Cleveland 2025 election guide
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
The mayor and every seat on the Cleveland City Council are up for election next Tuesday.
Why it matters: It's the first election with a newly redrawn Cleveland ward map, shrinking the legislative body from 17 members to 15.
- In two wards, incumbents are squaring off as a result.
🔎 Zoom in: In Ward 5 (Central, Kinsman, Downtown), Rebecca Maurer faces Richard Starr.
- In Ward 10 (Collinwood), Anthony Hairston faces Mike Polensek.
The intrigue: Polensek has been serving on the council since 1978, and decided to run again, defying a "behind-the-scenes deal" that would have elevated Hairston.
👀 What we're watching: New faces will be arriving at 601 Lakeside no matter what.
- Ward 7: Either Austin Davis or Mohammad Faraj will win the near west side seat vacated by Kerry McCormack.
- Ward 11: Community activist Nikki Hudson will win the seat after challenger Andrew Fontanarosa withdrew his candidacy in September.
- Ward 12: Challenger Tanmay Shah could unseat incumbent Danny Kelly, and has momentum after securing the PD/Cleveland.com endorsement last week.
Between the lines: Mayor Justin Bibb faces Republican Laverne Jones Gore in a non-competitive race.
⚖️ Zoom out: Cleveland voters will decide on judicial races as well. Signal Cleveland has questionnaires with candidates for Cleveland Housing Court and Cleveland Municipal Court.
- 📚 Countywide, school districts in Parma, Shaker Heights, Richmond Heights and South Euclid-Lyndhurst are seeking levies to fund operations.
✅ Before voting, check your registration and find your polling location here.
- View your sample ballot ahead of time.
🗳️ To vote early in person: Visit the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections through Friday from 7:30am–7:30pm, Saturday 8am–4pm or Sunday 1–5pm.
- Sunday is the final day of early voting.
🇺🇸 Election Day voting: Polling places will be open 6:30am–7:30pm Nov. 4.
- Ohio law requires a photo ID to vote in person.