You’re walking through Over-the-Rhine or maybe grabbing a coffee in Clifton, and the conversation inevitably turns to city hall. People want to know: Who is the Mayor of Cincinnati right now, and what’s he actually doing?
As of January 2026, Aftab Pureval is the man in the big chair. He’s currently serving his second term after winning reelection in November 2025. Honestly, he’s one of the most recognizable faces in Ohio politics, but there’s a lot more to the guy than just a sharp suit and a history-making resume.
He’s the city’s 70th mayor. And yeah, he’s the first Asian-American to hold the office. That's a big deal. But for most Cincinnatians, the "first" label has started to take a backseat to the "what have you done lately" reality of governing a city that's rapidly changing.
The Story Behind the Name
Aftab isn't a transplant. He grew up in Southwest Ohio, specifically in Beavercreek. His background is a bit of a global mosaic: his father immigrated from India, and his mother was a Tibetan refugee. That kind of upbringing usually shapes how a person sees the world. In his case, it seems to have fueled a drive that took him from being student body president at Ohio State to the University of Cincinnati for law school.
Before he was Mayor Aftab, he was a lawyer at Procter & Gamble. If you know Cincinnati, you know P&G is basically the local royalty. But he left the corporate world to run for Hamilton County Clerk of Courts in 2016. He won. It was a massive upset. He basically took a sleepy, patronage-heavy office and modernized it, which gave him the launchpad he needed for the mayor’s race.
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What’s He Doing in 2026?
It’s a new year, and Pureval has hit the ground running with some pretty controversial plans. During his recent swearing-in ceremony, he dropped a bit of a bombshell: he wants to raise the city income tax.
Why? Because the city's budget is, in the words of some council members, "perilous."
He’s framing this as a "disrupting poverty" measure. The idea is to funnel that new revenue into public safety—specifically tackling gun violence—and building out the city’s affordable housing trust fund. If you live here, you've noticed the rent prices. They aren't exactly dropping. Pureval’s administration has made a huge point of saying that if you work in Cincinnati, you should be able to afford to live in Cincinnati.
The Zoning Battle
You might have heard of "Connected Communities." That’s Pureval’s big baby. It’s a massive zoning reform meant to allow for more multi-family housing (think duplexes and small apartment buildings) near transit corridors.
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- The goal: Denser housing, more walkable neighborhoods, and lower costs.
- The pushback: Some neighborhood groups are worried it’ll ruin the "character" of their streets.
- The status: It’s a work in progress, but it’s a defining part of his legacy.
It’s not just about buildings, though. Pureval has been vocal about the "Green Cincinnati Plan." He wants the city to be carbon neutral by 2050. That means more electric vehicle charging stations, better public transit, and literally more trees in neighborhoods that are currently heat islands.
The Politics of City Hall
Cincinnati has a "strong mayor" system, but it's really a hybrid. Pureval sets the policy and picks the City Manager, but the City Manager—currently Sheryl Long—runs the day-to-day operations. It's a partnership. If the trash doesn't get picked up or the snow doesn't get plowed, people look at the City Manager. If the city's vision feels stagnant, they look at Aftab.
Right now, the City Council is mostly aligned with him, but it's not a monolith. You’ve got members like Ryan James who have already expressed skepticism about the proposed tax hike. It’s going to be a loud year at 801 Plum Street.
Real Talk: The Challenges
Is everyone happy? Of course not. This is politics.
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Critics say the focus on "equitable growth" sometimes moves too slow for the people currently struggling with inflation. Others think the city is becoming too "big city" and losing its Midwestern grit. Plus, the police department is still navigating the post-2020 world of reform while trying to keep crime rates down. Pureval’s policy of sending unarmed mental health professionals to certain 911 calls was a bold move, and the jury is still out on the long-term data for 2026.
Quick Facts for Your Next Trivia Night
If you just need the bullet points to sound smart at the bar:
- Term: Second term (sworn in Jan 2026, ends Jan 2030).
- Party: Democrat (though the office is technically nonpartisan).
- Family: Lives in Clifton with his wife Whitney (a doctor) and their two sons, Bodhi and Rami.
- Priorities: Affordable housing, public safety, and climate change.
Actionable Steps for Cincinnati Residents
Knowing who the mayor is is step one. Engaging with him is step two. If you want to actually have a say in how the city is run, don't just tweet about it.
- Attend a Council Meeting: They happen weekly. You can literally walk into City Hall and watch the sausage get made.
- Contact the Mayor’s Office: You can submit questions or concerns directly through the official city website.
- Vote on the Tax Levy: If the income tax increase makes it to the ballot in May or November 2026, that’s your chance to decide the city’s financial future.
Cincinnati is in a weird, exciting transition period. We’re growing, we’re getting more expensive, and we’re trying to figure out how to keep our soul while doing it. Aftab Pureval is the one steering the ship for the next four years. Whether you like his direction or not, he's definitely not sitting still.
To stay informed, keep an eye on the City Council's "Budget, Finance and Governance Committee" meetings this spring. That’s where the real fights over your tax dollars and the Mayor’s new proposals will happen.