I didn't see a thread on this so I thought I'd start one.

Democrat Aftab Pureval is running for reelection, and the Republican primary candidates are filing in with JD Vance's half-brother and Brian Frank who wants to "Make Cincinnati Great Again".

While I've been disappointed in Aftab, he's a million times better than any Republican candidate and should cruise to victory, IMO.

Edited February 6Feb 6 by JaceTheAce41

8 minutes ago, JaceTheAce41 said:

I didn't see a thread on this so I thought I'd start one.

Democrat Aftab Pureval is running for reelection, and the Republican primary candidates are filing in with JD Vance's half-brother and Brian Frank who wants to "Make Cincinnati Great Again".

While I've been disappointed in Aftab, he's a million times better than any Republican candidate and should cruise to victory, IMO.

The chance of a republican winning Cincinnati Mayor is slim in general these days. The chance of a republican winning during this Trump term when the public is about to grow very enraged especially in American urban centers is ZERO.

Edited February 6Feb 6 by 646empire

He's very much the type of Democrat that got crushed (nationally) in 2024.  A consultant-fed, plays-it-safe Democrat. He has higher aspirations, but I don't think that play-it-safe path is the way to rise through the ranks in today's political environment.  You need grassroots enthusiasm and to get attention.

 

That said, he did get Connected Communities passed, and I do appreciate him spending capital on that.

Edited February 6Feb 6 by 10albersa

8 minutes ago, 10albersa said:

He's very much the type of Democrat that got crushed (nationally) in 2024.  A consultant-fed, plays-it-safe Democrat. He has higher aspirations, but I don't think that play-it-safe path is the way to rise through the ranks in today's political environment.  You need grassroots enthusiasm and to get attention.

 

None of this will matter tho. The anti republican movement in Americas cities will be off the charts during these Trump years. It’s only been 3 weeks and voters are already scared, confused and exhausted.

The city of Cincinnati voted something like 75% for Kamala. The only way Aftab loses this race is if he runs over Joe Burrow with his car.

 

The GOP hasn't even won a commissioner race in Hamilton County recently, which is far more purple than the city itself.

The deadline to file petitions is February 20. I haven't heard of any legitimate Democrat making a run, so yeah, Pureval will be our mayor for another term barring something unprecedented.

 

The council race will be slightly more interesting, but really just to see who the Democrats endorse to replace Victoria Parks, who is not seeking reelection. The other 8 Democrats on council are eligible to run again, and likely will win reelection. The only wrench to a full Democratic City Council would be a return of Chris Smitherman or something like that.

 

ETA: Also, every member of council elected in 2025 will be eligible to run again in 2027. So we might see an identical council for 2025-2029 barring any resignations or federal indictments.

4 hours ago, 646empire said:

None of this will matter tho. The anti republican movement in Americas cities will be off the charts during these Trump years. It’s only been 3 weeks and voters are already scared, confused and exhausted.

Agreed, he'll cruise to victory here.  But, unless he changes tack, I think this may be as far as he goes in elected office (unless you'd consider county commish a promotion).  He'd probably be better served career-wise as a cabinet pick in a theoretical Democratic administration post 2028 elections.

Edited February 6Feb 6 by 10albersa

I could see Aftab as a US House candidate but he’d have to find a different district than Landsmann

Aftab Pureval, Cory Bowman, Brian Frank file to run for Cincinnati mayor

 

Three candidates – Mayor Aftab Pureval, a Democrat, and two Republicans – filed to run for Cincinnati mayor on Thursday, but it's not yet clear whether all have made the ballot, triggering a May 6 primary election.

 

The Hamilton County Board of Elections said Feb. 20 that Republican Cory Bowman gathered enough valid signatures to make the ballot. It will be the first time since 2009 that a self-identified Republican has been a candidate. The last was Brad Wenstrup, a podiatrist who lost to then-Mayor Mark Mallory but went on to serve in the U.S. House. The mayor’s race is officially nonpartisan, so voters will see no party designations when they go to vote.

 

The board has not yet finished verifying the signatures on Pureval and Republican Brian Frank's petitions.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/02/21/run-mayor-filing-aftab-cory-bowman-brian-frank.html

 

Cincinnati will have mayoral primary; one of two GOP candidates vows not to step aside

 

Cincinnati will have a mayoral primary, and one of the two Republicans vying to oust Mayor Aftab Pureval vowed that he will not step aside for the other.

 

The Hamilton County Board of Elections verified Friday that both Mayor Aftab Pureval, a Democrat, and Republican Brian Frank have enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. They will face another Republican, Cory Bowman, in the May 6 primary.

 

In a Feb. 21 interview, Frank told the Business Courier he decided to run because he did not want Pureval to be unopposed.

 

“I think we need a democracy. We can’t let somebody go unchallenged. I’ve historically voted Republican,” Frank said.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/02/24/mayor-race-primary-aftab-vance-half-brother-bowman.html

Lord...

 

Republican mayoral candidate said he would fire ‘DEI’ city manager; Pureval fires back

 

Brian Frank, a Republican running for Cincinnati mayor, said that one of his first actions on the job would be to fire City Manager Sheryl Long, who he referred to as “incompetent” and a “DEI selection.”

 

“It’s a big organization down at City Hall,” Frank said in an interview. “The first thing I would do is fire the current city manager. I never thought she was qualified.”

 

Frank questioned Long’s qualifications, as well as other unnamed city staffers.

 

“Were they DEI selections or were they the best candidates?” he said. “Everything I’ve seen from her is that she’s incompetent.”

 

Long is an African American. Before becoming city manager, she was an assistant city manager with Cincinnati and city administrator for North College Hill. Before that, she worked in marketing, communications and real estate. She has a bachelor's from Miami University and a master's from Southern New Hampshire University.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/02/24/brian-frank-mayor-race-aftab-long-city-manager.html

 

17 hours ago, ColDayMan said:

Brian Frank, a Republican running for Cincinnati mayor, said that one of his first actions on the job would be to fire City Manager Sheryl Long, who he referred to as “incompetent” and a “DEI selection.”

 

“It’s a big organization down at City Hall,” Frank said in an interview. “The first thing I would do is fire the current city manager. I never thought she was qualified.”

 

I love how so many people are showing you how sexist and/or racist they are inside. "A Black woman as City Manager? She can't possibly be qualified! DEI! Woke!"

 

Cory Bowman, JD Vance’s brother, launches Cincinnati mayoral bid: ‘Get ready for a wild ride’

 

“If you ever think of touching our children, there’s a Glock-to-nuts policy,” Bowman said, the crowd roaring, with some repeating the line.

 

 

Not a serious person. Not a viable candidate. 100% 🤡🎪🤹.

On 3/7/2025 at 11:38 AM, taestell said:

Cory Bowman, JD Vance’s brother, launches Cincinnati mayoral bid: ‘Get ready for a wild ride’

 

“If you ever think of touching our children, there’s a Glock-to-nuts policy,” Bowman said, the crowd roaring, with some repeating the line.

 

 

Not a serious person. Not a viable candidate. 100% 🤡🎪🤹.

Doesn't sound like someone who is too interested in fundraising.  You aren't going to get any big donors with this nonsense.

How many people there were actual eligible Cincinnati resident voters?

I might vote for the other Republican in the primary to try to eliminate him before the general.

Cincinnati mayoral debate gets salty: ‘Where did you get that ridiculous hat?’

 

Cincinnati’s second mayoral debate got contentious over immigration, housing, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and during a period where each candidate got to ask the other a question.

 

And only two of the three running for the office were present.

 

Mayor Aftab Pureval and Republican Brian Frank debated each other before the Cincinnati branch of the NAACP Tuesday, April 15, at the Community Action Agency in Bond Hill before a crowd of roughly 35. The other Republican in the race, Cory Bowman, had a scheduling conflict, according to organizers. It was the second debate after the Cincinnati Enquirer hosted a forum in March.

 

The May 6 nonpartisan mayoral primary will cull the field down to two candidates, who will advance on to the Nov. 4 general election. Anyone can vote May 6 without having to declare a party.

 

Bowman’s name was not mentioned by the other two candidates, but Pureval made a point of thanking Frank for showing up.

 

"As mayor you don't get to pick and choose which is a comfortable time to lead," Pureval said.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/04/16/mayoral-debate-aftab-pureval-brian-frank.html

 

As primary nears, Mayor Aftab Pureval touts Connected Communities at new rowhouse development

In order to build 29 new townhomes in Evanston, developer Onyx + East needed 36 variances from Cincinnati’s zoning code, more evidence the Connected Communities zoning reforms passed in 2024 were needed, Mayor Aftab Pureval said at the project’s April 30 opening.

“All 52 of our neighborhoods deserve this kind of housing, and we’ve been intentional about trying to build it throughout our communities,” Pureval said. “Connected Communities was aimed at building a city where people want to live, where they can afford to live in a community of their choice and where they can easily access the amenities they depend on, where they can afford to live in the kinds of houses we’re here to support today.”

...

Pureval’s two primary opponents oppose Connected Communities.

Bowman said his opposition centers on the fact that a majority of neighborhood councils strongly opposed the policy.

“The neighborhoods had constructive suggestions that were ignored such as trying it out in a few neighborhoods first,” he said.

Frank called the policy’s rollout “terrible.”

“In my neighborhood, the city never showed up for the Connected Communities overview with neighbors, and it was not rescheduled. The city came off as unprofessional and inept as they mismanaged the rollout badly at least in my backyard,” he said.

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/05/05/mayor-aftab-pureval-connected-communities.html

10% turnout....yes there were only 2 items on the ballot but that is no excuse for such a pathetic effort by the populace of this city.

1 hour ago, tabasco said:

10% turnout....yes there were only 2 items on the ballot but that is no excuse for such a pathetic effort by the populace of this city.

Pointless elections leads to abysmal turnout. There is a strong negative correlation between turnout and number of elections.

Mayor Aftab Pureval wallops Republicans as Cincinnati narrows mayoral field to two

Mayor Aftab Pureval thumped his two Republican opponents in Tuesday’s Cincinnati mayoral primary, winning more than six times the vote of his closest challenger, Cory Bowman, who will advance to face Pureval in the Nov. 4 general election.

With 100% of the estimated vote in, Pureval, a Democrat, had 82.53%, while Bowman had 12.91%. The third candidate, Republican Brian Frank, notched 4.56%.

Pureval’s victory was no surprise given the city is overwhelming Democratic. But political watchers were curious to see if low voter turnout, recent outrage over City Council’s approval of a mixed-use development on Hyde Park Square or the slow pace of repairing roads after a rough winter would translate into a more competitive race for Bowman or Frank.

It didn’t.

Pureval won a greater share of the vote than former Vice President Kamala Harris did in last November’s election against President Donald Trump and his running mate (and Bowman’s half-brother) Cincinnati resident JD Vance. Harris won 76% of the vote. Cincinnati city elections tend to feature lower turnouts and a more conservative electorate than a presidential or governor’s race.

Pureval won every precinct except two, one on the city’s far West Side in Sayler Park and another in the California neighborhood on Cincinnati far East Side. Bowman took both of them.

In the precinct that includes Hyde Park Square and the controversial development, which the mayor backed, Pureval won 74% of the vote.

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/05/07/mayoral-race-aftab-bowman-may-primary-results.html

On 5/7/2025 at 10:59 AM, Dev said:

Pointless elections leads to abysmal turnout. There is a strong negative correlation between turnout and number of elections.

To beat a dead horse a bit here, in 3 of the 6 primary mayoral elections we've had, the 3rd place candidate got around 5% of the vote. In the others, the 3rd place finisher got 16% in 2021 (Thomas) or 20% in 2005 (Winburn) and 2017 (Richardson). Add in that we didn't have a primary in 2009 at all, as only 2 candidates qualified, and that means a majority of the time the race has only had 2 viable candidates.