Jill Lanzinger Endorsed in Ohio Supreme Court Republican Primary

The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com editorial board endorses Judge Jill Lanzinger in the Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court in the Jan. 2 term.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 9:56am

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A serene, cinematic painting of an empty courthouse interior with warm sunlight streaming through the windows and deep shadows, conveying a sense of judicial gravity and civic importance.The endorsement of Judge Lanzinger by the Cleveland.com editorial board could sway the Republican primary for a pivotal seat on the Ohio Supreme Court.Canton Today

The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com editorial board is endorsing Judge Jill Lanzinger in the Republican primary for the Ohio Supreme Court's Jan. 2 term. Lanzinger, a judge on the Akron-based 9th Ohio District Court of Appeals, is one of four Republicans vying for the GOP nomination to challenge the re-election of Ohio Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner, the lone Democrat on the state's highest court.

Why it matters

The Ohio Supreme Court race is a key battleground, with Republicans seeking to maintain their majority on the state's highest court. Lanzinger's endorsement by the influential Cleveland.com editorial board could provide a boost in the primary election.

The details

The other Republican candidates are Judge Andrew King of the Canton-based 5th Ohio District Court of Appeals, Judge Ronald Lewis of the Dayton-based 2nd Ohio District Court of Appeals, and Colleen O'Donnell, a former Franklin County Common Pleas judge who most recently served as a federal immigration judge in Texas. The editorial board cited Lanzinger's more than a decade of experience as a judge, including service on the Barberton Municipal Court and Summit County Common Pleas Court, as giving her an edge over the other candidates.

  • The Republican primary election is on May 5, 2026.
  • Early voting begins on April 7, 2026.

The players

Jill Lanzinger

A judge on the Akron-based 9th Ohio District Court of Appeals who has been endorsed by the Plain Dealer and cleveland.com editorial board in the Republican primary for the Ohio Supreme Court's Jan. 2 term.

Jennifer Brunner

The incumbent Ohio Supreme Court Justice who is the lone Democrat on the state's highest court and is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Andrew King

A judge on the Canton-based 5th Ohio District Court of Appeals who is also running in the Republican primary for the Ohio Supreme Court's Jan. 2 term.

Ronald Lewis

A judge on the Dayton-based 2nd Ohio District Court of Appeals who is also running in the Republican primary for the Ohio Supreme Court's Jan. 2 term.

Colleen O'Donnell

A former Franklin County Common Pleas judge who most recently served as a federal immigration judge in Texas and is also running in the Republican primary for the Ohio Supreme Court's Jan. 2 term.

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What they’re saying

“Sort of as Judge Lanzinger indicated, other than speaking broadly about my thoughts and how I'd approach it, I don't feel comfortable telling you what my ultimate conclusion would be.”

— Andrew King, Judge, 5th Ohio District Court of Appeals

“I'm not going to say how I would rule on that because I think ... some of those issues are actually at the Supreme Court now. And if I do win ... I would not want to have an analysis of that at this moment.”

— Jill Lanzinger, Judge, 9th Ohio District Court of Appeals

What’s next

The winner of the Republican primary will face incumbent Jennifer Brunner, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary, in the fall general election.

The takeaway

The endorsement of Jill Lanzinger by the influential Cleveland.com editorial board could provide a significant boost to her campaign in the Republican primary for the Ohio Supreme Court's Jan. 2 term.