The Ballot Brief
Montgomery County, Ohio

Montgomery County Probate Court Judge

2 candidates are tracked for Montgomery County Probate Court Judge on the November 3, 2026 ballot: David Brannon and Cassandra Rice. Candidate information follows official Montgomery County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Nominated in partisan May 2026 primaries but elected without party designation on Ohio's November ballot. Republican incumbent David Brannon faces Democratic nominee Cassandra Rice, a local attorney, per the Dayton Daily News.

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 › Montgomery County › Montgomery County Probate Court Judge

David Brannon

Nonpartisan

Biography

David Brannon is a lifelong resident of Montgomery County who graduated from Centerville High School in 1998 and Miami University in 2002, earned his J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law, and was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 2005, per Montgomery County government. As Probate Judge he created a five-year strategic plan focused on the mental health crisis, court access and technology, and started an Assisted Outpatient Treatment program to address the shortage of hospital beds for people with serious mental illness, per his campaign site.

Cassandra Rice

Cassandra Rice

Nonpartisan

Top priorities
  • Fair, unbiased, transparent judicial decision-making
  • A patient, attentive, community-focused court

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Cassandra Rice is a local attorney with experience as legal counsel and as an appointed estate representative or guardian in probate matters, per her campaign site and the Dayton Daily News. She was nominated in the Democratic primary in Montgomery County Probate Judge.

Next on your ballotMontgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge (General Division, term beginning Jan. 1, 2027)

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Montgomery County Probate Court Judge in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Montgomery County Probate Court Judge on the November 3, 2026 ballot: David Brannon and Cassandra Rice. Candidate information follows official Montgomery County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Montgomery County Probate Court Judge 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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Montgomery County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge (General Division, term beginning July 2, 2027)Ohio Senate District 5Ohio House District 36See all 15 Montgomery County races
Candidate profiles
David Brannon, full profileCassandra Rice, full profileOfficial Ohio election office