Lucas County, Ohio

Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Probate

2 candidates are tracked for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Probate on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Jaime Agnew and Tom Puffenberger. Candidate information follows official Lucas County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Incumbent Tom Puffenberger faces Jaime Agnew for a term commencing February 9, 2027, per the Board of Elections' certified candidate list. Ohio judicial candidates print without a party label. The probate court's own website lists the sitting judge as Jack R. Puffenberger, the same office and courthouse as the certified nominee.

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 › Lucas County › Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Probate

Jaime Agnew

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Says she will apply the law fairly and firmly using her legal experience
Is committed to treating everyone who enters the courtroom with dignity, respect, and impartiality
Wants to bring a real-life perspective to decisions affecting individuals, families, and businesses

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Agnew is a Senior Assistant Attorney General who has served as a magistrate on the Toledo Municipal Court for five years and previously worked more than a decade in the Public Defender's Office, with courtroom experience in appellate, federal bankruptcy, criminal, and family/domestic relations courts, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Tom Puffenberger

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Wants to bring a people-first approach to Probate Court
Wants everyone coming through the court to be treated with fairness and compassion
Believes a judge is a public servant first

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Puffenberger is an Assistant Lucas County Prosecutor in the Tax Foreclosure Division with nearly two decades of legal experience, including work as a Senior Attorney for the City of Toledo and a staff attorney for the Sixth District Court of Appeals, per the campaign site. He holds a law degree from the University of Toledo College of Law and an undergraduate degree from Denison University, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotSixth District Court of Appeals Judge (term commencing February 9, 2027)

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Probate in 2026?

When is the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Probate 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 Lucas 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 Lucas County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Lucas County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Sixth District Court of Appeals Judge (term commencing February 10, 2027)Maumee City Council Ohio Senate District 11 See all 14 Lucas County races

Candidate profiles

Jaime Agnew, full profile Tom Puffenberger, full profile Official Ohio election office