The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Two Ohio Supreme Court justices seeking re-election Nov. 2 passed the $1 million mark for their campaigns in August, and a newcomer running for an open seat neared that amount, according to reports filed with the secretary of state's office.

Republicans again far outstripped Democrats in fund-raising. Candidates for statewide office are required to file monthly fund-raising reports beginning in July.

Chief Justice Thomas Moyer, a suburban Columbus Republican seeking a fourth six-year term, raised $174,119 and now has a total of $1.1 million. His Democratic challenger, Municipal Court Judge Ellen Connally of Cleveland, raised $29,485 for a total of $72,126.

Justice Terrence O'Donnell, a Republican appointee in 2003, raised $181,867 to bring his balance to $1.1 million. That amount is 44 times the $25,406 raised so far, including $5,759 in August, by his challenger William O'Neill, a Democratic appeals judge from Warren.

In the race for the seat held by Democratic Justice Francis Sweeney, who is retiring, Republican appeals Judge Judith Lanzinger of Toledo reported raising $205,162 for a total of $970,712. Her opponent, Common Pleas Judge Nancy Fuerst of Cleveland, again raised the most of any Democrat: $188,285, for a total of $406,684.

Republican Justice Paul Pfeifer, seeking a third term, is unopposed and was not required to file because there were less than $10,000 in donations or expenses in the period. Pfeifer reported raising no money in the previous reporting period covering March through July.

The only other statewide race on the ballot is for U.S. Senate, a federal office whose candidates do not have to file the monthly reports.

On the Net: www.sos.state.oh.us