ohio GOP Fails to Reach Endorsement in Supreme Court Primary
COLUMBUS,OH – The Ohio Republican Party concluded its Friday meeting without endorsing a candidate in the upcoming primary for a seat on the state’s Supreme Court,signaling a perhaps competitive intra-party battle. This marks a shift from the party’s past preference for avoiding primaries to conserve resources for the general election, a strategy increasingly challenged as November contests become less competitive.
Currently, Lewis and Andrew King, a state appellate judge from Granville, are actively campaigning for the Republican nomination. Former Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Colleen O’Donnell and Rocky River Municipal Court judge Joseph Burke have indicated they are considering entering the race, pending the outcome of the party endorsement process.
The lack of an endorsement follows a period of uncertainty,particularly after Ohio Supreme Court Justice Pat Fischer initially withdrew from seeking a seat switch,anticipating lewis would recieve the party’s backing. Though, Fischer attended Friday’s meeting, and a campaign spokesperson stated his potential re-entry into the race remains uncertain.
The primary is currently focused on securing the state GOP endorsement and fundraising, with public campaigning expected to intensify in November following the lifting of a state judicial rule-imposed fundraising blackout.
The Ohio Supreme court holds significant power as the final arbiter of criminal convictions and frequently addresses critical political issues,including abortion,education,and redistricting. Republicans currently hold a 6-1 majority on the court, with Justice Sharon Kennedy as the sole Democrat elected statewide.