Someone spray-painted black paint over at least 15 campaign signs belonging to Hamilton County Probate Court candidate Elizabeth Tye, including signs in Anderson Township.

The vandalism occurred the weekend of Sept. 20 across multiple parts of Hamilton County, WKRC first reported. Signs were also hit in Springfield Township, the West Side and North Avondale. Other candidates' signs nearby were left untouched.

Black spray paint covered Tye's face and name on the large signs. Each one costs more than $80 to replace, according to Tye, a Cincinnati attorney and Democrat challenging incumbent Republican Judge Ralph "Ted" Winkler in the November election. Her campaign raised funds later that week to replace them.

"I got a phone call from four people within an hour saying, 'Hey, your sign has been vandalized,'" Tye told WKRC.

Tye said she does not know why she was targeted. She said she is not filing criminal complaints herself, leaving that to the property owners where the signs are installed. As of Friday, Sept. 25, no complaints had been filed with area law enforcement.

No suspects have been identified.

The Hamilton County Democratic Party called the vandalism a "coordinated attack" in a fundraising email from party Chair Alex Linser, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Separately, party Vice Chair Jasmine Coaston characterized the spray-painting as racist vandalism targeting a Black female candidate and called on Winkler to condemn the acts, according to a Cincinnati Enquirer opinion column.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich would not comment on Tye's case specifically but said vandalism involving political speech should be treated seriously. She said vandals could face one of three misdemeanor charges. The most serious could carry up to 90 days in jail and a $750 fine per offense, and a judge could stack the penalties.

"People should have the right to political speech, and political speech is the most protected kind of speech, along with freedom of religion," Pillich told WKRC. "And so, I will take it seriously, and I'll make sure that if the police charge, we're going to take it seriously. We'll go in and fight in court."

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, which patrols Anderson Township, had not issued a public statement on the local incidents as of Sept. 25. Residents who witness vandalism to campaign signs can file a report with the sheriff's office.