Cincinnati’s mayoral race is set for November 4, with incumbent Mayor Aftab Pureval facing Cory Bowman, half-brother of Vice President JD Vance

In the May primary, Pureval received 82.5% of the vote, while Bowman earned 12.9%.

Bowman, a pastor and coffee shop co-owner, expressed excitement about advancing and praised voters for their support. Though the race is officially non-partisan, Bowman identifies as a Republican and has emphasized his family ties to Vance, who endorsed him.

Still, Pureval remains the strong favorite in heavily Democratic Cincinnati, which hasn’t elected a Republican mayor since 2001. Pureval, first elected in 2021, says he looks forward to a “substantive and healthy debate.”

Despite national attention, especially from the Vance family, local political dynamics heavily favor Pureval in the general election.