COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio is set for an intriguing judicial election in 2026, with Supreme Court Justice Pat Fischer announcing his intention to challenge fellow Justice Jennifer Brunner. Fischer’s decision to run comes while he still has two years remaining in his current term.
The Ohio Supreme Court, composed of seven justices, wields significant influence in shaping state laws and constitutional interpretations, tackling critical issues such as abortion rights, religious freedoms, and LGBTQ+ matters, alongside overseeing schools, election processes, and redistricting endeavors.
Justice Fischer, aged 67 and a member of the Republican Party, faces age-related restrictions that prevent him from seeking re-election when his current six-year term concludes in 2028. Instead, he has chosen to confront Justice Brunner, who at 68, is the sole justice due for reelection next year and the only Democrat holding statewide office in Ohio.
This strategy mirrors a successful move by Republican Justice Joe Deters last year. Originally appointed to the court, Deters opted to contest a sitting justice, Melody Stewart, rather than pursuing the remainder of his term. His victory, along with another Republican win, resulted in an open seat and secured Republican influence in the court, leaving Brunner as the only Democratic voice.
In his announcement, Fischer characterized himself as “a reliable Christian Conservative,” having initially been elected to the court in 2016 and securing reelection in 2022. He expressed his commitment to upholding conservative principles, asserting the need for a justice who respects the Constitution and refrains from legislative actions from the bench.
Justice Brunner, who previously served as Ohio’s secretary of state and joined the court in 2021, filed a lawsuit in 2023 challenging a Republican-endorsed law. This law mandates that candidates for judicial positions disclose their political affiliations on election ballots—a move that emerged amid Ohio’s growing Republican inclination, though Democrats had seen some victories in high court contests.
In a statement, Brunner emphasized the significant contrasts between herself and Fischer, insisting that political affiliation should be secondary in judicial roles. She expressed concern that party alignment seemed central to her opponent’s strategy, which she finds regrettable.