Republicans won every contested race this year for Hamilton County municipal court.

        The biggest GOP win came in District 7, where newcomer Robert C. Winkler ousted Democratic incumbent James P. Kenney. Another first-time candidate, Heather Stein Russell, beat Democrat Darlene Green Kamine in District 5.

        Two Republican incumbents — Karla J. Grady and Ethna Marie Cooper — fended off Democratic challengers in District 3 and District 4, respectively.

        The GOP swept despite resistance from Democrats for the first time in three years.

        This election was the first since 1998 with any contested judicial races. Until this year, 14 straight judicial races had come and gone without a single challenger.

        Before the election, several candidates said the big difference was the perception that voters were frustrated with the lack of choices and ready to support new names.

        But when the dust settled, the Republicans still dominated the Municipal Court bench. Most won handily.

        Judge Grady took 77 percent of the vote to beat Cincinnati lawyer Edward Felson. Judge Cooper won 73 percent of the vote to beat Deborah Price Rambo.

        Ms. Russell, an assistant county prosecutor, took 56 percent of the vote to top Ms. Kamine. They were vying to fill the seat vacated by long-time Judge Jack Rosen.

        The GOP gained a seat in District 7, which covers the county's heavily Republican west-side neighborhoods. Mr. Winkler won 59 percent of the vote to unseat Judge Kenney.

        Although it was the first race for Mr. Winkler, he is no stranger to politics. His father and brother are judges, and his mother is a former state representative.

        He readily admits the name recognition helped against a popular incumbent.

        “It doesn't hurt to have the name,” he said Tuesday night. “But when I got into this, I wasn't going to sit on my hands. I wanted to run a good campaign.”

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