Ohio Supreme Court elections, 2026
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The terms of two Ohio Supreme Court justices will expire on January 1, 2027. The two seats are up for partisan election on November 3, 2026. The primary is May 5, 2026. The filing deadline is February 4, 2026.
Judges with expiring terms
- This is a list of the justices who must stand for partisan election in 2026 in order to remain on the bench. Justices may choose not to stand for election. The list is subject to change if justices retire or are appointed.
■ Dan Hawkins
■ Jennifer L. Brunner
Candidates and results
Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:
- Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
- Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies
Jennifer Brunner's seat
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
Dan Hawkins' seat
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Ohio
Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.
About the Ohio Supreme Court
- See also: Ohio Supreme Court
Founded in 1802, the Ohio Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort and has final authority over the interpretation of Ohio law and the Ohio Constitution. It is composed of seven justices: six justices and a chief justice. Most of the cases the court hears are appeals from the twelve district courts of appeals in Ohio. The court was established by Article IV Section 1 of the Ohio Constitution.[1]
Political composition
This is the political composition of the court heading into the 2026 election.
| ■ Sharon L. Kennedy | Elected in 2012[2] | |
| ■ Pat Fischer | Elected in 2016 | |
| ■ Dan Hawkins | Elected in 2024 | |
| ■ Joseph Deters | Appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine (R) | |
| ■ Pat DeWine | Elected in 2016 | |
| ■ Jennifer L. Brunner | Elected in 2020 | |
| ■ Megan Shanahan | Elected in 2024 |
Selection
The seven justices of the Ohio Supreme Court are selected through partisan primaries and partisan general elections. Previously, these judges were selected through partisan primaries and nonpartisan general elections, known as the Michigan method.[3][4][5]
All judges serve six-year terms, after which they are required to run for re-election if they wish to remain on the court.[5]
Qualifications
To serve on the Ohio Supreme Court, a judge must:
- have at least six years in the practice of law;
- be licensed to practice law in the state for at least one year preceding appointment or commencement of the judge's term;
- be a judge of a court of record in any jurisdiction in the U.S.; or and
- be under the age of 70.[6]
Chief justice
The chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court is chosen by voters at large, serving a full six-year term in that capacity.[5]
Vacancies
In the event of a midterm vacancy, the governor appoints a replacement. The appointee serves until the next general election taking place 40 or more days after the vacancy occurred. If re-elected, the judge serves the remainder of his or her predecessor's unexpired term.[5]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The Supreme Court of Ohio & The Ohio Judicial System, "Jurisdiction & Authority," accessed October 2, 2014
- ↑ Note: In 2022, Kennedy ran and won the election to the chief justice position.
- ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, “Ohio Candidate Requirement Guide,” accessed December 7, 2021
- ↑ Ohio General Assembly, “(Senate Bill Number 80),” accessed December 7, 2021
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 National Center for State Courts, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Ohio," accessed September 1, 2021
- ↑ Ohio Laws & Administrative Rules, "Section 2503.01 | Composition of supreme court; qualifications for justices.," accessed April 12, 2023
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
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