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Ohio local trial court judicial elections, 2020
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- Main articles: State judicial elections, 2020 and Local trial court judicial elections, 2020
Ballotpedia provides comprehensive coverage of elections in America's 100 largest cities by population. This coverage extends to every office on the ballot for residents of these cities, including local trial court judges. In 2020, Ballotpedia covered the following local elections in this state:
- Toledo, Ohio - City council (special)
- Cuyahoga County, Ohio - County council, prosecuting commissioners, court of appeals judgeships, court of common pleas judges
- Fairfield County, Ohio - County commissioners, county treasurer, county recorder, county coroner, county sheriff, county engineer, prosecuting attorney, clerk of courts, and two court of common pleas judges
- Franklin County, Ohio - County commissioners, county prosecutor, clerk of courts, sheriff, recorder, treasurer, engineer, coroner, court of common pleas judgeships, probate court judge
- Hamilton County, Ohio - County commissioners, prosecuting attorney, clerk of courts, sheriff, recorder, treasurer, engineer, coroner, court of common pleas judges
- Lucas County, Ohio - County commissioners, coroner, sheriff, recorder, engineer, treasurer, prosecuting attorney, clerk of court of common pleas, court of common pleas judges
If the above list includes local trial court judgeships, click the links for more information about the elections. Click here to learn more about how the judges in this state are selected. Ballotpedia did not cover all local trial court judicial elections in this state in 2020. Please consider donating to Ballotpedia to help us expand our coverage of these elections.
Election rules
Primary election
In Ohio, primary elections serve to nominate a candidate of a political party for election to an office. The winners of each party's primary go on to face each other in the general election. Primaries are held "on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May of each year except in years in which a presidential primary election is held."[1]
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
The 391 judges of the Ohio Courts of Common Pleas are all selected in an identical manner. Qualified individuals wishing to join the bench must participate in partisan primary elections followed by nonpartisan general elections.[2]
The chief judges of the Ohio Courts of Common Pleas are chosen by peer vote and serve for one year.[2]
Qualifications
To serve on an appellate or general jurisdiction court, a judge must be:[2]
- a district or county resident (for court of appeals and common pleas judges);
- at least six years practiced in law; and
- under the age of 70.
Under the Ohio Constitution, a judge who reaches 70 years of age may be assigned by the chief justice to active duty, receiving payment on a per-day basis in addition to whatever retirement benefits he or she is entitled to.
Additional elections
- See also: Ohio elections, 2020
Pivot Counties
- See also: Pivot Counties by state
Nine of 88 Ohio counties—10.2 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.
| Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | Trump margin of victory in 2016 | Obama margin of victory in 2012 | Obama margin of victory in 2008 | ||||
| Ashtabula County, Ohio | 18.80% | 12.78% | 13.54% | ||||
| Erie County, Ohio | 9.48% | 12.29% | 13.86% | ||||
| Montgomery County, Ohio | 0.73% | 4.62% | 6.22% | ||||
| Ottawa County, Ohio | 19.51% | 4.30% | 6.24% | ||||
| Portage County, Ohio | 9.87% | 5.52% | 8.99% | ||||
| Sandusky County, Ohio | 22.58% | 2.71% | 4.64% | ||||
| Stark County, Ohio | 17.17% | 0.47% | 5.46% | ||||
| Trumbull County, Ohio | 6.22% | 23.00% | 22.43% | ||||
| Wood County, Ohio | 7.99% | 4.84% | 7.13% | ||||
In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Ohio with 51.7 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 43.6 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Ohio cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 93.3 percent of the time (28 out of 30 elections), more than any other state in the country. In that same time frame, Ohio supported Republican candidates for president more often than Democratic candidates, 60 to 40 percent. Between 2000 and 2016, Ohio voted for the winning presidential candidate in every election.
Presidential results by legislative district
The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Ohio. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[3][4]
| In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 39 out of 99 state House districts in Ohio with an average margin of victory of 35.7 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 33 out of 99 state House districts in Ohio with an average margin of victory of 34 points. Clinton won seven districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections. |
| In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 60 out of 99 state House districts in Ohio with an average margin of victory of 17.4 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 66 out of 99 state House districts in Ohio with an average margin of victory of 28.3 points. Trump won seven districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections. |
| 2016 presidential results by state House district | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Obama | Romney | 2012 Margin | Clinton | Trump | 2016 Margin | Party Control |
| 1 | 38.79% | 59.24% | R+20.5 | 30.29% | 65.04% | R+34.7 | R |
| 2 | 39.31% | 58.68% | R+19.4 | 29.22% | 66.46% | R+37.2 | R |
| 3 | 51.29% | 46.45% | D+4.8 | 42.61% | 50.69% | R+8.1 | R |
| 4 | 37.14% | 61.16% | R+24 | 29.02% | 66.54% | R+37.5 | R |
| 5 | 43.04% | 54.83% | R+11.8 | 26.99% | 68.78% | R+41.8 | R |
| 6 | 47.63% | 51.35% | R+3.7 | 49.34% | 47.10% | D+2.2 | R |
| 7 | 47.89% | 50.80% | R+2.9 | 43.80% | 52.04% | R+8.2 | R |
| 8 | 81.58% | 17.75% | D+63.8 | 81.13% | 16.64% | D+64.5 | D |
| 9 | 85.23% | 14.11% | D+71.1 | 86.73% | 10.91% | D+75.8 | D |
| 10 | 89.62% | 9.61% | D+80 | 85.79% | 11.52% | D+74.3 | D |
| 11 | 88.72% | 10.64% | D+78.1 | 83.99% | 13.93% | D+70.1 | D |
| 12 | 84.03% | 15.46% | D+68.6 | 82.01% | 15.91% | D+66.1 | D |
| 13 | 76.21% | 22.24% | D+54 | 72.94% | 22.56% | D+50.4 | D |
| 14 | 63.03% | 35.54% | D+27.5 | 53.61% | 42.03% | D+11.6 | D |
| 15 | 59.18% | 39.28% | D+19.9 | 48.53% | 46.89% | D+1.6 | D |
| 16 | 49.37% | 49.54% | R+0.2 | 50.78% | 45.09% | D+5.7 | R |
| 17 | 61.41% | 36.78% | D+24.6 | 53.34% | 41.75% | D+11.6 | D |
| 18 | 70.04% | 27.78% | D+42.3 | 73.61% | 20.76% | D+52.8 | D |
| 19 | 47.99% | 50.56% | R+2.6 | 51.84% | 42.94% | D+8.9 | R |
| 20 | 57.45% | 41.22% | D+16.2 | 54.13% | 41.35% | D+12.8 | D |
| 21 | 48.03% | 50.52% | R+2.5 | 54.17% | 40.64% | D+13.5 | R |
| 22 | 65.70% | 32.50% | D+33.2 | 67.15% | 27.74% | D+39.4 | D |
| 23 | 48.63% | 49.65% | R+1 | 44.07% | 50.55% | R+6.5 | R |
| 24 | 48.32% | 50.18% | R+1.9 | 52.82% | 42.02% | D+10.8 | R |
| 25 | 84.94% | 13.90% | D+71 | 82.21% | 14.45% | D+67.8 | D |
| 26 | 82.21% | 16.89% | D+65.3 | 78.59% | 18.45% | D+60.1 | D |
| 27 | 37.72% | 60.95% | R+23.2 | 44.19% | 50.48% | R+6.3 | R |
| 28 | 47.68% | 51.09% | R+3.4 | 49.74% | 45.54% | D+4.2 | R |
| 29 | 36.38% | 61.99% | R+25.6 | 32.63% | 63.29% | R+30.7 | R |
| 30 | 29.86% | 68.57% | R+38.7 | 29.47% | 65.80% | R+36.3 | R |
| 31 | 68.65% | 29.81% | D+38.8 | 69.01% | 26.01% | D+43 | D |
| 32 | 77.38% | 21.44% | D+55.9 | 76.98% | 19.40% | D+57.6 | D |
| 33 | 74.59% | 24.41% | D+50.2 | 74.33% | 22.24% | D+52.1 | D |
| 34 | 77.67% | 21.29% | D+56.4 | 74.56% | 22.10% | D+52.5 | D |
| 35 | 65.71% | 32.53% | D+33.2 | 54.68% | 40.82% | D+13.9 | D |
| 36 | 51.22% | 47.16% | D+4.1 | 43.84% | 51.40% | R+7.6 | R |
| 37 | 48.21% | 50.59% | R+2.4 | 48.22% | 47.58% | D+0.6 | R |
| 38 | 45.12% | 53.31% | R+8.2 | 39.47% | 56.20% | R+16.7 | R |
| 39 | 83.01% | 15.69% | D+67.3 | 77.40% | 18.70% | D+58.7 | D |
| 40 | 42.26% | 56.01% | R+13.7 | 37.44% | 58.22% | R+20.8 | R |
| 41 | 41.76% | 56.43% | R+14.7 | 41.26% | 53.19% | R+11.9 | R |
| 42 | 37.30% | 61.04% | R+23.7 | 34.78% | 60.50% | R+25.7 | R |
| 43 | 52.03% | 46.30% | D+5.7 | 44.83% | 51.71% | R+6.9 | R |
| 44 | 85.18% | 13.57% | D+71.6 | 78.27% | 17.63% | D+60.6 | D |
| 45 | 67.48% | 30.35% | D+37.1 | 54.70% | 38.87% | D+15.8 | D |
| 46 | 61.17% | 36.89% | D+24.3 | 51.98% | 42.46% | D+9.5 | D |
| 47 | 44.22% | 54.03% | R+9.8 | 39.17% | 55.41% | R+16.2 | R |
| 48 | 45.37% | 52.95% | R+7.6 | 38.85% | 56.51% | R+17.7 | R |
| 49 | 63.88% | 33.96% | D+29.9 | 50.58% | 44.46% | D+6.1 | D |
| 50 | 42.15% | 56.06% | R+13.9 | 32.22% | 63.32% | R+31.1 | R |
| 51 | 39.52% | 58.86% | R+19.3 | 34.67% | 60.85% | R+26.2 | R |
| 52 | 32.15% | 66.62% | R+34.5 | 34.41% | 61.10% | R+26.7 | R |
| 53 | 37.68% | 60.48% | R+22.8 | 31.90% | 64.04% | R+32.1 | R |
| 54 | 33.88% | 64.77% | R+30.9 | 35.15% | 59.94% | R+24.8 | R |
| 55 | 54.00% | 44.36% | D+9.6 | 46.06% | 49.11% | R+3 | R |
| 56 | 66.42% | 31.87% | D+34.5 | 56.04% | 39.48% | D+16.6 | D |
| 57 | 45.16% | 52.88% | R+7.7 | 33.67% | 61.31% | R+27.6 | R |
| 58 | 77.98% | 20.84% | D+57.1 | 63.99% | 32.77% | D+31.2 | D |
| 59 | 51.32% | 47.23% | D+4.1 | 39.03% | 57.44% | R+18.4 | D |
| 60 | 53.77% | 44.35% | D+9.4 | 43.53% | 51.59% | R+8.1 | D |
| 61 | 44.47% | 54.03% | R+9.6 | 37.08% | 58.60% | R+21.5 | R |
| 62 | 27.91% | 70.65% | R+42.7 | 24.13% | 71.55% | R+47.4 | R |
| 63 | 60.72% | 37.58% | D+23.1 | 44.17% | 51.91% | R+7.7 | D |
| 64 | 59.27% | 38.87% | D+20.4 | 44.19% | 51.55% | R+7.4 | D |
| 65 | 31.46% | 66.93% | R+35.5 | 28.92% | 66.19% | R+37.3 | R |
| 66 | 33.65% | 64.53% | R+30.9 | 23.17% | 73.04% | R+49.9 | R |
| 67 | 38.37% | 60.33% | R+22 | 39.82% | 55.21% | R+15.4 | R |
| 68 | 36.74% | 61.59% | R+24.9 | 34.19% | 61.06% | R+26.9 | R |
| 69 | 41.18% | 57.12% | R+15.9 | 35.30% | 60.15% | R+24.9 | R |
| 70 | 39.57% | 58.40% | R+18.8 | 28.98% | 66.22% | R+37.2 | R |
| 71 | 44.17% | 53.76% | R+9.6 | 36.24% | 58.84% | R+22.6 | R |
| 72 | 41.74% | 56.02% | R+14.3 | 26.53% | 69.18% | R+42.6 | R |
| 73 | 38.72% | 59.60% | R+20.9 | 37.58% | 56.86% | R+19.3 | R |
| 74 | 39.24% | 59.00% | R+19.8 | 29.26% | 66.33% | R+37.1 | R |
| 75 | 55.14% | 42.80% | D+12.3 | 45.12% | 49.88% | R+4.8 | D |
| 76 | 40.16% | 58.30% | R+18.1 | 36.58% | 59.26% | R+22.7 | R |
| 77 | 42.94% | 55.55% | R+12.6 | 36.83% | 58.45% | R+21.6 | R |
| 78 | 43.27% | 54.75% | R+11.5 | 27.72% | 67.97% | R+40.3 | R |
| 79 | 50.25% | 48.15% | D+2.1 | 39.71% | 55.79% | R+16.1 | R |
| 80 | 30.58% | 67.60% | R+37 | 23.49% | 72.12% | R+48.6 | R |
| 81 | 36.13% | 61.79% | R+25.7 | 23.47% | 71.04% | R+47.6 | R |
| 82 | 35.40% | 62.61% | R+27.2 | 23.64% | 71.47% | R+47.8 | R |
| 83 | 35.44% | 62.41% | R+27 | 25.53% | 68.92% | R+43.4 | R |
| 84 | 22.84% | 75.48% | R+52.6 | 15.84% | 80.56% | R+64.7 | R |
| 85 | 34.91% | 63.23% | R+28.3 | 23.23% | 72.46% | R+49.2 | R |
| 86 | 40.44% | 57.59% | R+17.2 | 29.69% | 64.99% | R+35.3 | R |
| 87 | 37.79% | 59.89% | R+22.1 | 23.50% | 71.42% | R+47.9 | R |
| 88 | 48.08% | 49.40% | R+1.3 | 33.72% | 59.59% | R+25.9 | R |
| 89 | 53.82% | 44.44% | D+9.4 | 40.79% | 54.12% | R+13.3 | R |
| 90 | 45.61% | 52.45% | R+6.8 | 28.10% | 68.50% | R+40.4 | R |
| 91 | 37.47% | 60.53% | R+23.1 | 23.48% | 72.83% | R+49.3 | R |
| 92 | 44.40% | 54.02% | R+9.6 | 30.49% | 65.30% | R+34.8 | R |
| 93 | 38.50% | 59.36% | R+20.9 | 22.81% | 73.57% | R+50.8 | R |
| 94 | 52.86% | 44.54% | D+8.3 | 41.52% | 53.47% | R+12 | R |
| 95 | 39.50% | 58.11% | R+18.6 | 24.30% | 71.52% | R+47.2 | R |
| 96 | 47.46% | 50.40% | R+2.9 | 29.81% | 66.31% | R+36.5 | D |
| 97 | 45.24% | 52.60% | R+7.4 | 29.04% | 66.33% | R+37.3 | R |
| 98 | 40.54% | 57.23% | R+16.7 | 27.38% | 67.61% | R+40.2 | R |
| 99 | 52.60% | 45.25% | D+7.4 | 37.09% | 58.30% | R+21.2 | D |
| Total | 50.67% | 47.69% | D+3 | 43.69% | 51.84% | R+8.2 | - |
| Source: Daily Kos | |||||||
See also
| Local courts | Ohio | Other local coverage |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
Footnotes
- ↑ Ohio Revised Code, "3501.01 Election procedure - election officials definitions," accessed May 4, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Ohio," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
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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