Your voter guide to the November 2025 election in Cincinnati
The general election is Nov. 4 and features all local candidates and issues. Here's what you need to know before heading to the polls.
Although there are no statewide races on the November ballot, there are plenty of local races and issues that voters will decide. Here's more of what's on your ballot, and when and where to vote.
Cincinnati mayoral race: Incumbent Democrat Aftab Pureval faces Republican Cory Bowman
Becca Costello
/
WVXU
Incumbent Democrat Aftab Pureval is running for a second four-year term against Republican Cory Bowman.
Get to know the candidates for Cincinnati City Council
All 27 candidates responded to a WVXU survey asking their policy opinions on several key issues, including crime, development projects, and the city budget.
Cincinnati Charter amendments
Cincinnati voters will see two charter amendments on the ballot this year — one related to public safety hiring, and one related to campaign finance reporting.
Local school board races
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Jennifer Merritt/WVXUFive candidates are running for four seats on the Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education. WVXU reached out to all of the candidates on the ballot and asked each of them to answer the same three questions. -
Zack Carreon/WVXUVoters will decide what direction the Board of Education will go next. -
Zack Carreon/WVXUOn top of electing new school board members, voters in the Lakota school district also will decide whether to approve funding for the district's proposed redesign. -
Zack Carreon/WVXUVoters in the Mt. Healthy City School District will get a chance to cast ballots for school board candidates and a proposed levy the district says will generate $1.57 million annually.
Race analysis by Howard Wilkinson
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While some of the largest proposals failed, like Lakota Local Schools' $506 million ballot issue, other levy renewals, and even a few new bond issues that promised not to raise taxes, received support at the ballot box. -
Republican Cory Bowman had no chance of winning Cincinnati's mayoral race, but he may not be done with Cincinnati politics. -
Voters approved two Cincinnati charter amendments — one related to public safety hiring, and one related to campaign finance reporting. -
Voters again rejected the school district's attempt to pass a levy to help with Mt. Healthy's rocky financial situation. -
Voters also approved Issue 28, a 10-year renewal levy to fund operations and Cincinnati Preschool Promise, which provides tuition assistance to preschool students. -
The bond issue and levy would have funded a district-wide redesign. -
The race for Cincinnati City Council is officially nonpartisan, but the slate endorsed by the local Democratic party swept Tuesday's election for another two-year term. -
The three newly elected board members will replace current GOP-backed members Bob Bibb, Sara Jonas, and Mark Bell. -
In early voting, current Mayor Aftab Pureval was defeating Republican Cory Bowman by over four-to-one. -
Get caught up on WVXU's coverage of the 2025 general election in Greater Cincinnati, where our reporters covered everything from the mayoral contest between Mayor Aftab Pureval and challenger Cory Bowman, to City Council and school board candidates in Cincinnati Public, Lakota, Forest Hills, and more.
