Cory Bowman, JD Vance’s Half Brother, Joins Cincinnati Mayoral Race/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Cory Bowman, half brother of Vice President JD Vance, is running for Cincinnati mayor. The Republican pastor and coffee shop owner faces incumbent Mayor Aftab Pureval. Bowman says his campaign is rooted in love for the city, not national politics.
JD Vance’s Half Brother Cory Bowman Enters Cincinnati Mayor’s Race — Quick Looks
- Who: Cory Bowman, VP JD Vance’s half brother
- What: Launches mayoral campaign in Cincinnati
- When: Announced run after January 2025 inauguration
- Why: Says city needs leadership rooted in local service
- Opponent: Democratic incumbent Aftab Pureval seeks re-election
- Race Format: Nonpartisan primary on May 6; top two advance to November
- Bowman’s Background: Pastor, coffee shop owner, economics degree
- Family Connection: Related to Vice President Vance, but running independently
Cory Bowman, Half Brother of VP JD Vance, Enters Cincinnati Mayoral Race
Deep Looks
CINCINNATI, April 23, 2025 — Cory Bowman left Vice President JD Vance’s inauguration in January feeling inspired. By the time he returned to Cincinnati, the 36-year-old had made up his mind: he was running for mayor.
Bowman, who shares a father with Vance, is a Republican pastor, entrepreneur, and father of three (soon to be four) who hopes to bring a new vision to Cincinnati’s leadership. Despite the familial connection to the vice president, Bowman says his campaign is not about politics in Washington but rather about service to the city he calls home.
“This wasn’t about JD or anyone else,” Bowman said in an interview. “It’s about loving Cincinnati and seeing ways we can do better together.”
A Newcomer Against a Rising Democratic Star
Bowman will face incumbent Mayor Aftab Pureval, a Democrat widely seen as a rising national figure. Pureval, 42, won the 2021 mayoral race with 66% of the vote and has since overseen city growth and a drop in violent crime. A lawyer and former special assistant U.S. attorney, Pureval was previously the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts.
Bowman’s entry into the race comes alongside a second GOP challenger, Brian Frank, a procurement professional. The May 6 primary will narrow the field to two candidates who will face off in the November election. Although the race is nonpartisan, party lines remain influential.
“I think it’s fantastic that I’m not running unopposed,” Pureval said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new downtown apartment complex. “Voters deserve real choices.”
A Pastor’s Path Into Politics
Originally from a farm near Hamilton, Ohio, Bowman earned his economics degree from Miami University before studying ministry in Tampa. He returned to Cincinnati to found The River Church Cincinnati and later launched Kings Arms Coffee, a popular neighborhood shop.
Though he moved to the city around 2020 and didn’t vote in the last mayoral election, Bowman considers Cincinnati home.
“We’ve always seen this area as home,” he said. “We may have bounced around because of my dad’s job, but our roots are here.”
At campaign events, Bowman has pledged to improve city services like snow removal and infrastructure while opposing the city’s sanctuary city policies. He also emphasizes child safety and accountability in local leadership.
A Family Ties — But Political Independence
Despite their shared lineage, Bowman insists his candidacy is not an extension of his brother’s political platform. Vance, 40, has not endorsed Bowman’s campaign, and the vice president’s office declined to comment on the race.
“As far as JD goes, he’s my brother — not my political consultant,” Bowman said. “He didn’t put me here. This is my own choice.”
The two have grown close in adulthood, after connecting as teenagers. They share similar life milestones — both are married with three children, and Bowman’s wife, Jordan, is expecting their fourth child this summer.
Voters React to the Candidacy
Some Cincinnati voters remain skeptical of Bowman’s political ambitions, citing his limited time in the city and his family’s national profile. Desiree Terry, 34, voiced concern that Bowman’s election could invite political instability.
“I just think he’s helping with the chaos,” she said of Vance. “It’s already everywhere else. I’d rather not see it hit home.”
Still, Bowman’s supporters see potential in his fresh approach and business-minded leadership style. Whether that resonates across a largely Democratic city remains to be seen.
The winner of the May primary will face heightened scrutiny as the city looks ahead to November — and as political families increasingly influence races nationwide.
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