Ohio Politics Update: Insights from the 2025 Local Elections

As the nation followed higher-profile elections in Virginia, New York City, and California on Tuesday, November 4, Ohio held its 2025 election. There were no statewide ballot issues, so all contests were local elections. Following the national trend, Ohio Democrats scored victories across the state and generally had a successful evening.

In Cincinnati, Mayor Aftab Pureval (D) cruised to victory over Republican challenger Corey Bowman, and Democratic candidates won all nine seats on the city council. In Columbus, in the only contested city council race, the endorsed Democrat, Tiara Ross, prevailed over Jesse Vogel. Mr. Vogel won the most votes in District 7, however, because of the city’s hybrid system, where candidates run in districts but are elected city-wide, Ms. Ross secured the most total votes. Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz (D) became the city’s first three-term mayor. Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb (D) also rolled to victory, earning his second term. Perhaps the only blip for Democrats in urban elections was in Youngstown and Dayton, where two incumbents, Tito Brown and Jeffrey Mims, were defeated. Mayor Brown lost to independent Derrick McDowell. Mayor Mims lost to Dayton City Commissioner Shenise Turner-Sloss, who is also a Democrat. Dayton’s mayoral elections are non-partisan.

Democrats also made inroads in suburban city council races, for example, sweeping the contests in central Ohio suburban communities, Hilliard and Upper Arlington. Ohio Democrats are also likely encouraged by victories in school board races, including some in more rural, conservative areas of the state.

While Ohio Republicans remain extremely confident ahead of next year’s statewide elections, Ohio Democrats are hopeful this cycle’s gains generate momentum for 2026. Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, in a video posted on social media, stated that Republicans need to focus more on affordability and the economy than on social issues. Voters across the country identified the economy as a top issue in exit polling.

Despite rising property taxes, Ohio’s schools and libraries also saw many victories. According to the Ohio School Boards Association, 65% of school tax issues were victorious. 18 of the 20 library tax issues on the ballot also won.

2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal election, both nationally and in Ohio. The special election between Senator Jon Husted (R) and former Senator Sherrod Brown (D) is already attracting national interest, and control of the U.S. House of Representatives could hinge on contests in Ohio’s newly redrawn first and ninth congressional districts. In addition, all of Ohio’s constitutional statewide executive offices are up for grabs.