Who is running for Judge, Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (Unexpired term ending 1-3-2029) in 2026?

Judge, Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

Chris McDowell was appointed to the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas by Governor Mike DeWine in August 2025 to fill the seat vacated by Judge Tom Heekin's retirement, and took the bench in September 2025²³⁴. He was a partner at Strauss Troy and earlier an equity partner at Dinsmore & Shohl, a prosecutor for the City of Wyoming and the Village of Newtown, and a U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps attorney³⁴. He must win the November 3, 2026 election to keep the seat for the unexpired term ending January 3, 2029¹². Ohio prints no party next to judicial candidates on the general election ballot, so this race is nonpartisan on the ballot.

• Judge, Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, appointed August 2025 and on the bench since September 2025²⁴
• Partner, Strauss Troy, Cincinnati, 2015 to 2025, civil and criminal practice; equity partner at Dinsmore & Shohl, 2000 to 2015⁴⁵
• Prosecutor for the City of Wyoming and the Village of Newtown⁴³
• U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps attorney from 1994, serving as prosecutor and defense counsel in Kansas, Germany, South Korea and Bosnia; final assignment heading the criminal defense office at Fort Riley³⁴
• JD, West Virginia University College of Law (1994); bachelor's degree, Marshall University (1991)³
• Appointed by Governor Mike DeWine on August 22, 2025 after Judge Tom Heekin retired May 30, 2025; must run in November 2026 for the unexpired term ending January 3, 2029²³. Nominated in the Republican primary¹⁷.
• Bar poll: Cincinnati Bar Association 2026 Hamilton County Judicial Candidate Poll. The CBA describes it as a confidential, nonpartisan survey sent to its active attorney members (the results sheet says 2,500 members of the Cincinnati legal community); 170 members responded, rating only candidates they had contact with in the past four years, on six categories, with a stated margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent. It is a non-binding member survey of attorney opinion, not an endorsement or a rating by the bar association. For Chris McDowell, 72 respondents reported contact. Of those, the share rating the candidate Excellent: administrative diligence 50%, communication skills 51%, community engagement 40%, integrity/impartiality/objectivity 49%, legal experience 54%, professionalism/temperament 43%. The share rating Below Average, in the same order: 7%, 8%, 7%, 15%, 4%, 19%⁸⁹.

Administrative Magistrate, Hamilton County Juvenile Court

Sarah Henry is the Administrative Magistrate of the Hamilton County Juvenile Court³². She previously worked as a public defender and legal aid attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati, the Children's Law Center, the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy and Legal Aid of the Bluegrass². She is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for the Common Pleas General Division unexpired term ending January 3, 2029¹. Ohio prints no party next to judicial candidates on the general election ballot, so this race is nonpartisan on the ballot.

• Administrative Magistrate, Hamilton County Juvenile Court³²
• Attorney roles with the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati, the Children's Law Center, the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy and Legal Aid of the Bluegrass²
• JD, Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Northern Kentucky University (2008); BA with honors, Loyola University Chicago (2004); Ursuline Academy (2000)²
• Not a sitting judge. Nominated in the Democratic primary for the 2026 election¹⁴.
• Bar poll: Cincinnati Bar Association 2026 Hamilton County Judicial Candidate Poll. The CBA describes it as a confidential, nonpartisan survey sent to its active attorney members (the results sheet says 2,500 members of the Cincinnati legal community); 170 members responded, rating only candidates they had contact with in the past four years, on six categories, with a stated margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent. It is a non-binding member survey of attorney opinion, not an endorsement or a rating by the bar association. For Sarah Henry, 43 respondents reported contact. Of those, the share rating the candidate Excellent: administrative diligence 44%, communication skills 51%, community engagement 47%, integrity/impartiality/objectivity 51%, legal experience 42%, professionalism/temperament 53%. The share rating Below Average, in the same order: 14%, 14%, 14%, 16%, 23%, 19%⁵⁶.