Election Day Ballot Breakdown for Cleveland and Cuyahoga County
From mayoral races to redrawn council wards, this year’s elections could reshape power across Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.
by Cleveland Magazine Staff | Nov. 3, 2025 | 10:00 AM
For Cleveland, there will be two fewer races this year as the city’s wards decreased from 17 to 15. In doing so, some incumbents are battling each other and some others are running unopposed. There are also key elections for mayor and judicial seats throughout the county that voters will decide on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Cleveland Mayoral Race: Incumbent and Democrat Justin Bibb will face Republican Laverne Jones Gore. Bibb is seeking a second term after a tenure marked by investment and reform. Jones Gore is a community leader and activist with a platform rooted in conservative values and neighborhood renewal.
Key Races for Cleveland Council Wards: In Cleveland’s Ward 5 and Ward 10, four incumbents will be going up against each other. Whereas in Ward 7, we will see a new face no matter who wins, in Ward 12, we could see an upset of an incumbent.
The new Ward 5 extends from Downtown, Kinsman and Central. Incumbent Rebecca Maurer is facing fellow incumbent Richard Starr for the council seat.
Michael Polensek, who has been a council member since 1978, will look to beat fellow incumbent Anthony Hairston for the new Ward 10 that represents Collinwood.
Ward 7, which covers the near West Side of Cleveland, will see newcomers Austin Davis or Mohammad Faraj win.
For Ward 12 incumbent Danny Kelly and challenger Tanmay Shah, election night could be interesting as both sides have momentum. Kelly is backed by City Council President Blaine Griffin and his political action committee. Shah received an October endorsement from the Plain Dealer/cleveland.com’s editorial board.
Judicial Races: Clevelanders will vote on candidates for Housing Court and the Municipal Court.
For Housing Court, voters will pick between W. Moná Scott and Cheryl Wiltshire.
The Municipal Court has three open seats — candidates In Son J. Loving and Heather McCollough are competing for one. At the same time, TJ Dow and Khalilah Lawson are competing for another. Brett Horton, Nikki McGowan, Joseph Russo and Christopher Woodworth will compete for the final seat.
Other Key Races: There will be mayoral elections in Cleveland Heights and East Cleveland after the ousters of Kahlil Seren in Cleveland Heights and Brandon King in East Cleveland.
Polling Place: Find the full list of Cuyahoga County polling locations at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections website, or search for your specific polling spot.
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