The American Dream lives on—not just in D.C., but in neighborhoods where grit still counts more than privilege. And now, thanks to Vice President J.D. Vance’s rise from a rough Appalachian upbringing to the heights of the White House, another member of the Vance family is stepping into the political ring—this time in the blue stronghold of Cincinnati.
Meet Cory Bowman, Vance’s 36-year-old half-brother and a new Republican contender for mayor of Cincinnati. He’s not a Beltway insider, not a political operative, and certainly not a career climber. He’s a local guy—an evangelical church volunteer and coffee shop owner—who says the idea of running for office didn’t even cross his mind until he watched J.D. Vance take the oath of office as Vice President in January.
“There was nobody that pushed me into it,” Bowman said. “I just thought this would be a great way to help impact the city in another realm.” That kind of independent, no-nonsense attitude seems to run in the family.
"Seeing the impact that he was able to make nationally, I feel like this is our part to play in making that impact locally."
— Cory Bowman, brother of Vice President JD Vance, is running for mayor of Cincinnati@corymbowman @SharlaMcBride @Marc_Lotter pic.twitter.com/TDBfkjWUuZ
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) April 24, 2025
Bowman is walking straight into the lion’s den. Cincinnati is deep-blue territory in a state that’s trended red. The incumbent mayor, Democrat Aftab Pureval, is a rising star who cruised to reelection in 2021 with a commanding 66% of the vote. He’s already dismissing Bowman as an outsider who hasn’t “shown a deep commitment to the city” because—gasp—he didn’t vote in the last mayoral race. Imagine that.
But let’s talk about where Bowman’s really from. He grew up in Hamilton, just 25 miles outside Cincinnati. His family bounced between Ohio and Florida thanks to his father’s construction work. He’s no stranger to hard work, and he’s no stranger to this region. In his words, “This area is our home.”
And sure, the media’s already trying to draw a direct line from Bowman to Vance, hoping to turn this into some kind of GOP dynastic soap opera. But Bowman’s quick to shut that down: “He’s my brother, he’s not a political counselor to me.” Still, the values overlap. Bowman’s campaign is grounded in conservative principles—starting with cracking down on Cincinnati’s sanctuary status for illegal immigrants and cleaning up basic city services like pothole repairs and street safety.
Can he win? Time will tell. But what’s clear is this: J.D. Vance isn’t the only one in the family who believes in serving the public and shaking up the status quo. And Cincinnati could use a little of that Vance-style rebellion right about now.
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