Ashtabula County, Ohio

Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas Judge (Term Beginning January 2, 2027)

2 candidates are tracked for Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas Judge (Term Beginning January 2, 2027) on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Albert S. Camplese and Harold E. Specht Jr.. Candidate information follows official Ashtabula County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Albert S. Camplese (nominated in the Democratic primary) and Harold E. Specht Jr. (nominated in the Republican primary) are on the November 3 ballot for this Common Pleas seat; Ohio judges print without a party label, per the Ashtabula County Board of Elections' unofficial November 3, 2026 candidate list (revised August 18, 2026).

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels.

Ohio › Ashtabula County › Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas Judge (Term Beginning January 2, 2027)

Albert S. Camplese

Nonpartisan

Biography

Camplese has served as judge of the Ashtabula County Probate and Juvenile Court since 2015 and as Ashtabula Municipal Court judge from 1993 to 2015, per the Ashtabula County Bar Association and Judicial Votes Count. He holds a J.D. from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and is the Democratic nominee for the Common Pleas Court judgeship being vacated by retiring Judge David Schroder, per the Star Beacon. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Albert S. Camplese.

Harold E. Specht Jr.

Nonpartisan

Biography

Specht has served as Ashtabula County Court, Eastern Division judge since 2018 and spent more than 20 years before that as an assistant county prosecutor, per the Star Beacon. His court has been certified by the Ohio Supreme Court as a Veterans Court. He is the Republican nominee for the Common Pleas Court judgeship being vacated by retiring Judge David A. Schroeder. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Harold E. Specht Jr.

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas Judge (Term Beginning January 2, 2027) in 2026?

When is the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas Judge (Term Beginning January 2, 2027) election in Ohio?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Ohio are on the Ohio election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Ashtabula County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Ashtabula County and state election office filings, last verified October 1, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Ohio election office, or see the full Ashtabula County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Ashtabula County ballot

9 tracked races in Ashtabula County, Ohio. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas Judge (Second Seat, Term Beginning February 9, 2027)Ohio House District 65 Ohio House District 99 See all 9 Ashtabula County races

Candidate profiles

Albert S. Camplese, full profile Harold E. Specht Jr., full profile Official Ohio election office