Cory Bowman Advances to Cincinnati Mayoral Election with 13% Vote

Cory Bowman, the half-brother of Vice President JD Vance, advanced to Cincinnati's November mayoral general election after finishing second in the city's nonpartisan primary, securing about 13% of the vote behind incumbent Mayor Aftab Pureval, who received over 82%. Bowman, a Republican-aligned evangelical pastor and coffee shop owner with no prior political experience, was inspired to run following Vance's inauguration as vice president. Cincinnati is a heavily Democratic city, and Pureval, the first Asian American mayor of Cincinnati, is considered a strong favorite for reelection. Despite long odds for Republicans in the city, Bowman says his campaign offers voters a choice and emphasizes local priorities such as public safety, infrastructure, and fiscal management. He has highlighted his familial connection to Vance but stresses his campaign is independent and focused on Cincinnati's needs rather than national politics. The November election will be a two-person race between Pureval and Bowman.