Democrats, Republicans raising money for possible legal battle over close Ohio Supreme Court race [View all]

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge John O'Donnell is raising funds for possible legal challenges as he remains locked in a tight race for a seat on the Ohio Supreme Court.

Ohio Republicans backing Cincinnati appellate Judge Pat Fischer — a conservative candidate who leads O'Donnell, a Democrat, by more than 24,000 votes in unofficial results — are working to secure donations for the same possible legal battle.

The fundraising efforts come as county election workers across the state prepare to count provisional and absentee ballots, and determine whether certain ballots are eligible. O'Donnell and Fischer's allies are expected to keep a close eye on the processes, and court challenges to whether certain ballots should be counted have occurred in past elections.

Republicans currently control the Ohio Supreme Court 6-1. Republican Cincinnati appellate Judge Pat DeWine beat his Democratic opponent on Election Night. Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor, a Republican, ran unopposed.

Read more: http://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/index.ssf/2016/11/democrats_republicans_raising.html#incart_river_index