UPDATE: The race for the Ohio Supreme Court is heating up as Rocky River Municipal Court Judge Joseph Burke has officially dropped out of the Republican primary. His announcement came on Thursday, marking a significant shift in a contest aimed at challenging Democratic Justice Jennifer Brunner in the upcoming election.
Burke’s exit is particularly notable as he is the second Republican to withdraw from this competitive race, following the departure of incumbent Justice Pat Fischer. This decision narrows the Republican field to four candidates: state appellate Judges Andrew King, Jill Lanzinger, Ron Lewis, and former Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Colleen O’Donnell.
In a statement, Burke emphasized his commitment to his current role, stating, “This is where I believe my service can have its most meaningful impact.” He described his choice to withdraw as a “difficult but deliberate decision,” highlighting his focus on the responsibilities of presiding over the Rocky River Municipal Court.
Despite stepping back, Burke refrained from endorsing any of the remaining candidates, simply noting, “Ohio has no shortage of credible candidates for Supreme Court Justice.” This adds an intriguing layer to the primary, as the remaining contenders vie for support within the party.
The Republican primary for the Ohio Supreme Court has already experienced significant ups and downs, including Fischer’s controversial attempt to run for another seat while still serving his current term. After the Ohio Republican Party’s candidate screening committee recommended Lewis for endorsement, Fischer withdrew from the race altogether. However, Lewis later stepped back from seeking endorsement amid concerns regarding his support within the Ohio GOP’s state central committee, leaving party leaders without an official candidate for now.
As of now, the primary landscape remains fluid. There are still nearly three months until the candidate filing deadline on February 2026, and other potential candidates, including former Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof, have expressed interest in entering the race.
With these developments, the urgency and stakes continue to rise in the Ohio Supreme Court race. Voters and party members will be closely monitoring who steps forward next as the Republican field reshapes itself in anticipation of the primary.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops and the race unfolds in the coming months.
