Bibb's blue city, red state balancing act
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As Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb closes in on a second term, he's navigating a harsh political reality: a Republican-led Ohio and a second Trump administration in Washington.
Why it matters: Bibb, a rising Democratic voice in a deep-red state, has built his brand on pragmatism, pitching Cleveland as a model of good governance and smart solutions in a polarized national landscape.
What he's saying: "There's no Democratic way to create a job or Republican way to fix a pothole," Bibb tells Axios — one of his favorite catchphrases.
- "My residents don't give a damn too much about what's going on in D.C. They want to make sure I'm doing my job as mayor."
The big picture: That pragmatism, he says, has helped him forge working relationships with Republican leaders, including Gov. Mike DeWine, even as he prepares to resist federal rollbacks on Medicaid and social programs.
- "When my job is under attack, when I see them cut Medicaid for nearly 30,000 folks across Northeast Ohio, I'm going to speak out," Bibb says.
- "But I welcome any collaboration with the Trump administration to advance my agenda as mayor."
Between the lines: Bibb's approach has made him a visible player beyond Cleveland. As president of the Democratic Mayors Association, he has used his platform to argue that city leaders, even in red states, are where progress still happens.
What's next: He says his focus over the next four years will be "common-sense problem solving": cutting bureaucracy, improving safety, building housing and continuing to modernize City Hall — themes that have defined this series.
The intrigue: Asked whether he sees a bigger stage in his future, Bibb insists he's staying put, at least for now.
- "I'm committed to serving a full four-year term," he says.
The bottom line: After a first term defined by transformation, Cleveland's mayor says the story of his tenure is at the halfway point.
- "We've tackled the basics," Bibb says, "but we've also laid the foundation for something bigger."