Eight years ago, Democrat Stephanie Summerow Dumas shocked then-commissioner Chris Monzel, booting the Republican from the county’s three-person board of commissioners.
That was the last time a sitting commissioner lost an election – until Dumas herself lost May 5.
Dumas lost the Democratic primary to Cincinnati City Council member Meeka Owens. Thanks to Hamilton County’s increasingly Democratic tilt, Owens is the heavy favorite to win the general election in November.
How did Owens do it? Here are some takeaways.
Owens asked county party not to endorse
The Hamilton County Democratic Party’s slate card has been a near guarantee of victory in primaries. The party’s nominating committee recommended endorsing Dumas in January, as they did with the party’s other incumbent officials.
Before the vote, however, Owens asked the party not to endorse in the commissioners’ race. She said she saw the board of commissioners’ energy directed toward disputes when it should be directed toward growth and progress.
“Our endorsements should make us feel proud,” Owens said at the party’s meeting in January.
After a lengthy discussion, the party opted against endorsing.
Owens swept Cincinnati, made gains in former Dumas strongholds
Owens, who has served on Cincinnati City Council since January 2022, won the vast majority of Cincinnati precincts, according to unofficial results from the Hamilton County Board of Elections. Dumas won only six of the city’s 191 precincts.
Owens also made gains in northern suburbs such as Forest Park, Lincoln Heights and Wyoming that once belonged to Dumas. Owens said at her election night watch party that she started her day at 6:30 a.m. when polls opened in Avondale and spent the day going to polls throughout the county for a last-minute push to earn votes.
Elizabeth Boland of North Avondale stood in the rain outside the polling location at Christ Church Cathedral Downtown, handing out campaign material for Cincinnati City Council member Meeka Owens on Election Day.
Boland said she likes Owens’ approach to community engagement, especially with the Brent Spence Corridor Project.
Dumas did better in areas with fewer Democrats
Dumas performed well in suburban areas such as Green, Delhi and Harrison townships. But those are areas where Democrats are sparser, compared to the city of Cincinnati.
Teresa Nerlinger and Connor Nerlinger of Delhi Township both said they voted for Dumas. Connor Nerlinger said it was because Dumas is the incumbent.
Jolene Almendarez contributed reporting.
Regional politics reporter Erin Glynn can be reached at eglynn@enquirer.com, @ee_glynn on X and @eringlynn on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How did Meeka Owens oust a Hamilton County commissioner?
Reporting by Erin Glynn, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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