by Bruce Checefsky

   (Plain Press October 2025) Cleveland city-wide voter turnout was 7.1% among registered voters in the wards holding elections, but despite low numbers, incumbents were the big winners in the September primary election. Some city wards reported less than a 3.5% turnout.

   In Ward 3, with a population of 23,779, incumbent Deborah A. Gray and candidate Erich V. Stubbs moved to the general election with only 896 total votes cast. Incumbent Stephanie Howse-Jones and candidate Charlotte Perkins from Ward 8 won with 898 total votes cast from a population of 22,083, and in Ward 5, incumbents Richard A. Starr and Rebecca Maurer, facing off after the redistricting process pushed them into the same ward, will continue to the next round with only 905 total votes cast. Incumbents Joe Jones (Ward 1), Kevin Conwell (Ward 9), and Danny Kelly (Ward 12) each won with an average of about 1,449 votes cast.

   In each primary, the top two candidates will advance to the general election in November.

   In Ward 12, which includes parts of the Edgewater, Cudell, West Boulevard, Jefferson and Bellaire Puritas neighborhoods, Danny Kelly and Tanmay Shah will advance to the general election. Kelly received 669 votes, Shah received 422 votes, and Andrew DeFratis received 268 votes.

   In Ward 7, which includes downtown and the lakefront, the Flats, Ohio City, parts of Detroit-Shoreway, and Tremont, with 1,701 votes cast, Austin Davis won with 56% of the votes, followed by Mohammad Faraj with 33%, and Mike Rogalski had 11% of the votes. Ward 7 has an estimated population of 24,822.

   Davis said, in an email request from the Plain Press, that low voter turnout was a result of the structure. “These off-year elections are tough. And just less than half of the city’s new wards had primaries (7 of 15), so there weren’t a lot of citywide conversations to drive attention. Families and working people are very busy, and I understand that not every election can break through.”

   Turnout was low even compared to past years with similar dynamics; he stressed.

   “I think folks have struggled to see their local city government as a force for good in their lives. When your relationship with the City of Cleveland is based on getting a speeding ticket, or hitting a pothole, or struggling to get a permit to fix your front patio, you’re going to be frustrated. You’re not going to get involved. You’re certainly not going to vote in a City Council primary election.”

   Davis said that over time, by investing in a public sector that works and delivers—not just on its basic promises but in ways that are exciting to residents—voters can change that narrative.

   “We can make this a local government that has fully earned Clevelanders’ time and attention. It’s not just branding or slogans. It’s a reputation,” he said. “A reputation that what the city government does is important, and so engaging with it is important too.” 

   Faraj took a different approach to the issue. “Every single elected Democrat in Cleveland should be ashamed of how bad voter turnout is. I know I am. And very much on my mind is what this means for the upcoming 2026 elections, as Ohio Democrats will never have a chance at winning statewide office until we, Cleveland Democrats, focus more on connecting with the residents as opposed to protecting party politics,” he said.

   “Competition is unfortunately not the norm in Cleveland politics, but the residents want it. I would argue they deserve it. They live in our communities, they work their jobs, they shop at our local stores, they send their kids to our schools, and they pay taxes that our government is then supposed to spend on maintaining that wonderfully balanced life.”

   Faraj believes residents should have a robust and competitive selection of candidates to choose from. “It’s possible that because there is such little opportunity in Cleveland, we get conditioned to treat things like competition, disagreement, and conflicts like the plague. Consider all the times you disagreed with a decision in this city and tried to do something about it only for the inner workings to treat you like dirt, tell you that you’re wrong, shut the door, and then lock it.”

   “Every resident I’ve spoken with on the campaign trail has shared having this experience,” he continued, “and the majority just don’t think the toxic culture of politics we foster here is worth getting involved with. You’re never going to hear me blame the voters. It’s us—the Democratic Party—that must do better. The future of our country depends upon it.”

   Faraj said connecting with residents is important to get more people to vote.

   “They’re eager to be listened to—and their votes deserve to be fought for! My message is about changing what our government prioritizes based on who and what we perceive as important. It’s not about over-promising, and it’s not about consultant buzzwords. It’s a recognition that success for a ward on council requires strategic collaboration—as opposed to brute force. It’s a more nuanced message than what voters are used to, and so I need to continue to be patient and determined as I build trust with every resident.”

   Rogalski, who lost the election a second time since 2021, said voter participation anemia has been an ongoing issue, but this is probably a record low.

   “There probably were extraordinarily few undecided voters walking into the polls [on election day]. Mostly just voters who had stakes to win or lose because of this election. Others didn’t even know there was an election being held. There was also nothing else on most ballots except the council races.”

   He plans to return to a life before announcing his candidacy, which includes staying busy with work and traveling.

   “I never stopped working while running for office, but I am looking for part-time work to add to my existing employment.”

   Rogalski has not publicly committed to supporting either Davis or Faraj.

   “I am not getting behind either of my opponents. That may change, or it may not. I am also an undecided voter myself for the November election. Neither of the remaining candidates has offered any specific plans or policies to help my voters who are struggling in several ways, particularly financially. Both of my opponents were respectful enough in my interactions with them. However, some of the people in the Davis camp have been downright cruel,” he added. 

   “They’ve orchestrated a smear campaign and lies throughout the race. Both sides hoarded nearly all the resources in this race, essentially starving my candidacy from ever gaining the attention of a larger audience. As is frequently known in politics, nothing is fair. And I wasn’t one of the candidates who benefited from the unfairness in this race.”

   Sandra Garrett Meister, a Tremont resident, said she did not vote because she did not realize it was that day.

   “We got nothing in the mail. We saw no [public] signs about the date of the election.”

   She had every intention of voting and had read about the date a few months prior, but then she completely forgot.

   “We moved here from California a few years ago, and when elections are coming up, you get mailed a ballot and a voter guide without requesting or verifying anything. It feels like the government isn’t really interested in getting people to vote.”

   At the end of the day, Meister realizes the responsibility is hers.

   “I just wish there were more of an effort from candidates who want to represent us to engage with us as voters. Especially with the wards consolidating, it feels even more important to have at least signs with information up in the neighborhoods.”

   She added, “In the three years we have lived here, never once have I seen Kerry McCormack in Tremont. I had tried contacting Tremont West Development, asking how I could get involved in the neighborhood events last year, and never heard back.”

   “This feels like a forgotten neighborhood when it comes to the political candidates and elections,” said Meister.