The 2021 Cincinnati mayoral election took place on November 2, 2021, to elect the mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio. The election was officially nonpartisan, with the top two candidates from the primary election on May 4, 2021 advancing to the general election, regardless of party. Incumbent Democratic mayor John Cranley, first elected in 2013, was term-limited and could not seek a third consecutive term. Democratic Hamilton County clerk of court Aftab Pureval won the election over fellow Democrat and former congressman David S. Mann.
Primary election Candidates Declared Gavi Begtrup (D), small business owner, former policy advisor for U.S. Representative from Arizona Gabby Giffords David Mann (D), city councillor (1974–1992, 2013–present), former mayor of Cincinnati (1980–1982, 1991), former U.S. representative from Ohio's 1st congressional district (1993–1995) Herman Najoli (I), adjunct professor at Indiana Wesleyan University Raffel Prophett (D), retired firefighter Aftab Pureval (D), Hamilton County clerk of courts (2017–present), nominee for Ohio's 1st congressional district in 2018 Cecil Thomas (D), state senator for the 9th district (2015–2023), former city councillor (2005–2013)
Disqualified Adam Koehler (I), tech entrepreneur Kelli Prather (D), community activist and perennial candidate Wendell Young (D), city councillor
Withdrawn P.G. Sittenfeld (D), city councillor and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2016
Declined Mark Mallory (D), director of community development at FC Cincinnati and former mayor of Cincinnati (endorsed Aftab Pureval) David Pepper (D), former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, former Hamilton County commissioner, and nominee for attorney general of Ohio in 2014 Chris Seelbach (D), city councillor Christopher Smitherman (I), vice mayor and city councillor (endorsed David Mann)
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GaviBegtrup DavidMann HermanNajoli RaffelProphett AftabPureval CecilThomas UndecidedStrategic Insights ResearchStrategic Insights ResearchApril 9–12, 2021237 (LV)± 5.3%7%10%15%3%24%9%32%
Endorsements
Results
General election Candidates David Mann, city councillor (Democratic Party) Aftab Pureval, Hamilton County Clerk of Courts (Democratic Party)
Post-primary endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of June 15, 2021CandidateTotal raisedCash on hand David Mann$172,330$22,483 Aftab Pureval$593,275$73,277
Debates 2021 Cincinnati mayoral election debates Date & time Host(s) Moderator(s) Link ParticipantsKey: Participant Non-invitee Invitee Mann Pureval1
Results
Notes
References
External links Official campaign websites Gavi Begtrup (D) for Mayor
Herman Najoli (I) for Mayor Raffel Prophett (D) for Mayor Aftab Pureval (D) for Mayor Cecil Thomas (D) for Mayor