Republicans win all 3 seats

On November 6, 2024By Littum

Republicans extended their control of the Ohio Supreme Court Tuesday by sweeping three races, giving the GOP six of seven seats from January.

The GOP wins come as the justices will decide cases involving the abortion rights amendment that voters approved last year. Ohio Right to Life endorsed the three Republicans for the Supreme Court.

Incumbent Democratic Justice Melody Stewart lost to Justice Joe Deters, a Republican appointed to the bench by Gov. Mike DeWine two years ago. Deters, a former prosecutor, chose to challenge Stewart rather than run to retain his seat.

Incumbent Judge Michael Donnelly, a Cleveland-area Democrat, lost his seat to Republican challenger Megan Shanahan, a Hamilton County judge making her first run in the state.

“This is about Ohio. This is about the future of our state,” Shanahan told supporters. “I will take that oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws as written. I will take a conservative approach on the bench, as I have promised you every day for the last two years.”

And Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Dan Hawkins beat Eighth District Court of Appeals Court Judge Lisa Forbes, a Democrat. Hawkins won the seat and was vacated by Deters.

Hawkins said he will take his reputation as a fair judge who listens to all sides. “I will take that temperament to the next level on our Ohio Supreme Court. You can bet you will be proud of me. I will administer justice well. I will protect the public, uphold our Constitution and the rule of law, and it can you go to the bank.”

Republicans have held a majority on Ohio’s seven-member Supreme Court since 1986.

In the past two election cycles, a new law required party labels for candidates for the Supreme Court and appeals courts. Republicans swept the Supreme Court races in 2022 and this year.

In January, Judge Jennifer Brunner will be the only Democrat on the court.

Ohio Supreme Court election results

Laura Bischoff is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.