Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval will face Cory Bowman, the half brother of Vice President JD Vance, in this fall’s general election after both emerged as the top two finishers in Tuesday’s nonpartisan primary.
Pureval finished far ahead in the three-way race, eliminating Republican Brian Frank from the competition. According to the city’s nonpartisan primary system, the top two candidates move on to the November election regardless of party affiliation.
With nearly all ballots counted, Pureval held a commanding lead—approximately 70 percentage points over Bowman—underscoring the steep challenge Bowman will face in the general election in this predominantly Democratic city.
Should Bowman defy the odds and win, he would join a growing list of presidential or vice-presidential family members elected to public office, similar to former Vice President Mike Pence’s brother, who served in Congress during the Trump administration.
Pureval responded to the primary results by emphasizing the importance of an honest and thoughtful campaign moving forward.
“Our city deserves a substantive and healthy debate of ideas about the future,” he said in a statement. “I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together and excited to keep that momentum going for all of Cincinnati.”
Bowman did not issue a comment immediately after the election results. He has previously stated that his campaign is focused on local issues, rather than national political debates.
At 42, Pureval is considered a rising star within the Democratic Party. His career includes roles as a special assistant U.S. attorney, a congressional candidate, and Hamilton County clerk of courts. He won the 2021 mayoral race with nearly two-thirds of the vote and currently leads Ohio’s third-largest city.
Bowman, 36, has no prior political experience. He co-founded an evangelical church in the city’s West End and owns a local coffee shop. He said that watching his half brother’s vice-presidential inauguration inspired him to get involved in public service.
While Vance did not campaign directly for Bowman, he posted a message of support on social media on election day, calling his half brother “a good guy with a heart for serving his community.” Bowman responded with a heartfelt “Love you brother!”
