All 8 incumbents reelected to Cincinnati City Council, newcomer Ryan James takes final seat

CINCINNATI — All eight Cincinnati City Council incumbent candidates will keep their seats, and political newcomer Ryan James will join them, according to unofficial results.

All nine seats were at-large this election, with a total of 26 candidates vying for the spots. Eight incumbents were on the ballot, with council member Victoria Parks previously opting to resign.

While the council race is nonpartisan, all nine candidates elected were endorsed by the Democratic Party. James, a newcomer to Cincinnati's political landscape, is the youngest Black man ever elected to Cincinnati City Council.

WATCH: Hear from James and other reelected city council candidates

Previous council members Liz Keating and Christopher Smitherman failed to regain spots on city council, as did any candidate from the Charter Committee.

Meet the nine candidates elected to Cincinnati City Council:

Anna Albi

Provided by Anna Albi

• Incumbent first elected to city council in 2023
• Sits on council's Budget and Finance Committee, Equitable Growth and Housing Committee, Healthy Neighborhoods Committee and Public Safety and Governance Committee
• Endorsed by the Democratic Party
• Campaign focused on "fostering a safe community and reducing gun violence by addressing root causes such as food insecurity, housing and access to healthcare," according to her campaign website

Jeff Cramerding

Provided by Jeff Cramerding

• Has previously served on city council for two terms, being first elected in 2021 and then re-elected in 2023
• Sits as Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee and is also on the Equitable Growth and Housing Committee and Climate, Environment and Infrastructure Committee
• Endorsed by the Democratic Party
• Longtime advocate of mixed-income neighborhoods and a founding member of community development corporation Price Hill Will, according to his campaign website
• According to a WVXU report, he said he believes city council, the city manager and Cincinnati's police chief need to focus on "a more visible and community-engaged police force" as a foundation to reducing crime

Ryan James

Provided by Hailey Bollinger

• A West End resident who has worked with several nonprofits
• The youngest Black man to sit on Cincinnati City Council
• Endorsed by the Democratic Party
• Campaign focuses included creating opportunity, access and trust, according to his campaign website

Mark Jeffreys

Provided by Mark Jeffreys

• Has also previously served on council twice, having been first elected in 2021 and then reelected in 2023
• Serves as chair of the Equitable Growth and Housing Committee and is also on the Budget and Finance Committee, Climate, Environment and Infrastructure Committee and the Public Safety Committee
• Endorsed by the Democratic Party
• Based his campaign on making Cincinnati safer, cleaner and greener, according to his campaign website

Scotty Johnson

Provided by Scotty Johnson

• Lifelong Cincinnatian and former Cincinnati Police Department officer who was first elected to city council in 2021 and then reelected in 2023
• Endorsed by the Democratic Party
• Serves as Chair of the Public Safety and Governance Committee, and is also on the Equitable Growth and Housing Committee, the Budget and Finance Committee and the Healthy Neighborhoods Committee
• Campaign focused on three key issues: jobs, housing and public safety, according to his website

Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney

Provided by Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney

• Cincinnati native who was first appointed to city council in 2020 before she was elected in 2021 and 2023
• Endorsed by the Democratic Party
• Serves as Vice Mayor and chair of the Healthy Neighborhoods Committee, and she is also on the Budget and Finance Committee, Public Safety and Governance Committee and the Equitable Growth and Housing Committee
• Wants to accomplish three things during her next tenure on city council: increase economic opportunity, increase affordable housing and homeownership and to improve safety and quality of life in Cincinnati, according to WVXU

Evan Nolan

Provided by Evan Nolan

• Cincinnati native who was appointed to council in 2024 and currently serves on the Budget and Finance Committee and Equitable Growth and Housing Committee
• Endorsed by the Democratic Party
• Campaign's key issues were economic opportunity, neighborhood investment, government accountability and safe and welcoming communities

Meeka D. Owens

Provided by Meeka Owens

• Was first elected to council in 2021 before being reelected in 2023
• Endorsed by the Democratic Party
• Chair of the Climate, Environment and Infrastructure Committee and also serves on the Equitable Growth and Housing Committee and the Budget and Finance Committee
• Told WVXU that she wants to invest in Cincinnati families, saying, "This isn't about one policy, it is about wraparound resources for residents that are also driven by listening to the needs of the community

Seth Walsh

Provided by Seth Walsh

• First appointed to city council in 2022 before he was elected in 2023
• Serves on the Budget and Finance Committee, Equitable Growth and Housing Committee and the Climate, Environment and Infrastructure Committee
• Endorsed by the Democratic Party
• Campaign platform was based on four key issues: community development, affordable housing, small business support and growing Cincinnati, according to his website

You can click here to view the full list of election results.