COLUMBUS, Ohio — Vice President J.D. Vance’s half-brother Cory Bowman placed second in Cincinnati’s mayoral primary on Tuesday, sending the Republican political newcomer into a faceoff with incumbent Aftab Pureval this fall.
Pureval placed first in the nonpartisan three-way contest, in which third-place finisher Republican Brian Frank was eliminated. Under the rules of the southwest Ohio city’s nonpartisan primaries, only the top two primary finishers advance to the November general election.
If Bowman pulls an upset in this predominantly Democratic city, he would be the latest family member of a president or vice president to serve in office. That includes the brother of Mike Pence, Trump’s first vice president, elected to Congress during their previous administration.
Bowman has said he wants to improve his city, not get involved in national politics.
Pureval, 42, is viewed as a Democratic up-and-comer. A former special assistant U.S. attorney, congressional candidate and Hamilton County clerk of courts. He won the 2021 mayor’s race with nearly 66% of the vote to lead Ohio’s third largest city.
Bowman, 36, founded an evangelical church on the city’s West End and owns a coffee shop. He has never held public office but says his half brother’s inauguration inspired him to enter politics.
Vance is not taking an active role in the campaign, but he posted a message of support for Bowman on Tuesday.
“He’s a good guy with a heart for serving his community,” the vice president wrote on X. “Get out there and vote for him!”
Voters in Cincinnati and across Ohio have also voted to approve State Issue 2, which seeks to reauthorize a program that would provide $2.5 billion for roads, bridges and other needed local infrastructure projects over the next decade.
