Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Nov. 6: Tibetan-origin American politician Aftab Karma Singh Pureval has been re-elected as the Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, securing a decisive second term after defeating Republican challenger Cory Bowman, half-brother of US Vice President JD Vance, in Tuesday’s general election.
According to reports, the Democratic incumbent won by a landslide, claiming nearly three-fourths of the total vote share. Reports noted that Pureval’s administration had invested heavily in community policing, affordable housing, and small-business development, earning strong support across demographics.
“This victory isn’t just about politics,” Pureval told supporters during his victory speech on Tuesday night. “It’s about the belief that when we work together — regardless of race, religion, or background — we can build a city that works for everyone.”
Pureval, first elected in 2021 as Cincinnati’s 70th mayor, made history as the city’s first Asian-American leader. Born in Xenia, Ohio, to a Tibetan mother and an Indian father, he has often spoken about the influence of his immigrant upbringing on his public service ethos. “My mother fled Tibet as a refugee, and my parents worked tirelessly to give us a chance at the American dream,” Pureval has said in a previous interview. “Public service, for me, is about paying that forward.”
Before entering public office, Aftab Pureval built a distinguished career in law and as a corporate counsel. He served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney before joining Procter & Gamble as a global brand attorney, where he worked on international legal and brand management issues. His foray into politics began in 2016, when he was elected Hamilton County Clerk of Courts, becoming the first Democrat to hold the position in more than a century, a victory that marked his emergence as a rising figure in Ohio politics.
In 2022, Pureval was recognised by Gold House, a prominent non-profit celebrating influential Asian Pacific leaders, for his outstanding contributions to advocacy and public policy. He was honoured alongside fellow Asian American mayors Bruce Harrell of Seattle and Michelle Wu of Boston, both noted for their transformative leadership in their respective cities.
Later that year, on December 5, 2022, Pureval travelled to Dharamshala, India, where he was received in an audience by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at his residence. During the meeting, Pureval expressed deep solidarity with the Tibetan people living under Chinese repression, declaring, “We feel your pain. We understand your struggle. You are not alone, and you are not forgotten.” He further emphasised the crucial role of the Tibetan diaspora in safeguarding their collective identity, stating, “The preservation of our culture, history, and religion is a responsibility that those outside of Tibet feel very personally and very strongly.”
