Christopher McDowell is on the Ohio Voter Guide

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Important Dates to Know:

  • October 5: Deadline to register to vote
  • October 6: Absentee Voting by Mail and Early In-Person Voting begins (view early in-person voting hours)
  • October 27: Deadline to request an absentee ballot (must be received by your board of elections by 8:30 pm)
  • November 3: Election Day 
    - Vote in-person at your polling location, open between 6:30 am to 7:30 pm on Election Day
    - Return an absentee ballot to your board of elections by 7:30 pm to be counted)

Helpful Links:

Incumbent
Republican
Christopher McDowell
Christopher McDowell
Background and Bio
Chris McDowell enlisted in the U.S. Army at 17 and attended college on the GI Bill, earning a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and History from Marshall University and a law degree from West Virginia University College of Law. He clerked for West Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard F. Neely and served as an Army JAG Corps officer, working as a prosecutor and defense attorney in Korea, Germany, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. After leaving the Army in 2000, he was a civil and criminal litigator and partner at Dinsmore & Shohl and later Strauss Troy in Cincinnati, and served as prosecutor for the City of Wyoming and the Village of Newtown. He was appointed to the Common Pleas bench in 2025. He lives in Hyde Park with his wife and three children.
Policy Issue Summaries
  • Judicial Philosophy and Interpretative Approach: McDowell's campaign materials state that justice must be principled, transparent, and rooted in equal respect for every person.
  • Criminal Justice and Public Safety: According to his campaign, McDowell is focused on protecting public safety while safeguarding individual rights. On his campaign website, it says he chaired the board of a local drug rehabilitation facility that implemented evidence-based treatment programs "that support recovery and reduce repeat offenses," and that he "believes that real justice includes assisting people in rebuilding their lives."
Endorsements
  • Hamilton County Republican Party
  • Plumbers, Pipefitters & Mechanical Equipment Service Local Union 392
Background and Bio
Chris McDowell enlisted in the U.S. Army at 17 and attended college on the GI Bill, earning a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and History from Marshall University and a law degree from West Virginia University College of Law. He clerked for West Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard F. Neely and served as an Army JAG Corps officer, working as a prosecutor and defense attorney in Korea, Germany, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. After leaving the Army in 2000, he was a civil and criminal litigator and partner at Dinsmore & Shohl and later Strauss Troy in Cincinnati, and served as prosecutor for the City of Wyoming and the Village of Newtown. He was appointed to the Common Pleas bench in 2025. He lives in Hyde Park with his wife and three children.
Policy Issue Summaries
  • Judicial Philosophy and Interpretative Approach: McDowell's campaign materials state that justice must be principled, transparent, and rooted in equal respect for every person.
  • Criminal Justice and Public Safety: According to his campaign, McDowell is focused on protecting public safety while safeguarding individual rights. On his campaign website, it says he chaired the board of a local drug rehabilitation facility that implemented evidence-based treatment programs "that support recovery and reduce repeat offenses," and that he "believes that real justice includes assisting people in rebuilding their lives."
Endorsements
  • Hamilton County Republican Party
  • Plumbers, Pipefitters & Mechanical Equipment Service Local Union 392
Last Updated:2026-10-19
Innovation Ohio Education Fund

Paid for by Innovation Ohio Education Fund.

The nonpartisan summaries of candidates’ backgrounds and issue summaries within this voter guide were compiled from publicly available campaign materials and statements, candidate websites and social media accounts, and news coverage of the candidates and election.

Information presented within this resource is for educational and informational purposes and does not reflect the views or positions of Innovation Ohio Education Fund. Inclusion in this guide does not reflect an endorsement of, or opposition to, any candidate or political party.