O'Donnell seeks Ohio Supreme Court seat in 2026 race

Colleen T. O'Donnell, a Republican and Franklin County Common Pleas Court judge, is running for one of two Ohio Supreme Court seats on the November ballot.

O'Donnell faces Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat, for the seat in the 2026 general election. On her campaign website, O'Donnell calls herself a constitutional conservative.

O'Donnell did not respond to the Mason-Deerfield Times candidate questionnaire. The information below is drawn from public records and her campaign materials.

Candidate information

Name: Colleen T. O'Donnell
Party: Republican
Office sought: Ohio Supreme Court Justice (Term Commencing 1/2)
Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
Education: Bachelor's degree in political science, Miami University (2003); law degree, Case Western Reserve University (2006)
Family note: O'Donnell says she is the daughter of retired Ohio Supreme Court Justice Terrence O'Donnell, according to her campaign website.

Experience and public service

O'Donnell has held positions in state government, federal courts and private practice, according to her iVoterGuide profile and a Border Crossing Law Firm profile.

Assistant attorney general, Ohio Attorney General's Office (2006–2007)
Law clerk, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio (2007)
Lawyer, Carpenter Lipps & Leland LLP (2007–2013)
Common Pleas Court judge, Franklin County (2013–present)
Attorney, Office of the Federal Energy Advocate, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (2023)
U.S. immigration judge, Laredo, Texas, Immigration Court, U.S. Department of Justice (starting August 2023)

On the issues

O'Donnell's campaign website lists three priorities: upholding the rule of law, protecting public safety and preserving a conservative majority on the Ohio Supreme Court. She says she is running to defend those principles, according to the site.

No additional policy positions, issue responses or specific proposals were available from the candidate beyond those three stated priorities.

Endorsements

O'Donnell has received endorsements from law enforcement, county Republican parties and advocacy organizations, according to her iVoterGuide profile and BallotReady: