JD Vance’s Half-Brother Gains Ground in His Ambitious Bid for Cincinnati Mayor

When Cincinnati voters head to the polls this November, they’ll choose between incumbent Mayor Aftab Pureval and Cory Bowman, a new Republican candidate and the half-brother of Vice President J.D. Vance.

Bowman, who came in second in the primary election with nearly 13% of the vote, cites Vance as an inspiration for his political ambitions. Mayor Pureval dominated the primary, securing more than 82% of the votes.

Pureval won his first term in 2021 without major opposition, but Bowman’s entry into the race, along with GOP candidate Brian Frank, has shifted the landscape. Bowman’s campaign began shortly after Vance’s inauguration in January, which he celebrated as a motivating moment.

“I saw this as a chance to help impact the city,” Bowman told the Associated Press. He is deeply committed to issues like financial management, public safety, infrastructure improvements, and children’s rights, which includes protecting the unborn.

Bowman emphasizes that while he admires Vance, they have different paths in politics. He stated, “Our job is to look at what’s best for Cincinnati, not just replicate national trends.” This local focus is crucial as Cincinnati has not elected a Republican mayor in decades; the city is predominantly blue.

The half-brothers share the same father, Donald Bowman, who passed away in 2023, but they didn’t grow up together. Vance had a different upbringing, raised by his mother’s family. Their bond strengthened later in life as they both established families and careers in Ohio.

Bowman, 36, co-pastors a local church and runs a coffee shop with his wife, Jordan. He returned to Cincinnati in 2020, feeling a calling to his roots. Despite criticism over his short time in the city, he believes it is where he belongs. “This is the greatest city on the face of the earth,” he tweeted earlier this year.

Historically, Republicans have faced challenges in Cincinnati. The last Republican mayor was Brad Wenstrup in 2009. In the 2023 election for City Council, all members elected were Democrats. However, recent trends show mixed results; although Trump won Ohio by a significant margin, Kamala Harris performed well in Hamilton County, taking over 56% of the vote.

Bowman’s campaign faces tough odds, but he’s embracing the challenge. He recently said, “The greatest gift local government can offer is choice.” As the election approaches, all eyes will be on how he can mobilize support against a well-established and popular opponent.



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