Cory Bowman, the half-brother of Vice President JD Vance, lost his bid for Cincinnati mayor on Tuesday to Democrat Aftab Pureval.
Bowman, 36, a Republican and first-time candidate, aimed to unseat Pureval, who was first elected as mayor in 2021.
Pureval, 42, easily maintained his lead throughout the night in the Democratic-led city.
Highlights
- Cory Bowman, half-brother of VP JD Vance, lost Cincinnati mayor race to incumbent Democrat Aftab Pureval.
- Bowman, a first-time candidate and Republican, faced voter fraud allegations over his claimed West End residence.
- Pureval maintained a steady lead, winning easily in the Democratic-led city with a focus on crime and public safety.
JD Vance's half-brother, Cory Bowman, lost his bid for Cincinnati mayor
Image credits: Cory Bowman/Instagram
Bowman announced his campaign in February, sharing his intentions on Instagram. He said he wanted to give Cincinnati residents a choice for “prosperity, growth, and joy.”
“Weeks ago, my flight touched down at CVG, returning home from the most monumental inauguration in my generation,” he wrote on Instagram, returning from Vance’s inauguration as vice president.
“When I landed, I knew the city where my family and I live and love cannot fall behind in the critical years ahead.”
He had tweeted in August that “hatred and racism” are dividing Cincinnati. “I see it in my home on the West End,” he wrote.
Image credits: X
During the final week of his campaign, Bowman faced allegations of voter fraud.
The Ohio newsletter The Rooster reported that two addresses associated with Bowman were not in Cincinnati’s West End, where he claimed to have moved after the May primary.
Bowman has not responded to the allegations.
Bowman and his wife Jordan moved to Cincinnati in 2020 and founded The River Church, a nondenominational church encouraging spiritual practices like speaking in tongues.
Pureval, a former Hamilton County Clerk of Courts, led the May open primary with more than 80 percent of the vote. Bowman, who finished second, also advanced to the November general election as the top two primary candidates move forward in Cincinnati’s race.
Pureval's win marks another loss for Republicans as Democrats secured victories in local and state elections this week
Image credits: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Republicans haven’t nominated anyone for the general election ballot for Cincinnati mayor in more than a dozen years.
Pureval’s first term included major events such as the sale of the local railroad and zoning changes aimed at increasing affordable housing.
During this campaign, he focused on crime and public safety following a summer surge in downtown incidents.
“Mayor Pureval is a model for smart, results-driven leadership that focuses on people, not politics—and we look forward to continuing to work with him in his next term,” the Democratic Mayors Association said in a statement.
Image credits: Brad Vest/Getty Images
Democrats also maintained control of the nine-member Cincinnati City Council, with eight of them winning reelection and introducing one newcomer.