The Republican candidates for Ohio Supreme Court continue to lead their Democratic opponents in campaign fundraising for this fall's election.

The Republican candidates for Ohio Supreme Court continue to lead their Democratic opponents in campaign fundraising for this fall�s election.

Republican Pat DeWine, a state appellate court judge from Cincinnati, raised $248,240 in July and has $786,845 on hand for his race against Cynthia Rice, an appellate judge from the Warren area. The Democrat raised $147,455 last month and has a balance of $214,588.

Republican Pat Fischer, another appellate judge from Cincinnati, brought in $265,420 in July and has $294,640 on hand, according to campaign finance reports. His opponent, Democrat Common Pleas Court Judge John P. O�Donnell of Cleveland, raised $121,972 to bring his balance to $155,080.

Among large contributors, DeWine, the son of Attorney General Mike DeWine, received $6,700 from the Farmers Insurance political action committee and $5,000 each from Friends of Ohio Hospitals and Columbus lawyer Scott Schiff.

Fischer received maximum contributions of $6,700 each from the political action committees of Nationwide Insurance, Ohio National Financial Services and Farmers Insurance and the law firms of Bricker & Eckler of Columbus and Keating, Muething & Klekamp of Cincinnati.

Democrats Rice and O�Donnell both received $6,700 each from the PACs of the United Auto Workers, the national and Ohio plumbers and pipefitters unions and two International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local unions.

Republicans control the court by a 6-1 margin. Chief Justice Maureen O�Connor, a Republican, is unopposed for election this fall for her last six-year term on the court.

The two seats at stake in the Nov. 8 election are occupied by Republican Justices Paul E. Pfeifer and Judith Ann Lanzinger, who are being forced into retirement by judicial age limits.

rludlow@dispatch.com

@RandyLudlow