One of Hamilton County's biggest coming elections just got another contender.
Former municipal court judge Fanon Rucker has announced he will run for Hamilton County Prosecutor, possibly challenging incumbent Republican Joe Deters for that powerful seat in November 2020.
But to get the chance to take on Deters, Rucker will need to come out on top in the March primary against fellow Democrat and former federal prosecutor Gabe Davis, who announced his campaign back in July.
Rucker was appointed to the county's municipal court in 2007 by then-Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland. He announced he was stepping down from that role in August this year. Before his time as a municipal judge, he was a private attorney focused on civil rights and labor law and an assistant prosecutor for the City of Cincinnati.
“On day one, we will enact policies that will focus on aggressive prosecution of violent crimes, provide continued support of victims after the court process, staff an office with those focused on the foundational principles of justice and reduce overcrowding in our jails and prisons,” Rucker said in a statement about his candidacy pledging to "bring a renewed sense of fairness to the prosecutor's office."
Should he win in the primary, this wouldn't be Rucker's first race against Deters: The two battled it out for the prosecutor's office in 2004.
Democrats could have a hard time toppling Deters, the last major Republican office-holder in the county. He's reported more than $600,000 in fundraising since launching his re-election bid. He'll also have back up from the Ohio Republican Party, which has indicated it will take an active role in the race.