Contributed
Incumbent Aftab Pureval and Pastor Cory Bowman—brother of Vice President JD Vance— advanced to the November Election in Cincinnati’s mayoral primary Tuesday, May 6. A third candidate on the ballot, retired P&G executive and Navy veteran Brian Frank, was eliminated from the mayoral race by voters. Only two candidates could move on from the primary election.
Pureval is the 70th Mayor of Cincinnati. He was raised in Southwest, Ohio, the son of first-generation Americans. He is making history as Cincinnati’s first Asian American Mayor. He has made equitable economic growth a top priority of his administration, as well as a comprehensive reform and improvement of public safety, affordable housing, and environmental action.
He served as Hamilton County Clerk of Courts from 2016 to 2021 and was the first Democrat to hold this office in over 100 years. During his tenure, he brought modern and professional reforms to the Clerk’s office. He paid a living wage to all employees and became the first county officeholder in Ohio to offer comprehensive paid family leave.Â
Mayor Pureval graduated from The Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati for law school. He resides in Clifton with his wife, Whitney, and their sons, Bodhi and Rami.
Vance is Founding Pastor of The River Church and owner of Kings Arm Coffee in the West End.
Registered as a Republican, Bowman was raised on a farm in Preble County and attended Miami University, where he studied economics. After college, Bowman moved to Florida and earned a ministry degree. He also met his wife, Jordan, while in the Sunshine State. The family returned to Ohio and made Cincinnati their home in 2020. Bowman, 36, has three children, and his wife is expecting their fourth this summer.
Vance does not own a coffee shop. Bowman does. Keep them straight.