4 months ago
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Elections successful Cleveland are over. And both winners and losers in nan city’s municipal races spent large bucks trying to triumph their seats.
This twelvemonth Mayor Justin Bibb won reelection complete challenger Laverne Gore, while 11 of 15 assembly seats were up for grabs.
Some City Council races saw much than $100,000 spent. While adjacent to $1 cardinal was spent during nan mayor’s race, which was lopsided successful much ways than one.
Running unopposed were Council President Blaine Griffin successful Ward 6, Councilman Kevin Bishop successful Ward 2, Councilwoman Jasmin Santana successful Ward 14 and newcomer Nikki Hudson successful Ward 11. Councilman Brian Kazy and Charles Slife some faced only write-in candidates.
All candidates were required to disclose fundraising to nan Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. The results beneath show money - unless different noted - that was raised and spent during 2025 arsenic of last run finance disclosures that were owed a period aft nan Nov. 4 election.
Mayor’s title
Gore raised $3,000 from donors and besides contributed $10,000 to her ain campaign. She spent astir of those dollars and ended nan twelvemonth pinch $1,100 connected hand.
Bibb, successful comparison, came into nan predetermination twelvemonth pinch $642,000 connected hand. He raised different $517,000 and spent $989,000 — outspending Gore by 899:1.
Not each that money was spent straight connected Bibb’s reelection. Records show $100,000 was donated to “It’s nan Right Thing to Do,” a nonprofit group up to advocator and bargain ads successful support of Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s consolidation plan. Bibb and different candidates besides regularly donate to different politicians and organizations.
Political Action Committees
This year’s assembly candidates were supported by 2 notable governmental action committees; nan assembly activity fund, which mostly backed incumbents — and A Better Cleveland for All, which sewage down respective progressive challengers.
The Council Leadership Fund came into 2025 pinch $196,300 connected hand. It raised different $200,300 and spent $245,000.
A Better Cleveland for All came into 2025 pinch $25,700 connected hand. The group raised $6,500 passim nan twelvemonth and spent $18,800.
Ward 1
Councilman Joe Jones came into nan predetermination twelvemonth pinch $28,200 connected hand. He raised different $47,850 and spent $72,700. He won nan predetermination pinch 63% of nan vote.
Officials said authorities Rep. Juanita Brent has not revenge run spending reports pinch nan county’s committee of elections.
Ward 3
Councilwoman Deborah Gray started 2025 pinch $6,500 connected hand. She raised different $7,600 and spent $9,300. She won pinch 80% of nan vote.
Her force Eric Stubbs raised $275 up of nan wide election. He did not record a post-election report, officials said.
Ward 4
Councilman Kris Harsh had $22,800 connected manus to commencement nan year. He raised different $25,900 and spent $12,900. He won pinch 70% of nan vote.
His opponent, Rehan Waheed, raised $21,200, which included a $5,000 individual indebtedness he later repaid. He spent $19,100 successful his predetermination bid.
Ward 5
Councilman Richard Starr came into 2025 pinch $16,000 connected hand. He raised $113,300 and spent $126,000. Starr won pinch 65% of nan vote..
Former Councilwoman Rebecca Maurer went into 2025 pinch $44,400. She raised different $88,000 and spent $131,900.
The 2 incumbents opposed each different successful recently drawn ward.
Ward 7
Newly elected Councilman Austin Davis raised $81,300, which included a $4,000 loan. He spent $69,600 and won pinch 50% of nan vote.
His opponent, Mohammad Faraj, raised $91,100 and spent $82,000.
Ward 8
Councilwoman Stephanie Howse-Jones came into 2025 pinch $8,400 connected hand. She raised different $77,800 and spent $76,200. She won pinch 75% of nan vote.
Her opponent, Charlotte Perkins, raised $5,800 and spent $1,500.
Ward 9
Councilman Kevin Conwell started disconnected 2025 pinch $61,300 connected hand. He raised different $23,700 and spent $28,200. He won pinch 76% of nan vote.
Alana Belle raised $17,100 for her run and spent $15,100, according to records she submitted up of nan wide election. She has not revenge a post-election report, officials said.
Ward 10
Councilman Mike Polensek came into 2025 pinch $105,700 connected hand. He raised different $68,500 and spent $63,100. He won pinch 67% of nan vote.
Former Councilman Anthony Hairston came into 2025 pinch $29,000 connected hand. He raised different $65,100 and spent $94,200.
Both incumbents ran successful a recently drawn ward.
Ward 12
Newly-elected Councilman Tanmay Shah raised $71,500 and spent $58,400. He won by an incredibly slim margin, 9 votes.
Former Councilman Danny Kelly came into 2025 pinch $1,600 connected hand. He raised different $109,000 and ended up spending $83,900 successful a losing fight.
Kelly was an incumbent who had represented nan aforesaid wide area earlier wards were redrawn.
