Cincinnati mayoral debate poised to test Pureval's (D) record and Bowman's (R) vision
With just weeks before voters head to the polls, the Cincinnati mayoral race is set for its biggest moment: a live, in-person debate on Thursday, Oct. 9, hosted by The Enquirer in partnership with Xavier University and the Ohio Debate Commission. Incumbent Mayor Aftab Pureval and challenger Cory Bowman will meet on stage from 8 to 9 p.m. at Xavier University’s James & Caroline Duff Banquet Center. The event is free and open to the public, but requires a ticket.
Four months ago, Pureval looked unbeatable. He captured 82% of the May primary vote, leaving Bowman with just 13% and third-place finisher Brian Frank with 5%. But the political landscape has shifted. A spate of violent incidents − including a downtown business owner’s fatal stabbing in his own home and a viral street fight that drew national scrutiny − has put City Hall under pressure.
Republican leaders at the federal level have demanded action, warning Cincinnati could risk federal funding or even the deployment of the National Guard, as President Donald Trump recently did in Washington, D.C.
Meanwhile, Pureval and City Council have taken heat for ignoring resident opposition to a Hyde Park Square zoning change, feeding a narrative that city leadership is out of touch.
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2025/09/17/pureval-and-bowman-face-off-in-mayoral-debate-as-election-nears/86186149007/