COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Washington D.C.-based nonprofit announced a $600,000 ad spend Wednesday backing the three Republican candidates running for the Ohio Supreme Court.
The money from the Republican State Leadership Committee’s Judicial Fairness Initiative, unveiled six days before Election Day, will boost Judge Megan Shanahan, Judge Dan Hawkins, and Justice Joe Deters’ campaigns against Justice Michael Donnelly, Judge Lisa Forbes and Justice Melody Stewart, respectively.
The ad buy includes TV ads, paper mailer, and digital ads, according to a news release.
As of campaign finance reports filed late last week, the campaign accounts of three Democratic candidates wielded a cash advantage over their challengers for the home stretch. Meanwhile, one outside nonprofit spent about $2 million backing the three Democrats while another spent about $2 million backing the Republicans.
Republicans currently hold a 4-3 advantage over Democrats on the court, which often has the final say on countless hot button cases and controversies. With a sweep on Tuesday, which would be a repeat of the most recent slate of Supreme Court races, Republicans could seize a 6-1 majority. A Democratic sweep would mean the first Democratic majority in decades.
Jake Zuckerman covers state politics and policy for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.