News Summary
Cuyahoga County is gearing up for a pivotal primary election. Scheduled for September, the election will impact city council and mayoral races, alongside a recall vote for a sitting mayor. With early voting already underway, local voters will also decide on community liquor sales. All races will be nonpartisan, emphasizing candidates over party affiliations, making this election notable in Ohio.
Cleveland, Ohio – Major Primary Election Set for September 9, 2025
Cuyahoga County is preparing for its primary election on September 9, 2025, which will feature significant city council and mayoral races, as well as a recall effort for a current mayor. Local voters will also have the chance to weigh in on liquor sales options in their communities. Early voting has already begun, with more than 1,000 voters having cast their ballots in advance of the primary.
This primary election is notable because Cuyahoga County is the only county in Ohio that holds a primary election in September. All races in the upcoming primary election are classified as nonpartisan, allowing voters to focus solely on the candidates rather than party affiliations.
Cleveland City Council Elections
In Cleveland, the City Council will see reduced representation as the number of wards decreases from 17 to 15. This restructuring means that several incumbents will face new electoral challenges as district lines may overlap. Contested seats are present in wards 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 12.
The candidates for each Cleveland City Council ward are:
- Ward 1: Juanita O. Brent, Aylwin S. Bridges, Marc G. Crosby, Joe Jones (incumbent), Lesa Jones Dollar
- Ward 3: Deborah A. Gray (incumbent), Sharon M. Spruill, Erich V. Stubbs
- Ward 5: Rebecca Maurer (incumbent), Beverly Owens-Jackson, Richard A. Starr (incumbent)
- Ward 7: Austin N. Davis, Mohammad Faraj, Mike Roglaski
- Ward 8: Stephanie Howse-Jones (incumbent), Leon Meredith, Charlotte Perkins, Tony Perry (write-in), Teri Ying-Liang Wang
- Ward 9: Alana Belle, Kevin Conwell (incumbent), Tony Evans, Jr.
- Ward 12: Andrew DeFratis, Danny Kelly (incumbent), Tanmay Shah
Mayoral Races and Recall Votes
Mayoral races will also take place in East Cleveland, Garfield Heights, and Cleveland Heights. The candidates for these positions include:
- East Cleveland: Juanita Gowdy, Sandra Morgan, Vidah Aminah Saeed, Lateek R. Shabazz (incumbent), Sean L. Ward
- Garfield Heights: Matt Burke (incumbent), James S. Feeney, Cathy Mack
- Cleveland Heights: Deanna Bremer Fisher, Marty Gelfand, Laura Kinsley Hong, Jim Petras, Davida Russell
In Cleveland Heights, Mayor Kahlil Seren is facing a recall vote prompted by controversies surrounding his administration. A petition for the recall has collected over 4,000 signatures, leading to a decision on whether he should remain in office. If recalled, City Council President Tony Cuda will assume the mayoral position until a new election can be scheduled.
Local Liquor Sales Options
The primary election will also address local liquor sales options, including Sunday sales for establishments such as SoHo Chicken + Whiskey in Cleveland Ward 7 and Rood Food and Pie in Lakewood Ward 1.
Voting Requirements and Polling Information
Changes to voter identification requirements now stipulate that acceptable forms of ID must include photo identification, such as an Ohio driver’s license, U.S. passport, or military ID. Voters are required to bring a photo ID if they plan to vote in person, although provisional ballots will be provided for those without proper identification.
Polling hours for the primary election run from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Early voting is available on September 6 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on September 7 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. State laws prohibit wearing political attire at polling places, and voters might be asked to change if they are wearing any political clothing.
Residents who wish to track their voter registration status or find polling locations can contact the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections or visit their official website for assistance.
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HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- Cleveland.com: Two City Council Members Hold Early Lead in Cleveland Heights Mayoral Primary
- WKYC: Cuyahoga County Primary Election Results
- Fox8: Voters Deciding Cleveland City Council Candidates
- Ohio Capital Journal: Everything to Know About Cuyahoga County’s Tuesday Primary Election
- Cleveland.com: Cuyahoga County Primary Election Results for September 9, 2025
- Wikipedia: Cleveland Heights, Ohio
- Google Search: Cleveland Heights election 2025
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Cleveland
- Google News: Cuyahoga County primary election 2025
Author: STAFF HERE CLEVELAND WRITER
CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER The CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER represents the seasoned team at HERECleveland.com, your premier source for actionable local news and information in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and beyond, delivering "news you can use" with in-depth coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news impacting the region—backed by years of expert reporting and robust community input, including local press releases and business updates, while providing top reporting on high-profile events like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, Cleveland International Film Festival, and holiday parades, alongside key organizations such as the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Orchestra, and Great Lakes Science Center, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and healthcare like Sherwin-Williams and University Hospitals, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREDayton.com, offering comprehensive, credible insights into Ohio's vibrant landscape. HERE Cleveland HERE Dayton
