McGowan's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have spent my career as a Public Defender in Cleveland Municipal Court. I understand the fears and concerns of people walking into a courtroom, because I stand with them and advocate for them every day. I understand the court, I know the challenges facing those appearing before it, and I have seen how the court can have a positive impact on individuals and the community.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I have spent my career fighting for Clevelanders and working to understand the challenges they face.
• A misdemeanor conviction should not ruin someone's life. I would work to expand diversion programs for first-time offenders.
• Cleveland Municipal Court can have a positive impact on defendants and the community -- I know this because I have seen it happen many times. I would work to expand the resources and services the Court offers.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Specialized Dockets: I have spent years serving clients in Veterans Court, Drug Court, and Mental Health Court. These treatment-focused dockets have changed my clients' (and their families') lives, and I would work to expand their impact and advocate for increased resources.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Patience and a willingness to listen carefully.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Working at a dry cleaners from 14 to 16 years old.

Do you believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge?

Yes. A judge must have the ability and willingness to understand the circumstances of those appearing in front of them. As a public defender I strive to do this with every client I represent.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for a judge to have previous experience in government or politics?

I think it's critical that a judge have experience in the court that they are running for. I am the only candidate in this race that has spent the majority of my career practicing in Cleveland Municipal Court. As a public defender, I have advocated for clients daily, practicing in front of every Cleveland Municipal Court in every specialized docket. This experience has given me a long-term and up-close look at how the Court works, and how it can be improved.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Carl Stokes Brigade

Latinx N.E.O. Fund
AFL-CIO North Shore
Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council
I.A.T.S.E. Local 27, Theatrical Stagehands
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME Council 8)
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6
Plumbers Local 55
Laborers' Local 310
Pipefitters Local 120
Millwrights and Pile Drivers Local 1090
Carpenters Local 435
Cleveland Police Patrolman's Association
Association of Cleveland Fire Fighters IAFF Local 93

United Auto Workers

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2025 Elections

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Government

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External links

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Candidate

Cleveland Municipal Court

Website

Facebook

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Footnotes

Ohio courts

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Federal courts:

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio

State courts:

Ohio Supreme Court • Ohio District Courts of Appeal • Ohio Courts of Common Pleas • Ohio County Courts • Ohio Municipal Courts • Ohio Court of Claims

State resources:

Courts in Ohio • Ohio judicial elections • Judicial selection in Ohio