Key takeaways
- Two six-year seats on Ohio's seven-member Supreme Court are on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot statewide, including in every Hocking County precinct.
- Term commencing Jan. 1, 2027: Daniel R. Hawkins (Republican, sitting justice) vs. Marilyn Zayas (Democrat).
- Term commencing Jan. 2, 2027: Jennifer Brunner (Democrat, sitting justice) vs. Colleen O'Donnell (Republican).
- Party labels appear next to these candidates because of a 2021 change to Ohio law, first used in 2022.
Ohio voters elect their Supreme Court justices directly. This year two of the seven seats are up, and both races appear on every ballot in the state. They are listed separately on your ballot by the date each term begins. Here is what the Hocking County Board of Elections notice shows, and what you should know about the court before you vote.
The two races
| Seat | Candidates |
|---|---|
| Justice, full term commencing Jan. 1, 2027 | Daniel R. Hawkins REP — sitting justice Marilyn Zayas DEM |
| Justice, full term commencing Jan. 2, 2027 | Jennifer Brunner DEM — sitting justice Colleen O'Donnell REP |
Jennifer Brunner and Daniel R. Hawkins both currently sit on the court; Brunner was first elected to it in 2020. Colleen O'Donnell won a multi-candidate Republican primary in May 2026, and Marilyn Zayas is the Democratic nominee for the other seat. For each candidate's legal background, check their official biographies and the resources listed below. We do not summarize campaign messaging.
Each seat has its own term, so each is its own contest. You vote for one candidate in each race. Ohio staggers terms by start date, which is why the two seats begin one day apart.
Why party labels are on the ballot
For decades, Ohio printed Supreme Court and appeals court candidates in the general election without party labels, even though they were nominated in partisan primaries. A 2021 law changed that: starting with the 2022 general election, the ballot lists each Ohio Supreme Court and court of appeals candidate's party. Supporters of the change said voters deserved the information already used in primaries; critics said it could make courts seem more partisan. Either way, it means you will see "Democratic" or "Republican" next to each name.
A party label tells you which primary nominated a candidate. It does not tell you how a judge will rule in a specific case. Judges are bound by the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct, which limits what judicial candidates may promise about future cases.
What the Ohio Supreme Court does
The Supreme Court of Ohio is the state's court of last resort. Its seven justices, including the chief justice, serve six-year terms. Its work includes:
- Final word on Ohio law. It hears appeals from Ohio's 12 district courts of appeals, including cases from the 4th District, which covers Hocking County, and decides what Ohio statutes and the Ohio Constitution mean.
- Death-penalty appeals, which go directly to the court.
- Election and ballot disputes. The court hears certain challenges involving ballot issues, ballot language and election officials' decisions, and it has original jurisdiction over some of these matters.
- Tax and utility cases appealed from state boards such as the Board of Tax Appeals and the Public Utilities Commission.
- Regulating the legal profession, including admitting new lawyers and disciplining attorneys and judges.
- Running Ohio's court system, including rules of practice and procedure for all Ohio courts.
You can read the court's opinions and learn about its operations on the Supreme Court of Ohio website.
How to research judicial candidates
- Official court biographies for sitting justices on the Supreme Court of Ohio website.
- Judicial votes and opinions: Sitting justices' written opinions are public on the court's website.
- Bar association evaluations: Some Ohio bar associations rate judicial candidates. Look for how each rating was done and who did it.
- Campaign finance: Judicial candidates file reports with the Ohio Secretary of State, searchable through the campaign finance section of the Ohio Secretary of State's website.
- Party and candidate sites: Our homepage lists local and state party resources for all parties, equally.
Judicial races appear lower on the ballot, and some voters leave them blank. Your votes in other races still count if you skip one, but you can also vote in these races. If you want to research them at home, bring notes or a marked sample ballot into the booth.
Other judicial races on Hocking County ballots
Beyond the Supreme Court, Hocking County ballots include a seat on the 4th District Court of Appeals and the Common Pleas Court, Probate/Juvenile Division. The board's updated notice marks the appeals court incumbent, Judge Peter B. Abele, as deceased and names two other candidates, so check your sample ballot for how that race will appear. See the race overview on our homepage for the rest of the ballot.
Voting logistics
Early voting runs through Sunday, Nov. 1 at the Hocking County Board of Elections, 93 W. Hunter St., Logan. On Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mailed absentee ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3. Dates come from the Ohio Secretary of State's 2026 voting schedule; our voter guides cover each option step by step.
Frequently asked questions
How many Ohio Supreme Court seats are on the 2026 ballot?
Two: the full term commencing Jan. 1, 2027 (Daniel R. Hawkins vs. Marilyn Zayas) and the full term commencing Jan. 2, 2027 (Jennifer Brunner vs. Colleen O'Donnell).
Why do Ohio Supreme Court candidates have party labels?
A 2021 Ohio law added party labels for Ohio Supreme Court and court of appeals candidates on the general election ballot, starting in 2022.
How long is an Ohio Supreme Court term?
Six years.
What kinds of cases does the Ohio Supreme Court decide?
Appeals from Ohio's courts of appeals, death-penalty appeals, certain election and ballot disputes, appeals from state tax and utility boards, and attorney discipline. It also sets rules for all Ohio courts.
Can I skip a judicial race and still have my ballot count?
Yes. Leaving a race blank does not affect your votes in other races.
Official sources
HockingElectionInfo.org is an independent, nonpartisan voter resource. We do not endorse candidates, parties or ballot issues. Rules and schedules can change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the Hocking County Board of Elections at (740) 380-8683. Spot an error? Tell us.