COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval is contesting a nonpartisan primary on Tuesday, facing two challengers, one of whom is Cory Bowman, the half-brother of Vice President JD Vance. The primary is significant as it determines the top two candidates who will advance to the general election in November for leadership in Ohio's third-largest city.
Cory Bowman, 36, is an evangelical pastor and coffee shop owner. He, along with fellow Republican candidate Brian Frank, a procurement professional, has never held public office before. Both challengers expressed their desire to provide competition against the incumbent Democrat, Pureval, in a city that typically leans heavily Democratic.
Should Bowman emerge victorious in an upset, he would join the ranks of family members of higher office holders who have successfully run for office, similar to Mike Pence's brother who won a congressional seat during former President Donald Trump's administration. Bowman's motivation to enter the political arena stems from his half-brother’s inauguration in January, although he emphasizes that Vance does not serve as his political advisor, and his focus is on improving Cincinnati rather than engaging in broader national politics.
Aftab Pureval, 42, is seen as a rising star within the Democratic Party. He has an impressive background as a former special assistant U.S. attorney, congressional candidate, and Hamilton County clerk of courts. Pureval won the mayoral race in 2021 by securing nearly 66% of the vote, establishing himself as a formidable incumbent.
Cincinnati's off-year mayoral primaries have historically shown low voter turnout, leading to unexpected results. For instance, in 2013, Democrat John Cranley managed to defeat former mayor Roxanne Qualls, leveraging his primary victory into a successful bid later that fall. Conversely, in 2017, Cranley finished second in the primary to Yvette Simpson, who was a member of the City Council; despite this, Cranley was able to win reelection.
In addition to the mayoral primary, voters in Cincinnati and across Ohio are also casting their ballots on State Issue 2. This initiative aims to reauthorize a crucial program that would allocate $2.5 billion for local infrastructure projects, including enhancements for roads and bridges, over the next decade.
As the election unfolds, all eyes are on how the candidates perform, especially given the city's political landscape and the potential implications of the primary outcome for both local governance and the upcoming general election.
