Manisha Kotian is running for Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge, General Division, in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. The nonpartisan race also includes Leah Dinkelacker, according to BallotReady election data.

Kotian, who says she is a lifelong Greater Cincinnati resident, has served as a magistrate at Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, according to her campaign website. She says her campaign centers on making courts more accessible, more transparent and more representative of Hamilton County's population.

Candidate information

  • Office sought: Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge, General Division (Term Commencing 1/14)
  • Party: Nonpartisan
  • Residence: Sycamore Township, per her campaign website
  • Education: Juris doctor, University of Pittsburgh School of Law (1992); bachelor's degree in marketing/marketing management, University of Cincinnati (1989), per BallotReady

Experience and public service

Kotian describes a legal career spanning more than three decades, having practiced as an attorney since 1992, according to BallotReady. She says she lives in Sycamore Township with her husband and three children.

Her campaign website lists the following experience:

  • Magistrate, Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas
  • Attorney representing children who were victims of abuse and neglect, Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati and Public Defender's Office
  • Family mediation program developer, ACLU and Legal Aid
  • Mediator, litigator and guardian ad litem in private practice and Hamilton County courts
  • Owner, Tri-State Concrete Construction (2004–2024)

Kotian also ran a private law practice under the name Manisha Bansal Kotian from 1992 to the present, according to BallotReady.

On the issues

Kotian's campaign issues page outlines three priorities:

Accessibility: Kotian says courts should offer family-friendly hours so working residents do not need to use vacation time to file documents.

Transparency: She says litigants should understand the court process and feel their voices are respected.

Representation: Kotian says the diversity of Hamilton County should be reflected on the bench and in the magistracy.

These priorities are stated on her campaign website. Kotian has not provided specific implementation plans or funding details for these proposals in the materials reviewed.

Endorsements

The following endorsements are listed in Blue Voter Guide and BallotReady profile data, credited to the endorsing organizations:

  • Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio ACT
  • Eastside (OH) Democratic Club
  • AFL-CIO
  • Hamilton County Democratic Party

The general election is Nov. 3, 2026.

Editor's note: Kotian has not returned the Anderson-Mariemont Journal's candidate questionnaire. This profile is based on publicly available information and her campaign website.