The half-brother of Vice President Vance was projected to advance in Cincinnati’s mayoral primary, setting up a long-shot bid to oust incumbent Democratic Mayor Aftab Pureval, according to Decision Desk HQ.
Cory Bowman, who is a pastor and local coffee shop owner, moved on in the top-two nonpartisan primary election on Tuesday that also included Pureval and another Republican, Brian Frank. In the city’s primary, all candidates compete on the same ballot regardless of party and the two highest vote-getters move on to the general election in November.
Pureval advancing was almost a certainty in the heavily left-leaning city, but who his opponent would be in the general election was up in the air.
Vance sought to rally support for Bowman’s campaign in a post on X earlier on Tuesday, calling him a “good guy with a heart for serving his community.”
“Get out there and vote for him!” Vance said.
Bowman told The Cincinnati Enquirer in February that he spoke to his half-brother in the “initial stages” of running and that Vance inspired him to seek public office.
Pureval, who has served since 2022 after easily winning his last election, will be the heavy favorite to be reelected to a second term in office. But Bowman has said he’s prepared for an uphill battle for mayor.
Cincinnati hasn’t had a Republican mayor in more than 50 years.