Republican Cory Bowman, Vice President J.D. Vance’s half-brother, lost his bid for Cincinnati mayor to Democratic incumbent Aftab Pureval. Crime dominated the southern Ohio race, with Cincinnati leaders facing criticism after high-profile incidents this summer, including the stabbing of Patrick Heringer in his home and a viral downtown brawl. Bowman and Republicans framed the city as plagued by crime, while Pureval highlighted measures like stricter curfews and increased officer recruitment to combat it. In a debate sponsored by The Enquirer, Pureval labeled Bowman and his supporters “MAGA extremists.” The race was officially nonpartisan, but Bowman received local GOP backing, while Pureval secured support from Democrats. Bowman expressed gratitude for the campaign, thanked voters, and emphasized public safety and accountability, stating, “I encourage every citizen to hold City Hall to a higher standard of transparency and accountability when it comes to the needs of those in our city.” Pureval, who first won office in 2021, easily defeated Bowman in May’s primary before securing victory in November. Republicans had not fielded a mayoral nominee in Cincinnati since 2010.