Three seats were up for election on the Ohio Supreme Court in 2016. Ohio Supreme Court justices are chosen in partisan primaries and the top vote-getter for each party advances to the general election. If a judge is running unopposed in the primary, he or she automatically advances to the general election. Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor ran unopposed in both the primary and general election. Current Supreme Court Justice Judith Lanzinger will reach the mandatory age of retirement this year, leaving an open seat on the court. Judge Pat Fischer defeated Court of Appeals Judge Colleen O’Toole in the Republican primary for this seat and faced Court of Common Pleas Judge John O’Donnell , who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, in the general election. Court of Appeals Judge Pat DeWine, a Republican, and Court of Appeals Judge Cynthia Rice, a Democrat, did not face primary challengers in their contest for another open seat previously held by Justice Paul Pfeifer, who also reached the mandatory retirement age. On November 8, Judge Pat Fischer and Judge Pat DeWine were both elected to their respective seats.
The Brennan Center used multiple sources for spending information, which showed the following:
Kantar Media/CMAG: Estimated Total Spending: $1,321,570*
- Estimated Spending by Pat Fischer: $324,660
- Estimated Spending by Trumbull County Democratic Party: $2,210
- Estimated Spending by the Republican State Leadership Committee: $233,960
- Estimated Spending by Pat DeWine: $557,730
- Estimated Spending by John O’Donnell: $56,930
- Estimated Spending by John O’Donnell and Cynthia Rice: $96,290
- Estimated Spending by Cynthia Rice: $49,890
*Spending figures last updated: May 30, 2017
FCC Contracts: Recorded TV Contracts: $1,896,717*
- Recorded ad buys for Pat DeWine: $672,215
- Recorded ad buys for Pat Fischer: $264,016
- Recorded ad buys for the Republican State Leadership Committee: $621,800
- Recorded ad buys for John O’Donnell & Gary Cook (a Court of Appeals candidate): $5,625
- Recorded ad buys for John O’Donnell & Cynthia Rice: $89,450
- Recorded ad buys for John O’Donnell: $178,636
- Recorded ad buys for Cynthia Rice: $64,975
*Recorded ad buys last updated November 2, 2016.
Return to Buying Time Homepage
Advertisements
November 1 – Experienced Tough Fair
Stream Video (QT) | Download Storyboard
This ad highlights O’Donnell’s qualifications and Rice’s endorsement from the Fraternal Order of Police.
Sponsor: Cynthia Rice and John O’Donnell
Estimated Spending (Kantar Media/CMAG): $96,290
October 31 – Only One
Stream Video (QT) | Download Storyboard
This ad compares Rice’s experience and qualification to DeWine’s.
Sponsor: Cynthia Rice
Estimated Spending (Kantar Media/CMAG): $49,890
October 31 – The People’s Court
Stream Video (QT) | Download Storyboard
This ad says O’Donnell makes sure “working people get a fair shake against big corporations.”
Sponsor: John O’Donnell
Estimated Spending (Kantar Media/CMAG): $56,930
October 30 – Decades of Experience
Stream Video (QT) | Download Storyboard
This ad highlights DeWine’s experience and rating as an excellent judge.
Sponsor: Pat DeWine
Estimated Spending (Kantar Media/CMAG): $557,730
October 28 – The Course of History
Stream Video(QT) | Download Storyboard
This ad endorses Cynthia Rice and other lower court judges.
Sponsor: Trumbull County Democratic party
Estimated Spending (Kantar Media/CMAG): $1,700
October 18 – Child Predators
Stream Video (QT) | Download Storyboard
This ad says Pat Fischer is “tough on sexual predators, child molesters.”
Sponsor: Republican State Leadership Committee
Estimated Spending (Kantar Media/CMAG): $54,540
October 12 – Tough Fair Courageous
Stream Video (QT) | Download Storyboard
This ad says Fischer’s courage “will keep criminals in jail and off our streets.”
Sponsor: Republican State Leadership Committee
Estimated Spending (Kantar Media/CMAG): $179,420
October 12 – Fair Justice for All 15
Stream Video (QT) | Download Storyboard
This ad says Fischer is “supported by law enforcement, dedicated to our community, and ensuring fair justice for all.”
Sponsor: Pat Fischer
Estimated Spending (Kantar Media/CMAG): $264,510
March 3 – TCDP Endorsements
Stream Video (QT) | Download Storyboard
The Trumbull County Democratic party endorses judicial candidates including Cynthia Rice or the Supreme Court.
Sponsor: Trumbull County Democratic Party
Estimated Spending (Kantar Media/CMAG): $510
March 1 – Well Respected 15
Stream Video (QT) | Download Storyboard
This ad describes Fischer as “a well respected judge” and a “conservative Republican.”
Sponsor: Pat Fischer
Estimated Spending (Kantar Media/CMAG): $60,150
News
Catherine Candisky, Fischer Gets GOP Nomination for Ohio Supreme Court, The Columbus Dispatch, March 15, 2016.
Jeremy Pelzer, First Ohio Supreme Court Ad to Hit Airwaves: What to Watch for Monday, cleveland.com, February 28, 2016
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.
Data on spending on ads was also compiled from ad purchase contracts posted by the FCC and from state disclosure databases when available.