In 2012, for the third time, O'Neill ran for the Ohio Supreme Court. He won a two-way primary against Fanon Rucker, a judge on the Hamilton County Municipal Court. O'Neill received 72% of the vote and carried all but one of Ohio's 88 counties. In the general election, O'Neill defeated incumbent Robert Cupp by four percent.[14] O'Neill ran on a budget of just $4000 from his personal funds, a campaign he called "no money from nobody" and that was highlighted in a YouTube video with his twin sons.
On October 29, 2017, O'Neill announced that he would join the Democratic primary for Ohio governor. During his announcement, he laid out a platform of minimum wage increases, tax incentives for solar power, mental health care expansion and marijuana legalization in Ohio.[15] Less than a week later he announced that he will recuse himself from new Supreme Court cases and will resign by the February 7, filing deadline due to potential ethical conflicts.[16]
Controversy
On November 17, 2017, O'Neill stirred controversy by posting on Facebook regarding allegations of sexual assault against U.S. Senator Al Franken. He referred to those calling for Franken to resign as "dogs of war" and decried a "national feeding frenzy" against age-old sexual indiscretions. O'Neill went on to claim that he had been in sexual relationships with approximately fifty women.[17] In response to these posts, his communications director resigned from his campaign.[18] Multiple state officials, including Ohio Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor,[19] former state representative and fellow gubernatorial candidate Connie Pillich,[20]Dayton mayor and fellow gubernatorial candidate Nan Whaley,[18] and Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor,[21] criticized O'Neill's comments, with Pillich and Whaley calling for him to resign from his position as justice.[22] O'Neill initially called for his critics to "lighten up", saying that he intended to "elevate the discussion" on sexual assault.[23] However, on November 19, he issued an apology for his remarks.[24]
^The Plain Dealer, November 6, 1996 - APPEALS COURT JOB GOES TO O'NEILL
^"Elections & Voting". Justice of the Supreme Court - Unexpired Term: November 2, 2004. Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
^"Elections & Voting". Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court Term beginning January 1, 2007: November 7, 2006. Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved November 22, 2012.