CINCINNATI – Feeling a newfound sense of purpose, Cory Bowman was inspired as he returned home in January after witnessing his half-brother, JD Vance, being inaugurated as vice president. Bowman, aged 36, who shares a paternal connection with Vance, was actively engaged in local community efforts, having initiated an evangelical church in Cincinnati’s West End and launched a coffee shop later on. Politics was not on his radar until this moment.
Suddenly seeing a new path forward, Bowman decided to step into the political arena and announced his run for mayor. “No one pushed me into it or suggested I take this path,” he expressed during a recent interview. “I just saw it as another fantastic opportunity to make a positive change in the city, which has always been my focus.”
If Bowman manages to secure a victory in this heavily Democratic city, he could become the latest family member of a high-ranking official, like a president or a vice president, to pursue public office. Examples include Mike Pence’s brother, who secured a congressional seat during a prior administration. However, Bowman clarified that his campaign is driven more by a desire to enhance the city rather than influence national politics. “I’m running because I genuinely love Cincinnati,” he stated. “With my background in economics, statistics, and administration, I have insights into improvements we can make.”
Cincinnati’s political landscape sees Mayor Aftab Pureval, a prominent Democrat on the rise within his party, seeking reelection. Pureval, aged 42, is a lawyer with a background as a special assistant U.S. attorney, previously serving as Hamilton County Clerk of Courts and having run for Congress. In the 2021 mayoral race, Pureval secured victory with nearly 66% of the vote.
Bowman, representing the Republican side, decided to enter the mayoral race because it was the immediate contested position and he was concerned that Pureval was unopposed. Another Republican candidate, Brian Frank, a 66-year-old procurement professional, also entered the race, resulting in a three-way primary scheduled for next month. Notably, Cincinnati’s mayoral races are nonpartisan, and the top two candidates from the May 6 primary will proceed to the November election.
“I’m glad to have competition,” Pureval remarked, emphasizing the significance of offering Cincinnati voters a choice among different perspectives. He made these comments at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a newly opened apartment complex in downtown, a project symbolizing the kind of transformation he has achieved. Pureval also highlighted the city’s growing population and significant decrease in violent crime.
Despite Bowman’s relatively recent move to Cincinnati around 2020 and not having voted in the last mayoral contest, he insists Cincinnati feels like home. Pureval suggested that Bowman’s short residency might indicate a lack of a deep commitment or strong connections to the city. Bowman shared that he grew up on a farm about 25 miles north of Cincinnati and, despite moving between Ohio and Florida, always considered Cincinnati home. Cory attended Miami University in Ohio, earned a degree in economics and business administration, and later pursued ministry studies in Florida, where he met his wife. Eventually, they relocated to Cincinnati, founded The River Church Cincinnati, and subsequently opened Kings Arms Coffee. Notably, Vance, originally from Middletown, Ohio, had earlier moved back to Ohio, purchasing a home in Cincinnati with his wife, Usha, in 2018.
Bowman emphasized that Vance, though his brother, is not involved as a political advisor or supporter in his campaign. “He’s my brother, but not my political counselor,” Bowman stated. Despite being related to the vice president, Bowman has not yet secured any endorsement from Vance and remains hopeful.
On the campaign trail, Bowman expressed opposition to Cincinnati’s sanctuary city status, pledged to enhance safety for children, and promised improvements in snow removal and road maintenance. Cincinnati resident Desiree Terry, aged 34, expressed her current disinterest in local politics, feeling overwhelmed by global issues. If she votes, she is inclined towards Pureval, showing no support for Bowman, partly due to his connection with Vance. Terry worried about introducing more chaos at a local level and preferred to avoid such turbulence in Cincinnati.