GOP incumbents lead in Ohio Supreme Court campaign cash
The Columbus Dispatch
A pair of Democrats seeking election to the Ohio Supreme Court out-raised their opponents in the period covered by their latest campaign finance reports, but the Republican incumbents maintained a healthy lead in cash on hand.
In one race, Justice Judith French raised $68,496 since her year-end report, leaving the Republican with $415,703 in the bank for the Nov. 3 election.
Her opponent, Columbus appeals court Judge Jennifer Brunner, a former Ohio secretary of state, raised $123,838, ending with $139,515 on hand.
Brunner received $15,000 in cash from the Ohio Democratic Party and benefited from nearly $19,000 in in-kind spending by the party.
Justice Sharon Kennedy, a Republican, brought in $66,181 to end with $602,903 in her campaign account.
Her Democrat opponent, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge John P. O’Donnell, raised $89,675 to build a cash balance of $104,285. He also received $15,000 in cash from the Ohio Democratic Party.
None of the four candidates faces opposition in the March 17 primary.
Democrats Michael Donnelly and Melody Stewart were elected in 2018 to what had been an all-Republican court. Victories by Brunner and O’Donnell this fall would give Democrats a majority of the seven seats for the first time in decades.
French and Kennedy have served on the court since 2013.
Candidates were required to file pre-primary campaign finance reports with the secretary of state’s office by Thursday afternoon.