Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval Wins Re-election Against Cory Bowman

Aftab Pureval, Cincinnati's first Asian-American mayor, has successfully won re-election, defeating Republican candidate Cory Bowman, who is notable for being the half-brother of United States Vice President JD Vance. At 43 years of age, Pureval previously made history in 2021 when he first assumed office. Although the mayoralty is officially non-partisan, he is associated with the Democratic Party, according to a report by the Associated Press.

Earlier this year, Pureval demonstrated strong public support by winning the municipal primary in May, where he garnered over 80 per cent of the votes across party lines.

A CAREER IN LAW AND POLITICS

Born in Ohio to a Punjabi father and a Tibetan refugee mother, Pureval showed early political ambition, famously winning a student election in eighth grade with the slogan "Big, Brown and Beautiful." He graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and began his career in Washington, D.C., in 2008, working at a law firm. After four years, he returned to Hamilton County, where he served as a special assistant United States attorney for the Department of Justice.

In 2013, Pureval joined Procter & Gamble, serving as legal counsel for the company. He was the global brand attorney for Olay, a well-known skincare brand. However, he transitioned into politics in 2016 when he decided to run for office.

His initial political campaign was for Ohio's 1st Congressional District in 2018, where he lost to the Republican incumbent Steve Chabot. Pureval officially announced his candidacy for mayor of Cincinnati in 2021. In the primary elections, he emerged as the leading candidate with 39 per cent of the votes in a competitive field of six aspirants. He later won the election against former mayor David S Mann, receiving 66 per cent of the votes.

Pureval has also publicly supported notable figures within his party. Last year, he endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential race, reflecting on his family's immigrant journey in an Instagram post. He wrote, "Forty-four years ago, my parents left Tibet and India... They travelled across the world because they believed in the promise of America."

CORY BOWMAN: A DIFFERENT PATH

Cory Bowman, aged 36, is the half-brother of Vice President JD Vance, sharing the same father, Donald Ray Bowman. Their relationship was estranged during their early years, as JD Vance's mother severed ties with their father, leading to a lack of connection with his half-siblings until their teenage years.

Cory Bowman has established himself as an evangelical pastor and a community figure, co-founding The River Church, a non-denominational congregation. In addition, he owns Kings Arms Coffee in Cincinnati, which he opened in 2022. He officially declared his candidacy for mayor in February 2025.

During the May primaries, JD Vance, while not directly involved in Bowman's campaign, publicly endorsed his half-brother, encouraging voters to support him. He tweeted, "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."

With this victory, Aftab Pureval continues to lead Cincinnati, reinforcing his commitment to the city's diverse community and its future.