Cory Bowman, the half-brother of United States Vice President JD Vance, has secured a spot in the Cincinnati mayoral general election, finishing second in the city’s nonpartisan primary.
Bowman, a Republican pastor and coffee shop owner, will now face incumbent Democratic Mayor Aftab Pureval in November.
In Tuesday's primary (Wednesday AEST), he received around 13% of the votes, well under Pureval's 83%, according to the BBC.
Despite his family ties, Bowman has emphasised that his campaign is independent of his brother’s political career, stating, “He’s my brother, not my political counsellor."
Bowman’s campaign has struggled to gain traction, with critics suggesting he is more focused on building a national profile than local governance.
His absence from a key NAACP mayoral debate raised concerns about his commitment to the race.
However, his endorsement from JD Vance and strong Republican backing have helped him edge out fellow GOP candidate Brian Frank, securing a place in the final showdown against Pureval.
JD Vance wrote on X: “Hey Cincinnati! My brother Cory Bowman is running for mayor and is on the ballot today for the primary. He’s a good guy with a heart for serving his community. Get out there and vote for him!”
Cincinnati has not elected a Republican mayor in over 50 years, making Bowman’s path to victory steep.
Pureval, widely seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party, won his last election with 66% of the vote.
Bowman has campaigned on removing Cincinnati’s sanctuary city status and tackling financial corruption, but his ability to sway voters in a heavily Democratic city remains uncertain.
With the general election set for November, Bowman’s campaign will need to expand voter outreach and solidify its policy positions to compete against Pureval’s established leadership.
His family connection to JD Vance has drawn national attention, but whether that will translate into electoral success remains to be seen.
