Poll shows close race for Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The race to say the chief justice seat on the Ohio Supreme Courtroom is tight, in keeping with a Spectrum Information/ Sienna Faculty ballot. The Democratic and Republican candidates are holding regular at 40% of voter assist every.

In line with the ballot, voters between the ages of 18 and 64 have a extra vested curiosity in Justice Jennifer Brunner. Voters age 65 and up lean closely towards Justice Sharon Kennedy.

The ballot was performed in mid-September and has an general margin of error of +/- 4.4 proportion factors, together with the design results ensuing from weighting.

Justice Sharon Kennedy and Justice Jennifer Brunner are vying for the seat this midterm election. Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor will vacate the seat after serving 20 years within the court docket. O’Connor is retiring due to a constitutionally mandated age restrict for judicial candidates.

Proper now, the Ohio Supreme Courtroom is a Republican majority. Democrats are hoping the court docket will swing within the different route, now that social gathering affiliation can be on the poll for the primary time. 

Either side perceive the seat is essential. That’s as a result of it carries with it a number of affect and energy for constitutional questions, prison appeals involving the demise penalty, redistricting, and ladies’s well being.

“Along with simply being the highest member of the court docket additionally units the requirements for a variety of totally different judicial guidelines and processes throughout the state,” mentioned Bob Paduchik, Ohio Republican Celebration Chair.

Liz Walters, Chair of the Ohio Democratic Celebration, mentioned this consists of setting the court docket agenda and assigning visiting judges. If the court docket stays a majority Republican, Walters is anxious because the court docket may play a task in future legislative issues.

This consists of laws that “Will ban contraception; that may ban IVF in Ohio. Like it is a actually profound resolution for ladies about their well being care, their life, their decisions, their households,” Walters mentioned.

Greater than 70% of voters surveyed indicated they’d not fashioned an opinion but on whether or not they’ll follow both candidate. Paduchik believes it’s nonetheless too early to inform which method the race will go. Nevertheless, he’s assured Kennedy can win the race, simply as Walters is assured in Brunner.