Stark County, Ohio

Judge of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (term commencing 2/9/2027)

2 candidates are tracked for Judge of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (term commencing 2/9/2027) on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Kristen S. Moore and Jennifer L. Dave. Candidate information follows official Stark County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Judges print without party labels in November. This is an open seat: sitting judge Taryn L. Heath (term through 2/8/2027) is not seeking reelection, per the county's official Elected Officials List and AOL/Ohio primary election reporting. Moore won a contested Democratic primary; Dave was unopposed in the Republican primary.

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 › Stark County › Judge of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (term commencing 2/9/2027)

Kristen S. Moore

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Serving as a tough, fair judge who is not intimidated by difficult decisions

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Moore has served as a Magistrate at the Stark County Court of Common Pleas for more than six years and has practiced law in Stark County for nearly two decades, per her campaign site. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from Malone University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Akron School of Law, and has argued cases before the Ohio Supreme Court and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Jennifer L. Dave

Nonpartisan

Biography

Dave is an attorney with the Stark County Prosecutor's Office, per the Stark County Bar Association's membership directory. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Jennifer L. Dave.

Next on your ballotJudge of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Probate Division

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Judge of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (term commencing 2/9/2027) in 2026?

When is the Judge of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (term commencing 2/9/2027) 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 Stark 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 Stark 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 Stark County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Stark County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Ohio Senate District 29 Ohio Senate District 31 Ohio House District 48 See all 12 Stark County races

Candidate profiles

Kristen S. Moore, full profile Jennifer L. Dave, full profile Official Ohio election office