Four Republicans Vie to Challenge Lone Democrat on Ohio Supreme Court
Four GOP candidates compete Tuesday to challenge the sole Democratic justice on Ohio’s 6-1 Supreme Court, seeking to create an all-Republican panel.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — Four Republican candidates are competing in Tuesday’s primary election to challenge Justice Jennifer Brunner, the only Democratic member of Ohio’s 6-1 Supreme Court.
The Republican primary features candidates with diverse backgrounds who all claim partisan politics will not influence their judicial decisions, despite the court’s recent transformation to explicitly partisan elections.
Partisan Shift in Ohio Courts
Ohio Supreme Court races became explicitly partisan in 2022 when Republican state lawmakers added party labels to judicial elections. This change placed Ohio among just eight states in the nation that hold partisan judicial elections.
The current Ohio Supreme Court recently made Ohio the first state in the nation to allow political endorsements from judges, marking another significant shift in the state’s judicial system.
Two Seats on the Ballot
Two Ohio Supreme Court seats are up for election this year. One is held by Democratic Justice Jennifer Brunner, while the other belongs to Republican Justice Daniel Hawkins, who also faces a Democratic challenge.
If Republicans win both seats, the Ohio Supreme Court would become a full 7-0 Republican panel for the first time in recent history.
Candidate Profiles
Among the four Republican primary candidates is Ninth District Court of Appeals Judge Jill Flagg Lanzinger, who brings a unique background to her judicial career. Lanzinger previously worked midnight shifts at a gas station and alongside her mother at a factory in Seneca County before pursuing legal education.
Her legal career began with an internship at a public defender’s office, followed by mentorship under an Akron judge and work at the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office. She served as a judge in Barberton and Summit County before joining the Ninth District Court of Appeals in 2023.
“I’m just a woman who likes the law, desires to do good, and would just really love to be on the supreme court and have these bigger issues,” Lanzinger told the Ohio Capital Journal.
Now participating in her seventh judicial election, Lanzinger expressed strong support for voter participation in judicial selection. The appellate judge emphasized her working-class roots and diverse legal experience as qualifications for the state’s highest court.
Primary Election Tuesday
The Republican primary election takes place Tuesday, May 5, with the winner advancing to face Justice Brunner in the November general election. All four Republican candidates have emphasized their experience outside traditional legal circles as preparation for supreme court service.
The candidates argue their varied career paths, spanning from factory work to farmland experience, contribute to their work ethic and judicial qualifications.
