Ohio Supreme Court elections
The U.S. state of Ohio has a Supreme Court of seven members, who are elected for six-year terms.
See also:
- List of justices of the Ohio Supreme Court
- Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court
Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court
Elections scheduled: 1944, 1950, 1956, 1962, 1968, 1974, 1980, 1986, 1992, 1998, 2004, etc.
BOLD TYPE indicates winning candidate
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Other |
| 2016 | Maureen O'Connor : 3,562,413 | ||
| 2010 | Eric Brown : 1,070,690 | Maureen O'Connor : 2,232,724 | |
| 2004 | C. Ellen Connally:2,017,602 | Thomas J. Moyer: 2,309,107 | |
| 1998 | Gary Tyack | Thomas J. Moyer | |
| 1992 | Robert H. Gorman | Thomas J. Moyer | |
| 1986 | Frank D. Celebrezze | Thomas J. Moyer | |
| 1980 | Frank D. Celebrezze | Sara J. Harper | |
| 1978 s | Frank D. Celebrezze | Thomas M. Herbert | |
| 1974 | Joseph E. O'Neill | C. William O'Neill | |
| 1970 s | William C. Bryant | C. William O'Neill | |
| 1968 | John C. Duffy | Kingsley A. Taft | |
| 1962 | Carl V. Weygandt | Kingsley A. Taft | |
| 1956 | Carl V. Weygandt | Willard D. Campbell | |
| 1950 | Carl V. Weygandt | Francis B. Douglass | |
| 1944 | Carl V. Weygandt | Walter B. Wanamaker | |
| 1932 | Carl V. Weygandt | Carrington T. Marshall | |
| 1920 | Hugh L. Nichols | Carrington T. Marshall |
Candidates for Ohio Supreme Court Justice (1)
Six-year term beginning Jan. 1: 1945, 1951, 1957, 1963, 1969, 1975, 1981, 1987, 1993, 1999, 2005, etc.Elections scheduled: 1944, 1950, 1956, 1962, 1968, 1974, 1980, 1986, 1992, 1998, 2004, etc.
BOLD TYPE indicates winning candidate
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Other |
| 2016 | John P. O'Donnell : 2,022,514 | Pat Fischer : 2,044,984 | |
| 2010 | Mary Jane Trapp : 1,315,105 | Judith Ann Lanzinger : 1,717,889 | |
| 2004 | Nancy A. Fuerst: 1,838,137 | Judith Ann Lanzinger: 2,443,514 | |
| 1998 | Francis E. Sweeney Sr.: 1,677,791 | Stephen W. Powell: 1,049,561 | |
| 1992 | Francis E. Sweeney Sr.: 2,008,854 | Mark P. Painter: 1,838,307 | |
| 1986 | Francis E. Sweeney Sr.: 1,293,364 | Robert E. Holmes: 1,326,736 | |
| 1980 | Lawrence Grey: 870,736 | Robert E. Holmes: 2,115,743 | |
| 1974 | Frank D. Celebrezze | Sheldon A. Taft | |
| 1972 s | Frank D. Celebrezze | Robert E. Leach | |
| 1970 s | Robert M. Duncan | ||
| 1968 | John M. Matthias | ||
| 1962 | James J. Mayer | John M. Matthias | |
| 1956 | Merrill D. Brother | John M. Matthias | |
| 1954 s | John H. Lamneck | John M. Matthias | |
| 1950 | Charles H. Hubbell | Edward S. Matthias | |
| 1944 | Charles H. Hubbell | Edward S. Matthias |
Candidates for Ohio Supreme Court Justice (2)
Six-year term beginning Jan. 2: 1945, 1951, 1957, 1963, 1969, 1975, 1981, 1987, 1993, 1999, 2005, etc.Elections scheduled: 1944, 1950, 1956, 1962, 1968, 1974, 1980, 1986, 1992, 1998, 2004, etc.
BOLD TYPE indicates winning candidate
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Other |
| 2016 | Cynthia Rice : 1,892,450 | Pat DeWine : 2,438,641 | |
| 2010 | Paul Pfeifer : 2,384,122 | ||
| 2004 | Paul E. Pfeifer: 3,384,192 | ||
| 1998 | Ronald Suster: 781,103 | Paul E. Pfeifer: 1,947,916 | |
| 1992 | John T. Patton: 1,785,215 | Paul E. Pfeifer: 2,015,685 | |
| 1986 | Herbert R. Brown: 1,328,913 | Joyce J. George: 1,306,049 | |
| 1980 | Clifford F. Brown: 1,563,665 | David D. Dowd, Jr.: 1,528,071 | |
| 1974 | Clifford F. Brown | Thomas M. Herbert | |
| 1968 | Merrill D. Brother | Thomas M. Herbert | |
| 1962 | Richard T. Cole | Paul M. Herbert | |
| 1956 | Evan P. Ford | Thomas J. Herbert | |
| 1950 | William L. Hart | James Metzenbaum | |
| 1944 | Herbert S. Duffy | William L. Hart |
Candidates for Ohio Supreme Court Justice (3)
Six-year term beginning Jan. 1: 1941, 1947, 1953, 1959, 1965, 1971, 1977, 1983, 1989, 1995, 2001, etc.Elections scheduled: 1940, 1946, 1952, 1958, 1964, 1970, 1976, 1982, 1988, 1994, 2000, etc.
BOLD TYPE indicates winning candidate
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Other |
| 2018 | Michael P. Donnelly: 2,116,136 | Craig Baldwin: 1,352,859 | |
| 2012 | Michael J. Skindell : 1,252,688 | Terrence O'Donnell : 2,804,629 | |
| 2006 | William M. O'Neill: 1,341,258 | Terrence O'Donnell: 1,903,702 | |
| 2004 s | William M. O'Neill: 1,635,718 | Terrence O'Donnell: 2,496,863 | |
| 2000 | Timothy Black: 1,869,060 | Deborah L. Cook: 2,014,274 | |
| 1994 | J. Ross Haffey: 864,786 | Deborah L. Cook: 1,842,063 | |
| 1988 | A. William Sweeney: 2,059,402 | Paul R. Matia: 1,492,256 | |
| 1982 | A. William Sweeney: 1,564,495 | John W. McCormac: 1,148,239 | |
| 1976 | A. William Sweeney | Don P. Brown | |
| 1970 | Allen Brown | J. J. P. Corrigan | |
| 1964 | Charles B. Zimmerman | Francis B. Douglass | |
| 1958 | Charles B. Zimmerman | Willard D. Campbell | |
| 1952 | Charles B. Zimmerman | Francis B. Douglass | |
| 1946 | Charles B. Zimmerman | Clinton DeWitt Boyd | |
| 1940 | Charles B. Zimmerman | Clinton DeWitt Boyd |
Candidates for Ohio Supreme Court Justice (4)
Six-year term beginning Jan. 2: 1941, 1947, 1953, 1959, 1965, 1971, 1977, 1983, 1989, 1995, 2001, etc.Elections scheduled: 1940, 1946, 1952, 1958, 1964, 1970, 1976, 1982, 1988, 1994, 2000, etc.
BOLD TYPE indicates winning candidate
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Other |
| 2018 | Melody J. Stewart : 1,803,277 | Mary DeGenaro : 1,630,977 | |
| 2012 | William O'Neill : 2,115,841 | Robert Cupp : 1,912,850 | |
| 2006 | Ben Espy: 1,505,255 | Robert R. Cupp: 1,712,584 | |
| 2000 | Alice Robie Resnick: 2,312,073 | Terrence O'Donnell: 1,740,516 | |
| 1994 | Alice Robie Resnick: 1,645,061 | Sara J. Harper: 1,144,143 | |
| 1988 | Alice Robie Resnick: 1,917,510 | Joyce J. George: 1,688,281 | |
| 1982 | Ralph S. Locher: 1,437,584 | William J. McCrone: 1,129,675 | |
| 1976 | Ralph S. Locher | William J. Morrissey | |
| 1970 | Leonard J. Stern | ||
| 1964 | Joseph D. Bryan | C. William O'Neill | |
| 1960 s | John W. Peck | C. William O'Neill | |
| 1958 | Merrill D. Brother | James Garfield Stewart | |
| 1952 | Kenneth B. Johnston | James Garfield Stewart | |
| 1948 s | James Garfield Stewart | ||
| 1946 | Herbert S. Duffy | Charles S. Bell | |
| 1942 s | T. J. Duffy | Charles S. Bell | |
| 1940 | Judge MacBride | Gilbert Bettman | Arthur H. Day |
Candidates for Ohio Supreme Court Justice (5)
Six-year term beginning Jan. 1: 1943, 1949, 1955, 1961, 1967, 1973, 1979, 1985, 1991, 1997, 2003, etc.Elections scheduled: 1942, 1948, 1954, 1960, 1966, 1972, 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002, etc.
BOLD TYPE indicates winning candidate
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Other |
| 2020 | John P. O'Donnell | Sharon L. Kennedy | |
| 2014 | Tom Letson: 692,030 | Sharon L. Kennedy: 1,828,156 | |
| 2012 s | Yvette McGee Brown: 1,769,123 | Sharon L. Kennedy: 2,347,925 | |
| 2008 | Joseph Russo: 1,453,784 | Maureen O'Connor: 2,970,588 | |
| 2002 | Timothy Black: 1,276,497 | Maureen O'Connor: 1,709,673 | |
| 1996 | Peter M. Sikora: 1,138,106 | Andrew Douglas: 2,230,601 | |
| 1990 | Stuart J. Banks: 756,481 | Andrew Douglas: 2,013,630 | |
| 1984 | John E. Corrigan: 1,680,859 | Andrew Douglas: 1,893,299 | |
| 1978 | William B. Brown | Richard M. Markus | |
| 1972 | William B. Brown | Louis J. Schneider, Jr. | |
| 1966 | Clifford F. Brown | Louis J. Schneider, Jr. | |
| 1964 s | Lynn B. Griffith | Louis J. Schneider, Jr. | |
| 1960 | James F. Bell | Earl R. Hoover | |
| 1954 | James F. Bell | Henry A. Middleton | |
| 1950 s | Henry A. Middleton | W. H. Annat Ralph Bartlett Fred Dewey Arthur W. Doyle Dennis Dunlavy Howard E. Faught Martin L. Sweeney | |
| 1948 | Charles H. Hubbell | Edward C. Turner | |
| 1942 | William C. Dixon | Roy H. Williams | |
| 1936 | Will P. Stephenson | Roy H. Williams | |
| 1934 s | Howard Landis Bevis | Roy H. Williams |
Candidates for Ohio Supreme Court Justice (6)
Six-year term beginning Jan. 2: 1943, 1949, 1955, 1961, 1967, 1973, 1979, 1985, 1991, 1997, 2003, etc.Elections scheduled: 1942, 1948, 1954, 1960, 1966, 1972, 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002, etc.
BOLD TYPE indicates winning candidate
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Other |
| 2020 | Jennifer Brunner | Judith L. French | |
| 2014 | John P. O'Donnell: 1,132,759 | Judith L. French: 1,438,283 | |
| 2008 | Peter Sikora: 1,554,521 | Evelyn Lundberg Stratton: 2,664,137 | |
| 2002 | Janet Burnside: 1,290,412 | Evelyn Lundberg Stratton: 1,599,165 | |
| 1996 | Marianna Brown Bettman: 1,427,947 | Evelyn Lundberg Stratton: 2,016,264 | |
| 1990 | Stephanie Tubbs Jones: 1,255,556 | J. Craig Wright: 1,319,422 | J. Ross Haffey: 283,883 |
| 1984 | James P. Celebrezze: 1,765,509 | J. Craig Wright: 2,116,080 | |
| 1982 s | James P. Celebrezze: 1,617,247 | Blanche Krupansky: 1,301,423 | |
| 1978 | Clifford F. Brown | Paul W. Brown | |
| 1972 | Lloyd O. Brown | Paul W. Brown | |
| 1966 | Joseph D. Bryan | Paul W. Brown | |
| 1964 s | Rankin M. Gibson | Paul W. Brown | |
| 1960 | Joseph H. Ellison | Kingsley A. Taft | |
| 1954 | Kingsley A. Taft | ||
| 1948 | Robert M. Sohngen | Kingsley A. Taft | |
| 1942 | Willis Woehrle Metcalf | Edward C. Turner |
First Constitution of Ohio (1803-1851)
Under the first constitution, joint sessions of the legislature elected judges to seven-year terms. Elections were generally in January, with judges seated in February. The state had three or four judges through this period.Second Constitution of Ohio (1851-1912)
Under the second constitution, five judges were elected to five-year terms, with one seat elected each autumn. The first election was autumn of 1851, with the top five candidates assigned terms by lot. Chief Justice was not voted separately, but chosen by other means. Change of law added a sixth judge for the 1892 election, with term starting February 1893, and terms were increased to six years. No elections were held in 1906 or 1907, when the state transitioned to electing two judges each in even numbered years and terms of sitting judges were extended to fit the new schedule.Candidates for first election, October 1851:
| Name | Party | Votes | Term Expired |
| William B. Caldwell | Democrat | 161,150 | 1853 |
| Rufus P. Ranney | Democrat | 160,984 | 1857 |
| Allen G. Thurman | Democrat | 147,724 | 1856 |
| Thomas Welles Bartley | Democrat | 145,370 | 1854 |
| John A. Corwin | Democrat | 145,099 | 1855 |
| Sherlock James Andrews | Whig | 134,824 | |
| Charles Cleveland Convers | Whig | 119,475 | |
| Peter Odlin | Whig | 119,503 | |
| Bellamy Storer | Whig | 135,946 | |
| George B. Way | Whig | 119,000 | |
| Jacob Brinkerhoff | Free Soil | 16,143 |
Candidates for Ohio Supreme Court Judge (1)
Five-year term beginning February: 1857, 1862, 1867, 1872, 1877, 1882, 1887, 1892, 1897Elections scheduled: 1856, 1861, 1866, 1871, 1876, 1881, 1886, 1891, 1896
BOLD TYPE indicates winning candidate
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Other |
| 1856 | Rufus P. Ranney : 156,438 | Josiah Scott : 175,8181 | Daniel Peck : 23,868 |
| 1861 | Thomas J. S. Smith : 151,987 | Josiah Scott : 207,443 | |
| 1866 | Thomas M. Key : 213,612 | Josiah Scott : 256,263 | |
| 1871 | George W. Geddes : 217,374 | William H. West : 237,472 | |
| 1873 s | Charles H. Scribner : 213,551 | Walter F. Stone : 214,363 | |
| 1874 s | George Rex : 238,307 | William Wartenbee Johnson : 221,182 | |
| 1876 | William E. Finck : 309,933 | Washington W. Boynton : 318,772 | |
| 1881 | Edward F. Bingham : 286,650 | Nicholas Longworth II : 316,005 | |
| 1886 | Martin Dewey Follett : 326,227 | Marshall Jay Williams : 343,739 | |
| 1891 | Gustavus H. Wald : 345,374 | Marshall Jay Williams : 373,433 | |
| 1896 | Everett D. Stark : 473,094 | Marshall Jay Williams : 525,084 | |
| 1902 | Michael Donnelly | William B. Crew |
Candidates for Ohio Supreme Court Judge (2)
Five-year term beginning February: 1856, 1861, 1866, 1871, 1876, 1881, 1886, 1891, 1896Elections scheduled: 1855, 1860, 1865, 1870, 1875, 1880, 1885, 1890, 1895
BOLD TYPE indicates winning candidate
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Other |
| 1855 | William Kennon, Sr. : 134,173 | Jacob Brinkerhoff : 168,436 | |
| 1860 | Thomas J. S. Smith : 199,850 | Jacob Brinkerhoff : 212,854 | |
| 1865 | Philadelph Van Trump : 193,284 | Jacob Brinkerhoff : 224,958 | |
| 1870 | Richard A. Harrison : 204,287 | George W. McIlvaine : 229,629 | Gideon T. Stewart : 2,810 |
| 1875 | Thomas Q. Ashburn : 292,328 | George W. McIlvaine : 296,944 | |
| 1880 | Martin Dewey Follett : 340,998 | George W. McIlvaine : 364,045 | |
| 1885 | Charles D. Martin : 341,712 | Thaddeus A. Minshall : 361,216 | |
| 1890 | George B. Okey : 353,628 | Thaddeus A. Minshall : 362,896 | |
| 1895 | William T. Mooney : 328,970 | Thaddeus A. Minshall : 427,809 | |
| 1901 | Joseph Hiddy | James Latimer Price |
Candidates for Ohio Supreme Court Judge (3)
Five-year term beginning February: 1855, 1860, 1865, 1870, 1875, 1880, 1885, 1890, 1895Elections scheduled: 1854, 1859, 1864, 1869, 1874, 1879, 1884, 1889, 1894
BOLD TYPE indicates winning candidate
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Other |
| 1854 | Shepherd F. Norris : 109,075 | Joseph Rockwell Swan : 188,498 | |
| 1859 | Henry C. Whitman : 170,895 | William Y. Gholson : 182,888 | |
| 1864 | Philadelph Van Trump | Luther Day | |
| 1869 | William J. Gilmore : 228,523 | Luther Day : 236,300 | |
| 1874 | William J. Gilmore : 237,556 | Luther Day : 221,701 | |
| 1879 | William J. Gilmore : 316,994 | William Wartenbee Johnson : 336,009 | |
| 1884 | Charles D. Martin : 378,965 | William Wartenbee Johnson : 392,918 | |
| 1887 s | Virgil P. Kline : 328,137 | Franklin J. Dickman : 357,039 | |
| 1889 | Martin Dewey Follett : 373,895 | Franklin J. Dickman : 376,649 | |
| 1894 | James D. Ermston : 274,635 | John Allen Shauck : 410,011 | |
| 1900 | Allen Smalley : 474,138 | John Allen Shauck : 543,418 | Lambertis B. Logan : : 4,561 E. Jay Pinney : 9,898 Daniel W. Wallace : 1,690 Albert Corbin : 4,628 |
Candidates for Ohio Supreme Court Judge (4)
Five-year term beginning February: 1854, 1859, 1864, 1869, 1874, 1879, 1884, 1889, 1894Elections scheduled: 1853, 1858, 1863, 1868, 1873, 1878, 1883, 1888, 1893
BOLD TYPE indicates winning candidate
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Other |
| 1853 | Thomas Welles Bartley | unknown | |
| 1858 | Thomas Welles Bartley : 162,610 | William Virgil Peck : 182,942 | |
| 1863 | Philadelph Van Trump : 190,992 | Hocking H. Hunter : 287,507 | |
| 1864 s | Philadelph Van Trump | William White | |
| 1868 | William E. Finck | William White | |
| 1873 | Henry C. Whitman : 213,705 | William White : 214,333 | |
| 1878 | Alexander F. Hume : 270,839 | William White : 274,337 | Chilton A. White : 38,033 William F. Ross : 5,607 |
| 1883 | Selwyn N. Owen : 360,295 | John H. Doyle : 347,091 | |
| 1888 | Lyman R. Critchfield : 396,236 | Joseph Perry Bradbury : 415,842 | |
| 1893 | John W. Sater : 346,823 | Joseph Perry Bradbury : 422,256 | |
| 1899 | De Witt C. Badger | William Z. Davis | |
| 1905 | Hugh T. Mathers : 417,420 | William Z. Davis : 462,115 | Elihu J. Zeigler : 18,233 James Sterling : 13,785 Max Eisenberg : 1,821 |
Candidates for Ohio Supreme Court Judge (5)
Five-year term beginning February: 1853, 1858, 1863, 1868, 1873, 1878, 1883, 1888, 1893Elections scheduled: 1852, 1857, 1862, 1867, 1872, 1877, 1882, 1887, 1892
BOLD TYPE indicates winning candidate
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Other |
| 1852 | William B. Caldwell : 147,976 | Milton Sutliff : 22,518 | Daniel A. Haynes : 130,507 |
| 1855 s | Robert B. Warden : 132,039 | Charles Cleveland Convers : 169,555 | |
| 1856 s | Carrington W. Seal : 156,604 | Ozias Bowen : 175,892 | Samuel Brush : 23,329 |
| 1857 | Henry C. Whitman : 159,103 | Milton Sutliff : 160,342 | |
| 1862 | Rufus P. Ranney : 185,078 | Franklin T. Backus : 178,115 | |
| 1865 s | Thomas M. Key : 193,422 | John Welch : 225,182 | |
| 1867 | Thomas M. Key : 240,941 | John Welch : 243,480 | |
| 1872 | John L. Green : 252,036 | John Welch : 263,223 | |
| 1877 | John W. Okey : 271,393 | William Wartenbee Johnson : 251,758 | |
| 1882 | John W. Okey : 315,753 | John H. Doyle : 299,389 | |
| 1885 s | Gibson Atherton : 335,383 | William T. Spear : 363,770 | |
| 1887 | Lyman R. Critchfield : 327,887 | William T. Spear : 357,137 | |
| 1892 | John B. Driggs : 400,953 | William T. Spear : 402,932 | |
| 1898 | Hugh L. Nichols : 345,883 | William T. Spear : 408,879 | Mahlon Rouch : 7,597 Daniel L. Wallace : 5,787 Arthur A. Brown : 10,550 |
| 1904 | Phillip J. Renner : 357,331 | William T. Spear : 587,448 | George L. Case : 19,239 Harry Lavin : 33,507 Edward Polster : 2,502 Osmon S. Ferris : 1,080 |
Candidates for Ohio Supreme Court Judge (6)
Five-year term beginning February: 1893, six-year terms beginning 1898, 1904Elections scheduled: 1892, 1897, 1903
BOLD TYPE indicates winning candidate
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Other |
| 1892 | Thomas Beer : 401,048 | Jacob F. Burket : 402,847 | |
| 1897 | J. P. Spriggs | Jacob F. Burket | |
| 1903 | Edward J. Dempsey : 358,898 | Augustus N. Summers : 471,742 | Jeremiah C. Cavanaugh : 14,041 E. Jay Pinney : 13,493 Francis Henry : 2,152 |