COLUMBUS, Ohio — We’re learning more about the races to fill three positions on the Ohio Supreme Court next year.

What You Need To Know

  • Ohio Supreme Court seats currently held by Democratic justices Melody Stewart and Michael Donnelly are up for election in 2024. Both served a six-year term

  • Republican justice Joseph Deters announced his candidacy for Stewart's seat

  • Deters was appointed to the court in January 2023 by Gov. Mike DeWine to fill the vacancy left by Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy after former Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor retired

The seats currently held by Democratic Justices Melody Stewart and Michael Donnelly are both up for election in 2024. The justices are set to run against Republican challengers as incumbents after serving six-year terms.

The seat currently held by Republican Justice Joseph Deters is also on the ballot.

Deters was appointed to the high court by Gov. Mike DeWine at the start of this year to fill the vacancy left by Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy when she took over the top spot after former Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor retired.

Instead of running to keep his own seat, Deters is challenging Stewart in hopes of giving Republicans a larger advantage on the court and also securing him a spot until 2030, four years longer than his current seat lasts.

Right now, three of the seven justices on the Ohio Supreme Court are Democrats.