Mahoning County, Ohio

Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge, General Division (term beginning February 9, 2027)

2 candidates are tracked for Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge, General Division (term beginning February 9, 2027) on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Ross T. Smith and Mark P. D'Apolito. Candidate information follows official Mahoning County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Open seat: Judge R. Scott Krichbaum cannot seek reelection under Ohio's age limit for judges, per The Vindicator and WYTV. Ross T. Smith, the Republican primary winner, faces Democratic nominee Mark P. D'Apolito. Ohio judicial candidates appear on the November ballot without party labels.

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 › Mahoning County › Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge, General Division (term beginning February 9, 2027)

Ross T. Smith

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Says his experience on both the prosecution and defense sides gives him a balanced view that supports fairness and impartiality on the bench
Pledges to keep the courts fair and efficient

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Ross T. Smith has practiced law in Mahoning County for more than 20 years as both a prosecuting attorney and a defense attorney, per his campaign site. He was sworn in as a magistrate under Judge R. Scott Krichbaum in January 2026; Krichbaum's seat is open this year because Ohio's age limit bars him from seeking reelection, per The Vindicator.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Mark P. D'Apolito

Nonpartisan

Biography

Mark P. D'Apolito was hired in April 2023 as Austintown Township administrator, per WFMJ. He previously spent five years as a Mahoning County assistant prosecutor and three years as a Youngstown assistant law director. He is a first cousin of sitting Common Pleas Court Judge Anthony D'Apolito and a nephew of David D'Apolito, a former 7th District Court of Appeals and county court judge. No campaign website was found as of September 10, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Mark P. D'Apolito.

Next on your ballotMahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge, General Division (term beginning July 1, 2027)

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge, General Division (term beginning February 9, 2027) in 2026?

When is the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge, General Division (term beginning February 9, 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 Mahoning 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 Mahoning 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 Mahoning County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Mahoning County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge, Domestic Relations Division Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge, Probate Division Ohio Senate District 33 See all 10 Mahoning County races

Candidate profiles

Ross T. Smith, full profile Mark P. D'Apolito, full profile Official Ohio election office