Republican pastor and coffee shop co-owner Cory Bowman fell short in his bid for mayor of Cincinnati on Tuesday, losing to Democratic incumbent Aftab Pureval, according to reports. With all 190 precincts reporting, Pureval secured 78% of the unofficial vote compared to Bowman’s 22%.
Bowman’s campaign, which gained national attention due to his connection as the half-brother of Vice President JD Vance, struggled to overcome Cincinnati’s deep-seated Democratic leanings. Pureval achieved a decisive reelection victory, securing his second four-year term without significant opposition.
Despite his conservative platform focused on crime reduction, infrastructure improvement, and local business growth, Bowman faced an uphill battle in a city that has not elected a Republican mayor in decades. The race was officially nonpartisan, but Bowman received endorsements from the local GOP while Pureval garnered support from Democrats.
Vance did not financially support Bowman’s campaign and only publicly mentioned his half-brother before the primary, urging Cincinnati residents to vote for him with a social media post. “He’s a good guy with a heart for serving his community,” Vance wrote in May. “Get out there and vote for him!”
Bowman’s defeat highlights the challenges faced by Republican-aligned candidates in heavily Democratic urban areas, even when backed by national figures. Political analysts suggest the loss serves as a cautionary signal to GOP strategists about the limitations of national branding in local elections.
After the result, Bowman expressed commitment to his community work, calling the mayoral campaign just one chapter in his story. Pureval thanked supporters and reiterated his focus on public safety, infrastructure, and economic growth for Cincinnati’s future. “This city has to work for all of us, not just some of us,” he said.
