Betty Sutton

Democratic Party

Candidate, Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals

Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals

Tenure

2021 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

5

Predecessor:Julie A. Schafer (Nonpartisan)

Prior offices:

U.S. House Ohio District 13

Years in office: 2007 - 2013

Predecessor:Sherrod Brown (D)

Successor:Tim Ryan (D)

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Ohio House of Representatives

Years in office: 1993 - 2001

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Member/Vice-President Summit County Council

Years in office: 1991 - 1992

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Barberton City Council

Years in office: 1990 - 1991

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Report an officeholder change

Compensation

Base salary

$178,108

Net worth

(2012) $438,511

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 3, 2020

Next election

May 5, 2026

Education

Bachelor's

Political Science, Kent State University, 1985

Law

University of Akron School of Law, 1990

Personal

Religion

Christian: Methodist

Profession

Attorney

Contact

Official website

Personal website

Personal Facebook

Personal X

Betty Sutton (Democratic Party) is a judge of theOhio Ninth District Court of Appeals. She assumed office on February 9, 2021. Her current term ends on February 8, 2027.

Sutton (Democratic Party) is running for re-election for judge of theOhio Ninth District Court of Appeals. She declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled onMay 5, 2026.^[source]

Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship byGovTrack, Sutton was a "far-left Democrat."^[1]

Biography

Sutton was born in Barberton,Ohio. She earned a B.A. from Kent State University in 1985, and a J.D. from the University of Akron in 1990.^[2]

Career

• 2007-2013:U.S. House of Representatives,Ohio's 13th Congressional District
• 1993-2000:Ohio House of Representatives
• 1991-1992: Barberton,Ohio, City Council

Issues

Specific votes

Fiscal Cliff

Sutton voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. She was 1 of 172 Democrats that voted in favor of the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257 - 167 vote on January 1, 2013.^[3]

Elections

2026

See also: Ohio intermediate appellate court elections, 2026

General election

The primary will occur on May 5, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals

IncumbentBetty Sutton (D) is running in the Democratic primary for Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals on May 5, 2026.

		Candidate
		Betty Sutton

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	Incumbents arebolded and underlined.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals

Cynthia Curtin (R) is running in the Republican primary for Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals on May 5, 2026.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Cynthia Curtin

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	There are noincumbents in this race.
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Endorsements

2020

See also: Ohio intermediate appellate court elections, 2020

General election

General election for Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals

Betty Sutton defeated incumbentJulie A. Schafer in the general election for Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Betty Sutton (Nonpartisan)	54.1	271,875
		Julie A. Schafer (Nonpartisan)	45.9	230,938

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	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 502,813
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals

Betty Sutton advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals on April 28, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Betty Sutton	100.0	81,213

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	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 81,213
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals

IncumbentJulie A. Schafer advanced from the Republican primary for Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals on April 28, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Julie A. Schafer	100.0	47,649

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	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 47,649
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Campaign finance

2018

See also:Ohio gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018

General election

General election for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio

The following candidates ran in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jon Husted (R)	50.4	2,231,917
		Betty Sutton (D)	46.7	2,067,847
		Todd Grayson (L)	1.8	79,985
		Brett Joseph (G)	1.1	49,475
	Submit photo	Keith Colton (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	185
	Submit photo	Anthony Durgans (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	132
	Submit photo	Dennis Artino (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	41

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	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,429,582
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Scott Schertzer (D)
• Ian Tumey (Independent)
• Adam Hudak (D)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Betty Sutton	62.2	428,159
	Submit photo	Tara Samples	23.0	158,284
		Stephanie Dodd	9.2	63,131
	Submit photo	Chantelle Lewis	3.3	22,667
	Submit photo	Jerry Schroeder	1.4	9,536
	Submit photo	Jeffrey Lynn	1.0	7,011

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	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 688,788
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio

Jon Husted defeatedNathan Estruth in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jon Husted	59.8	499,639
	Submit photo	Nathan Estruth	40.2	335,328

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	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 834,967
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Amy Murray (R)

Green primary election

Green primary for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio

Brett Joseph advanced from the Green primary for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Brett Joseph	100.0	3,031

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	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 3,031
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

2014

See also:Ohio gubernatorial election, 2014

Sutton was considered a potential Democratic candidate forGovernor of Ohio in 2014. She ultimately decided against entering the race in March 2013.^[4][5][6]

2012

See also:Ohio's 16th Congressional District elections, 2012

Sutton was defeated by incumbentJim Renacci.^[7] Sutton ran in the2012 election for theU.S. House to representOhio's13th District. Sutton ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on March 6, 2012.

TheWashington Post listed theHouse of Representatives elections inOhio in 2012 as one of the10 states that could determine whether Democrats would retake the House orRepublicans would hold their majority in 2013.^[8]Ohio tied withPennsylvania for 9th on the list.^[8]

After redistricting, Sutton faced another incumbent,Jim Renacci, in November. She was considered a vulnerable incumbent.^[9]

In the final two weeks before the election, candidateJames B. Renacci changed his plans to air tv advertisements. He had slots reserved for these two weeks, but since Cleveland was home to close races for Senate, House and Presidential elections, he decided that the market was saturated and that continued advertisement on TV would not help him reach undecided voters. His opponent, 13th District incumbent Betty Sutton, continued to advertise.^[10]

U.S. House, Ohio District 16 General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Betty Sutton	48%	170,600
	Republican	James B. RenacciIncumbent	52%	185,165
Total Votes				355,765
Source:Ohio Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

2010

Breakdown of the source of Sutton's campaign funds before the 2010 election.

On November 2, 2010, Sutton won re-election to theUnited States House of Representatives. She defeated Tom Ganley (R) in the general election.^[11]

U.S. House of Representatives, Ohio Congressional District 13 Election, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democrat	Betty SuttonIncumbent	55.7%	118,806
	Republican	Tom Ganley	44.3%	94,367
Total Votes				213,173

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also:Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

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2020

Betty Sutton did not completeBallotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Polls

2012 Election

ANormington, Petts and Associates poll, conducted June 26-28, 2012, showed Sutton with a slim lead over rival and fellow incumbent Rep.Jim Renacci.^[12]

Campaign finance summary

Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available fromOpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.

Analysis

Congressional staff salaries

See also:Staff salaries of United States Senators and Representatives

The websiteLegistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Sutton paid her congressional staff a total of $957,654 in 2011. Overall,Ohio ranked 30th in average salary for representative staff. The averageU.S. House of Representatives congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.^[13]

Net worth

See also:Changes in Net Worth of U.S. Senators and Representatives (Personal Gain Index) andNet worth of United States Senators and Representatives

2011

Based oncongressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available byOpenSecrets.org, Sutton's net worth as of 2011 was estimated between $78,023 to $798,999. That averages to $438,511, which is lower than the average net worth of Democratic House members in 2011 of $5,107,874. Her average calculated net worth^[14] decreased by 28.52% from 2010.^[15]

2010

Based oncongressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available byOpenSecrets.org, Sutton's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $328,023 to $899,000. This averages out to $613,511.50 which was lower than the average net worth of Democrats in 2010 of $4,465,875.^[16]

National Journal vote ratings

See also:National Journal vote ratings

2012

Each yearNational Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Sutton tied with one other member of the U.S. House of Representatives, ranking 135th in the liberal rankings among members of the U.S. House.^[17]

2011

Each yearNational Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Sutton ranked 89th in the liberal rankings among members of the U.S. House.^[18]

Voting with party

Betty Sutton voted with the Democratic Party94.3 percent of the time, which ranked 32 among the 192 House Democratic members as of November 2011.^[19]

Congressional tenure

Committee assignments

2011-2012

Sutton served on the following committees:^[20]

• Armed Services Committee
  • Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces
  • Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
• Natural Resources Committee
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
  • Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands

See also

2026 Elections

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External links

Footnotes

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