Daniel R. Hawkins
Republican | Ohio
Candidate Profile
Originalist
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
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WORK & MILITARY
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AFFILIATIONS
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POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
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POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
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ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (20)
Ohio Right to Life PAC
Buckeye Firearms Association
Franklin County Republican Party
Butler County Republican Party
Ohio Republican Party
LIBERAL (1)
International Union of Operating Engineers IUOE Local 18
OTHER (2)
Ohio Manufacturers' Association OMAPAC
Fraternal Order of Police FOP of Ohio
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (15)
Better Ohio PAC (2025)
State Republican Party Organizations (2025)
Donald Trump (2024)
Trump National Committee JFC, INC. (2024)
Dave Yost (2022)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (46)
Kevin Ritter (2026)
National Federation of Independent Business (2026)
Andrew King (2025)
Bill Seitz (2025)
Friends of Tiberi (2025)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (2024)
North America's Building Trade Unions (2024)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (6)
Building Trades Councils (2026)
International Union of Operating Engineers (2025)
Laborers International Union of N. America (national, state & local) (2024)
Ohio Association for Justice (2024)
Taft Stettinius & Hollister (2024)
OTHER INFORMATION
Equality OH rated Hawkins "F" on their 2026 scorecard.
In 2024 video Judge Hawkins' states it is importance for judges to practice judicial restrain. He said, "Judges are not suppose to make law or policy, that is up to legislate. A judge is suppose to figure out what the law is and apply it to the facts."
In State ex rel. Hicks v. Clermont County Board of Elections (2026), in which Justice Hawkins authored the majority opinion, the Supreme Court of Ohio considered whether a county board of elections was required to hold a hearing over an objection to a candidate’s petition. The Court held that the board did not have to hold a hearing because the objection would not have affected the candidate’s eligibility for the ballot. Even if all 17 challenged signatures were removed, the candidate still had 69 valid signatures—more than the 50 required by law. The Court also explained that courts should not order a hearing when it would have no practical effect. The Court denied the requested writ of mandamus.
In State ex rel. Huwig v. Department of Health (2025), in which Justice Hawkins joined the per curiam majority, the Supreme Court of Ohio considered whether the Ohio Department of Health had to provide spreadsheets containing death and COVID-19 vaccination data under the Public Records Act. The Court held that the department did not have to create new spreadsheets by running special database searches to produce the information requested. Because doing so would require creating a new record, the Court denied Huwig’s request and also denied damages, costs, and attorney fees. Justice Hawkins joined the majority without writing separately. Two justices disagreed in part, arguing that the databases were public records and that the department could have exported and redacted the requested information.
In State ex rel. Platt v. Montgomery County Board of Elections (2025), in which Justice Hawkins joined the per curiam opinion, the Supreme Court of Ohio considered whether emails involving a county board of elections and a confidential legal memorandum were public records subject to disclosure. The Court held that two emails had to be released because they documented the board’s activities. An email sent from the deputy director’s board account to his personal account was a public record, even though the activity was unauthorized. However, an email later sent from the personal account to a Democratic Party official was not a public record because it was not maintained by the board.
In State v. Clark (2025), in which Judge Hawkins concurred separately, the Supreme Court of Ohio considered whether a defendant seeking to reopen an appeal must specifically show that his prior appellate lawyer was ineffective and that the lawyer’s mistakes harmed his case. The Court held that this showing is required under App.R. 26(B). Clark’s brief challenged several errors but did not clearly explain how his appellate lawyer performed poorly or how that failure caused him harm. The Court therefore upheld the Ninth District’s decision. Judge Hawkins agreed with the result but wrote separately to explain that appeals courts may sometimes ask for supplemental briefing instead of immediately rejecting an appeal for poor briefing. He emphasized that courts should remain neutral and should not create legal arguments for a party.
In Snyder v. Old World Classics, L.L.C. (2025), in which Justice Hawkins authored the unanimous opinion, the Supreme Court of Ohio considered whether an appeals court could reverse a trial court for failing to hold an oral hearing on a motion to compel arbitration when neither party had requested a hearing. The Court held that the Ninth District violated the party-presentation principle, which generally requires courts to decide issues raised by the parties. Neither side had argued that the lack of a hearing was an error, so the appeals court should not have based its ruling on that issue. The Supreme Court vacated the Ninth District’s ruling and sent the case back to consider the homeowners’ actual claim that the arbitration agreement was invalid because of fraud.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Was Dobbs v. Jackson rightly decided according to the text of the Constitution? Please explain. (Holding: In Dobbs, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the federal constitution does not confer a right to abortion.)
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Does the federal Constitution support the right to physician assisted suicide? Please explain in light of Washington v. Glucksberg (1997).
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Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
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How do you view the judiciary’s role in matters of abortion regulation following Dobbs?
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RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Do you believe religious liberty is at risk in the United States. If so, what is the judiciary's proper role in addressing this issue?
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Does the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment require government to be strictly secular or does it allow for the nation's religious heritage?
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Was Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission rightly decided according to the text of the Constitution? Please explain. (Holding: The U.S. Supreme Court held tha the state may not show religious hostility when enforcing anti-discrimination laws against a business owner.)
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VALUES
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
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What is your understanding of parental rights under the Constitution regarding the upbringing of children, particularly regarding choices about education and sexual identity?
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Is gender identity a protected class under the Constitution? Please explain the constitutional basis for your view.
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ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
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Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
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I voted in these primaries and general elections:
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JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
Describe your judicial philosophy.
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Do you believe judges should primarily apply the law according to its original public meaning, or do you believe the law evolves over time to reflect contemporary values?
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Which current or past U.S. Supreme Court justice best reflects your judicial philosophy?
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Was Obergefell v. Hodges rightly decided according to the text of the Constitution? Please explain. (Holding: The U.S. Supreme Court held Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses create a right for same-sex couples to marry.)
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A. How should a judge approach a case where the constitutional or statutory text is clear on its face? B. Conversely, how should a judge proceed when the text is ambiguous or silent on a disputed issue?
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What is your view of judicial restraint versus judicial activism? How do you define each?
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What is the proper role of a judge?
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When applying or interpreting the text of a statute or constitutional provision, is it ever proper for a judge to consider present day public opinion or consequences?
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If precedent departs from the Constitution’s text or original meaning, should a judge follow it or correct the error? Please explain.
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CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
The burden of proof in a criminal case is generally that the state must provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Some say the reason the burden of proof is so high is because we greatly value ensuring that the innocent are not unjustly imprisoned. Please comment on this topic.
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When reviewing wrongful conviction claims, what role, if any, should judges play in determining remedies?
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2ND AMENDMENT
What is your understanding of the Second Amendment’s right to keep and bear arms?
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OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Which branch of government do you believe was intended to wield the most authority?
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