Judicial race · November 3, 2026
Ohio Supreme Court Justice (term beginning Jan 1, 2027)
The Supreme Court of Ohio is the state's highest court; its seven justices decide appeals from lower courts and oversee the administration and rules of Ohio's judicial system.
6-year term. Full six-year term commencing January 1, 2027. Incumbent Justice Dan Hawkins won this seat in 2024 for the remaining two years of an unexpired term. Party labels appear on the ballot. No Chief Justice seat is on the 2026 ballot.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name.
Dan Hawkins
Justice, Supreme Court of OhioDaniel R. "Dan" Hawkins, a Republican, has served on the Ohio Supreme Court since December 2024 after winning the remaining two years of an unexpired term, and is seeking a full six-year term. He previously served as a Franklin County Common Pleas judge, a Franklin County Municipal Court Environmental Division judge, and a Franklin County prosecutor. His campaign emphasizes his prosecutorial and trial-court experience and upholding the rule of law.
Marilyn Zayas
Judge, Ohio First District Court of AppealsMarilyn Zayas, a Democrat, has been a judge on the Cincinnati-based First District Court of Appeals since 2016 and has sat by assignment on the Ohio Supreme Court. She was the Democratic nominee for an Ohio Supreme Court seat in 2022. Her campaign centers on judicial independence, impartiality and keeping politics out of the courts.
Compare on the issues
Summaries of each candidate's stated positions. See each profile for sources and details.
| Issue | Dan Hawkins Republican | Marilyn Zayas Democratic |
|---|---|---|
| Court Administration | As an Environmental Division judge, introduced strategies for problem properties such as vacant structures and started a neighborhood clean-up program using court-ordered community service. | Disagrees with the court's April 2026 ruling allowing judges to make political endorsements, saying the issue was not properly before the court. |
| Judicial Philosophy | Pledged at his 2025 investiture to work every day to make sure "the rule of law is upheld, that our Constitution is honored." Wrote in a 2025 unanimous opinion that courts "should ordinarily decide cases based on issues raised by the parties," applying the principle of party presentation. | Says she is "committed to applying the law, facts, and Constitution—and nothing else." Emphasizes the rule of law, predictability and consistency, and has said the court has reversed its own precedents too often in the past decade. |
| Access to Justice | No public position found yet | Created an appeals guide for self-represented litigants and set up video-equipped workstations during COVID-19; founded the Educating Tomorrow's Leaders program bringing students to the courthouse. |
| Elections & Democracy | No public position found yet | Opposes party affiliation labels on the ballot for Ohio Supreme Court and appeals court races. |
| Public Safety | Wrote a 2022 guest column supporting State Issue 1, a constitutional amendment on bail, saying judges in Ohio have always considered public safety when setting bail. | No public position found yet |