Cincinnati’s Indian American Mayor Aftab Purewal wins re-election primary with wide margin

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Cincinnati, Ohio Mayor Aftab Purewal, who is of Indian and Tibetan descent, easily won the May 6 primary to run by a massive majority, to run for re-election come November 4, 2025. According to wlwt.com published results, Purewal, whose full name is Aftab Karma Singh Pureval, won with 82.53 percent of the vote, and came out way ahead of the 2nd and 3rd candidates, one of whom, Cory Vance, is the half -brother of Vice President J.D. Vance.

Elections to municipal offices in Ohio are non-partisan and the top two vote-getters become eligible to face off in the general election. Purewal, a Democrat, left his opponents in the dust with Vance securing just 12.91 percent of the vote, and Brian Frank, who was eliminated with 4.56 percent.

However, the low voter turnout at a 22,421, puts some doubt as to who could be the winner in November.

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“It’s an honor to make the ballot for this November’s general election. There is work ahead of us in Cincinnati, but I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished over the past few years,” Purewal posted May 6, on his X account @AftabPurewal.

As the first Indian/Asian American Mayor of Cincinnati, Purewal made his priority equitable economic growth, and comprehensive reform and improvement of public safety, affordable housing, and environmental action, according to his website.

“We have made meaningful, tangible progress for folks across our community, and this is a moment to keep building on the momentum we’ve worked so hard to create. To push forward on our investments in economic opportunity, housing affordability, and safe, vibrant neighborhoods,” Purewal posted before results were announced.

During his campaign and in televised appearances, Purewal contended that substantive issues needed to be discussed. “Residents deserve a substantive and healthy debate of ideas about the future of our city. I’m excited to keep up the work to earn their support for another four years as Mayor, and I’d like to thank every Cincinnatian who made their voice heard today,” he posted.

The son of an Indian father and a Tibetan mother, Purewal was raised in Southwest Ohio, and took office as the 70th Mayor of Cincinnati on January 4, 2022.

During his graduate studies at The Ohio State University, Purewal was the student body President. While at the University of Cincinnati Law School, he volunteered in the domestic violence clinic.

He has also served as a Special Assistant US Attorney where he worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to prosecute crimes against children.

Before becoming Hamilton Clerk of Courts, where he served from 2016 to 2021, Purewal was in the private sector, working at Proctor & Gamble’s global brand attorney for Olay.

Purewal’s community activism also saw him becoming the first man to serve on the board of the Women’s Fund.

Over the course of his career, Purewal has been awarded the NAACP Theodore Berry Award for Service and been recognized by the Business Courier as one of their 40 under 40.

He lives in Clifton with his wife Whitney, a doctor, and their sons, Bodhi and Rami.

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