JUSTICE MELODY STEWART “SENATOR SHERROD BROWN ENDORSEMENT” AD
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Ad Text: [Sherrod Brown]: “Hey folks, Sherrod Brown here. I’m proud to be with Ohio Supreme Court Justice, longtime friend Melody Stewart. Justice Stewart is a fighter for working families. She spent her time working for you, not corrupt politicians, in the legislature. [Melody Stewart]: Thank you so much Senator. You know I’m working each and every day to protect our Constitutional rights. I’m honored to have your support, just as I am, the votes and the support of the people across Ohio who elected me in 2018. [Sherrod Brown]: She is a champion for our state. That’s why I’m asking you to vote for Justice Melody Stewart for the Supreme Court on or before November 5.”
The accompanying Instagram post reads: “I’m honored to have @sherrod‘s support. Like him, I believe in protecting the dignity of work, and upholding the rule of law.”
Who's responsible for this ad?
This is a traditional endorsement ad paid for by the Stewart for Ohio Supreme Court committee. From Jan. 2023 to September 2024, Melody Stewart’s campaign committee received over half a million dollars ($643,348.73 including monetary and in-kind donations). In the September 2024 report, her campaign reported having $634,450.90 available to spend in the race. To see contributions to candidates for the Ohio Supreme Court, visit the Ohio Secretary of State’s website. Examine top donations here.
Discussion and Analysis
Context provided by Catherine Turcer, Executive Director, Common Cause Ohio
Sherrod Brown is a United States Senator from Ohio, a seat he’s held since 2007. He is in a tight race for reelection. He is a well- known champion of workers’ rights, and as such, his endorsement of Justice Melody Stewart could be helpful.
Candidate endorsements by organizations and prominent individuals can be powerful. The Judicial Canons prohibit judges from making promises to voters and judicial races are often low-profile, even those for the Supreme Court. The Democratic candidates for Ohio Supreme Court have been careful to avoid associating themselves too closely with the political party that nominated them. Stewart has identified the partisan labels on the General Election ballot as “detrimental politicization of the judicial branch.” However, someone influential like Sherrod Brown can draw voter attention to a political race in a way that the candidate herself cannot. The political ad attempts to thread the needle by connecting Stewart to Brown without tying her tightly to the Democratic Party.