Having served as the pastor of a nondenominational Christian church in Cincinnati for four years, Bowman expressed his desire to contribute to the city through local government. His attendance at Vance and former President Donald Trump’s inauguration last month further motivated him to consider a role in politics. Reflecting on the event, Bowman shared, “There’s nobody that cheered louder when he was getting sworn in than me, because he’s my brother.”
Bowman described Vance as an “incredible role model” and revealed their friendly sibling rivalry. He acknowledged being inspired by Vance and stated that their discussions about Bowman running for mayor were in the early stages.
Running for mayor to offer Cincinnati voters a choice, Bowman is one of eight individuals who have obtained petitions for the mayoral race. However, as of now, none, including the incumbent Democratic Mayor Aftab Pureval, have submitted the requisite 500 signatures by the February 20 deadline. Pureval confirmed his intention to seek re-election and has already started hosting fundraisers.
Bowman, who attended the Republican National Convention in July, emphasized his alignment with conservative values. He expressed his concerns about issues like development hindrances due to regulations and the clustering of low-income housing in the West End, which led to a federal housing complaint against the city last year.
Notably, Bowman is not a newcomer to the Republican Party, unlike some attendees at the convention. He aims to bring change to the city and address pressing local issues if elected mayor.
Vance and Bowman share a father, Donald Bowman, with Vance being the son of Beverly Aikins’ second husband. Despite Vance being placed for adoption by Donald during kindergarten, he fostered relationships with his father and half-siblings, including Cory, during his teenage years.
The upcoming mayoral race in Cincinnati is a non-partisan field, with the top two candidates advancing from the primary if more than two individuals run. Bowman’s candidacy has drawn varied responses, with Democratic Party officials emphasizing the city’s current stability and expressing concerns about potential disruptions if a Republican were to lead City Hall.
The Bowman family spent a few weeks at their Preble County farmhouse in the summer, where they had cows, horses, and dogs. Vance vividly described the stark contrast between living with his mother, who grappled with substance abuse issues, and the serene farm life with his father in his 2016 memoir “Hillbilly Elegy.” Cory Bowman nostalgically reminisced, “It was truly a wonderful childhood. We absorbed essential values during those formative years. Yet, there was always a magnetic allure about urban life that captivated me.”
In his book, Vance hailed his father, Donald, as a “dedicated Christian,” a sentiment echoed by Cory Bowman’s description of their father as devoutly religious. Donald’s faith and involvement in the church motivated a young Vance to explore his own spiritual beliefs, leading him to discard his heavy rock music CDs and engage in debates against evolution online, as recounted in his memoir. Eventually, Vance embraced Catholicism in adulthood.
Following his mother’s remarriage, Vance’s name was altered from James Donald Bowman to James David Hamel. Later on, he decided to adopt his grandfather’s surname. This insightful piece was initially featured in the Cincinnati Enquirer and sheds light on the fact that JD Vance’s half-brother is currently running for mayor in Cincinnati.
