Two justices were up for reelection in Ohio in 2014. Republican justices Sharon Kennedy and Judith French squared off against State Representative Tom Letson and Judge John P. O’Donnell, respectively, in a partisan election on November 4. Both challengers were Democrats. In the past, Ohio Supreme Court elections have been high-spending affairs costing several million dollars. The Republican State Leadership Committee identified Ohio as one of the states it plans to spend money in during the 2014 judicial election cycle.
Both Justice French and Justice Kennedy were reelected in November.
Estimated Total Spending: $1,549,220*
- Estimated spending by Justice Judith French: $414,670
- Estimated spending by Justice Sharon Kennedy: $237,040
- Estimated spending by American Freedom Builders: $596,440
- Estimated spending by the Ohio Republican Party: $125,710
- Estimated spending by John O’Donnell: $175,360
*These figures were last updated on November 16, 2014.
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October 30 – 25 Years 15
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This ad highlights Justice French’s 25 years of legal experience.
Sponsor: Ohio Republican Party
Estimated Spending: $125,710
October 29 – Pocket
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This ad says Judith French is “in the pocket” of big utility companies.
Sponsor: John O’Donnell
Estimated Spending: $175,360
October 23 – Start Her Career
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This ad says Judith French is a “tough on crime judge who protect Ohio families and enforces the letter of the law.”
Sponsor: Judith French
Estimated Spending: $131,080
October 24 – Working Hard
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This ad touts Justice French’s record on criminal justice matters.
Sponsor: American Freedom Builders
Estimated Spending: $596,440
October 8 – Start Her Career 15
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This ad says Justice French protects Ohio families.
Sponsor: Judith French
Estimated Spending: $283,590
October 8 – Law Enforcement’s Choice 15
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In this ad, Justice Kennedy says she is “law enforcement’s choice.”
Sponsor: Sharon Kennedy
Estimated Spending: $237,040
News
Jackie Borchardt, Ohio Supreme Court Candidate John O’Donnell Broke 'Clean Campaign’ Pledge with Negative Ad, Ohio State Bar Association Says, cleveland.com, October 30, 2014.
Randy Ludlow, High-Court Election Candidates Contrast in Style, The Columbus Dispatch, September 26, 2014.
Methodology
All data on ad airings and spending on ads are calculated and prepared by Kantar Media/CMAG, which captures satellite data in the nation’s largest media markets. CMAG’s estimates do not reflect ad agency commissions or the costs of producing advertisements, nor do they reflect the cost of ad buys on local cable channels. Cost estimates are revised by Kantar Media/CMAG when it receives updated data, resulting in some fluctuations in the reported ad spending.