Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com

By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor, associate publisher

CLEVELAND, Ohio-Voters in Cuyahoga County took to the polls in splendid weather to cast ballots in Tuesday's Nov. 4, 2025 general election for Cleveland City Council races, Cleveland Municipal Court judgeships, and mayoral races in Cleveland, East Cleveland and Cleveland Hts, among a few other closely watched contests.

While there were several suburban races relative to Tuesday's general election, this article focuses primarily on races that include a Black candidate, mainly races in Cleveland, a largely Black major American city.

According to unofficial results from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, Democratic Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb, 38 and the city's fourth Black mayor, easily sailed to a second four-year term, defeating Lavern Gore, a Republican-turned Independent, 73 per cent to her 25 per cent.

The city council and mayoral races in Cleveland are nonpartisan, and Bibb and  Gore avoided a primary since no other candidate made the ballot to run for mayor. "Reelect Mayor Justin Bibb" campaign signs were posted fluently throughout Cleveland leading up to Tuesday's election, an indication that the mayor's reelection campaign was well-financed.

(CLEVELAND CITY COUNCIL RESULTS IN CLEVELAND'S MAJORITY BLACK EAST SIDE WARDS IN THE NOV. 4 GENERAL ELECTION)

The Cleveland City Council, reduced from 17 to 15 members beginning in 2026 due to population decline and redistricting as required by the city charter, saw few surprises regarding the redistricted wards, which forced some incumbent councilpersons to run against each other. Ward 6 Councilman Blaine Griffin, also the council president, ran unopposed, and so did Ward 2 Councilman Kevin Bishop.

In races where incumbents were forced to run against each other, Councilman Richard Starr beat Councilwoman Rebecca Maurer for the new Ward 5 seat, Starr winning with 64 per cent of the vote to Maurer's 35 per cent.

In other closely watched city council races in Cleveland, incumbent Ward 1 Councilman Joe Jones outdid state Rep.Juanita Brent, Jones winning 63 per cent to Brent's 23 per cent, and Councilwoman Deborah Gray was reelected for the Ward 3 seat over her opponent Erich Stubbs, Gray winning with 80 per cent of the vote.

The battle for the new Ward 7 seat drew newcomers facing off, and  Austin M. Davis won over Mohhamad Faraj, Davis winning with 80 per cent of the vote.

Councilwoman Stephanie Howse-Jones was the lead vote-getter for the new Ward 8 seat, winning with 75 per cent of the vote over Charlotte Perkins, who finished with 24 per cent.

Ward 9 Councilman Kevin Conwell finished with 76 per cent of the vote to activist Alana Bell's  22 per cent to retain his seat.

Councilman Michael Polensek beat out Councilman Anthony Hairston in the redistricted Ward 10, Polensek winning with 67 per cent to Hairston's 32 per cent.

(CLEVELAND MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE RACES, WHICH, BY DESIGN, HAVE NO PRIMARY ELECTIONS)

Cleveland Housing Court Judge W. Mona Scott lost reelection to Cheryl M. Whitmire, Khaliah Lawson won over TJ Dow, In Son J. Loving won over Heather McCollough, and Bret L. Horton won over Joseph Russo and three others for a fourth seat up for grabs on the Cleveland Municipal Court bench.

KEY SUBURBAN RACES IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY

Turning to key suburban races, Jim Petras won in the race for Cleveland Hts. mayor over Council Vice President Davita Russell, who is Black, and East Cleveland Mayor Lateek Shabazz lost to Sandra Morgan. Both Shabazz and Morgan are Black, and Morgan is the city's first elected female mayor.

Thanks for reading our Nov. 4, 2025, general election coverage. We bring you free and quality news from a Black perspective. Why pay? Read us for free!!!

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, the most-read Black digital newspaper and Black blog in Ohio and the Midwest. Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com. We interviewed former President Barack Obama one-on-one when he was campaigning for president. As to the Obama interview, CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM, OHIO'S LEADER IN BLACK DIGITAL NEWS.

Staff article by Kathy Wray Coleman, editor, associate publisher

CLEVELAND, Ohio- With support from  Cleveland City Council President Blaine Grriffin and Mayor Justin Bibb, Cleveland City Council, the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County Council and a coalition of Cleveland's civic, corporate, and philanthropic leaders have come together to raise more than $600,000 in emergency funding to support local residents who will be affected by the loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/Foodstamps) benefits as of Nov. 1.

President Donald Trump has announced that the federal government will end SNAP, effective Nov 1., causing a national uproar and angering congressional Democrats, Civil Rights groups like the NAACP and a host of others.

While most SNAP recipients nationwide are White, Black recipients are disproportionately impacted.

Griffin said in a press release on Friday that this rapid response initiative aims to help bridge the immediate food security gap that the anticipated halt of SNAP support would create.

Key community partners with long commitments to the well-being of Clevelanders stepped up with significant contributions. These partners include:

• City of Cleveland
• Cuyahoga County
• The Cleveland Foundation
• The George Gund Foundation
• Cleveland Browns
• Cleveland Cavaliers
• Cleveland Guardians
• The Word Church

These funds will be directed immediately to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank to ensure people continue to have access to healthy food during the SNAP benefit shutdown. The funds will also support a range of food security initiatives, including expanded mobile pantry operations and increased capacity at neighborhood pantries. 

"No food bank can make up for a lack of SNAP benefits – for every meal distributed by a food bank, SNAP provides 9 – but we will do our very best to be a steady source of nutritious food for our community," said Kristin Warzocha, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. "These funds allow us to secure more food, so our community partners can be ready to meet the need. Knowing that our community leaders are standing beside us in this effort means the world to us—and to our struggling neighbours. Your help WILL make a difference." 

"The City of Cleveland will not stand by while our residents face hunger," Mayor Justin Bibb said. "Our contribution is a down payment on our commitment, but the real power is in this swift, unprecedented partnership. We are proud to stand with our professional sports teams, the Cleveland Foundation, the George Gund Foundation, and our partners in County government to help ensure every Clevelander has access to basic necessities during this federal uncertainty."  

"This is what effective governance looks like. We put our people first," Bibb added. 

City Council President Blaine A. Griffin agreed. "This is the time for us to come together and take care of our people," said Griffin. "The potential loss of SNAP benefits is a sudden and profound shock to our most vulnerable families. We are grateful to the partners who have stepped up now – and those who will step un in the near future. Now, we must institutionalize this response."  

The Cuyahoga Hunger Response Team includes city and county officials, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, healthcare providers, and social service agencies to ensure the streamlined delivery of resources, efficient outreach to affected residents, and the strategic use of the emergency funds raised. 

Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne highlighted the regional nature of the effort. "We are committed to bringing our community together to ensure we have a strong safety net for all our residents. The collaboration between the County, the City, our professional sports teams, and our foundations is exactly the regional partnership we need right now," said Executive Ronayne. "Our contribution is part of a larger, coordinated effort to ensure that no resident of Cuyahoga County goes hungry because of a loss of federal benefits. We are committed to making this Hunger Response Team work effectively and immediately."   

Cuyahoga County Council President Dale Miller emphasized the local community's resilience. "This situation demonstrates the fragility of federal support and the immense resilience of our local community," said Miller. "The County Council is proud to stand alongside our partners in the City and the philanthropic community. We must do everything in our power to protect our neighbors, and this emergency fund is a critical first step toward mobilizing the resources required to address this crisis with the urgency it deserves." 

"Taking food away from people right before Thanksgiving is unnecessary, callous, and cruel," Griffin said. "We're going to do everything we can to keep Clevelanders from going hungry." 

Anyone in need of food assistance or other resources can visit the Greater Cleveland Food Bank or call 2-1-1.

Ohio Congresswoman Shontel Brown (D-11) and President Donald Trump

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com

Washington, DC — Ohio Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11), a Warrensville Hts. Democrat who represents Ohio's 11th congressional district and one of three Black women in Congress from Ohio, spoke on Wednesday at a press conference hosted by Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02) on President Donald Trump's illegal SNAP shutdown. The Trump administration has announced that it will suspend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Food stamps) benefits beginning Nov. 1.

Rep. Brown, flanked by a group of congressional Dems, blasted the decision, which will impact her constituents in the 11th congressional district. It includes the largely Black city of Cleveland.

"I am going to call it out for what it really is. It is cruel. It is callous. It is careless. It is immoral, and it is illegal," the congresswoman said. Last week, Congresswoman Brown joined House Democrats in calling on the Trump Administration to release USDA contingency funds already appropriated by Congress to support benefits during emergencies.

Congresswoman Brown's office remains in close contact with local governments and nonprofits and has more information for affected constituents available on her website.

Congresswoman Shontel Brown's Remarks as Delivered at the Press Conference (Video)

Good afternoon, everyone.

Thank you to our Assistant Democratic Leader, Congressman Neguse, for organizing this press conference and for inviting me to be here.

I am Congresswoman Shontel Brown – proudly representing Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.

I serve as Vice Ranking Member on the House Agriculture Committee, where we've been on the front lines fighting attacks on basic food benefits all year.

Now, we are here today, because the president is illegally blocking $6 billion in emergency SNAP funding ... money available and intended for moments exactly like this.

Why? In some cynical attempt to increase leverage so they don't have to fix the health care crisis they've created.

They're forcing American families to go hungry rather than lowering health care costs.

I wish I could say I was surprised ...

But this is the same President and Republican Congress that made the largest cuts to SNAP and Medicaid earlier this year to pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans...

That made those tax breaks for billionaires permanent, but refused to extend Enhanced Premium Tax Credits for even one year...

And that found $20 billion for a bailout for Argentina, but is freezing the $6 billion sitting in the SNAP contingency fund.

21% of the people in my district rely on SNAP to keep food on the table. That's one in five.

So when it comes to Trump's illegal SNAP shutdown...

I take this personally.

Because the people I represent do not deserve the pain and stress and anxiety and hunger that this is going to cause.

Last week, we held an event in my district at a local grocery store.

And a woman there named Diane spoke about what SNAP means to her.

She's not just a woman, she's a pillar in the community. Spending many of her days advocating for others.

And I have not been able to stop thinking about what she said.

She's 75 years old, lives in public housing, and gets $63 a month in SNAP benefits for food -- and she needs every dollar of that to survive.

Standing at the supermarket, she looked at the food laid out – a package of ground beef, some canned food, some fruit and a loaf of bread.

She pointed out that she already isn't able to afford that much on her budget.

Diane does not deserve this.

And somebody in the White House... somebody in Speaker Mike Johnson's office... they may think this is a brilliant strategy that they have.

To threaten Diane... and to take from Diane.

But I am going to call it out for what it really is.

It is cruel. It is callous. It is careless.

It is immoral and it is illegal.

This is what happens when the people in power only care about the people with perceived power.

It is time for the White House to release the funds.

It is time for Republicans to take the locks off the doors of the House Chamber.

And instead of doing the extreme right-wing thing for Donald Trump, it is time for my Republican colleagues to do the right thing for the people we represent.

Reopen the government. Release the funds. And cancel the cuts.

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, the most-read Black digital newspaper and Black blog in Ohio and the Midwest. Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com. We interviewed former President Barack Obama one-on-one when he was campaigning for president. As to the Obama interview, CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM, OHIO'S LEADER IN BLACK DIGITAL NEWS.

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com

Staff article

CLEVELAND, Ohio-On Oct. 11, 2025, the Carl Stokes Brigade, a Cleveland grassroots activist group named for the late Carl B. Stokes, the first Black mayor of Cleveland and of a major American city,  held its endorsement proceedings and announced its slate of endorsed candidates for early voting and election day on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, as follows: