2023 Akron mayoral election
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The 2023 Akron mayoral election was held on November 7, 2023, to elect the
chose not to seek re-election to a third term in office.In the Democratic primary, Ward 8 city councilor Shammas Malik won the nomination, prevailing in a field of seven candidates. Because the sole Republican candidate was disqualified, Malik was considered the presumptive next mayor of Akron.[1] Malik was the only candidate on the ballot, as the only other person who qualified for the race was write-in candidate Nathaniel Green. He defeated Green with 95.72% of the vote.[2]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Shammas Malik, city councilor[3]
Eliminated in primary
- Mark Greer, former Akron Small Business Program Manager[4]
- Keith Mills, teacher[4]
- Tara Mosley, city councilor and candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio in 2018[5]
- Joshua Schaffer, cellphone store manager[4]
- Marco Sommerville, deputy mayor for intergovernmental affairs[6]
- Jeff Wilhite, Summit County councilor[7]
Declined
- Dan Horrigan, incumbent mayor[8] (endorsed Sommerville)[9]
Fundraising
Some candidates have not filed campaign finance disclosures. Those who have are listed below:
| Campaign finance reports as of January 31, 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Contributions | Expenditures | Cash on hand |
| Shammas Malik[10] | $49,728 | $56,472 | $156,512 |
| Keith Mills[11] | $100 | $0 | $15,000 |
| Tara Mosley[12] | $9,501 | $3,773 | $10,506 |
| Marco Sommerville[13] | $63,375 | $6,709 | $88,375 |
| Jeff Wilhite[14] | $4,250 | $4,590 | $872 |
Endorsements
Shammas Malik (D)
State legislators
- Casey Weinstein, state representative from the 34th district (2019–present)[15]
Editorial boards
Organizations
- Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund[18]
- People's Action Ohio[19]
- Sierra Club Ohio - Portage Trail Group[18]
- University of Akron College Democrats[20]
Tara Mosley (D)
Local officials
- Michael Williams, former at-large Akron city councilor (1997–2015)[21]
Individuals
- Cornel West, philosopher and honorary chairman of Democratic Socialists of America[22]
Organizations
- Black Elected Officials of Summit County - 20 TBA local officials[23]
- Our Revolution[24]
Marco Sommerville (D)
U.S. Representatives
- Mayor of Akron (1984–1986)[17]
Countywide officials
- Sherri Bevan Walsh, Summit County Prosecuting Attorney (2001–present)[25]
Local officials
- Ginger Baylor, at-large Akron city councilor (2020–present)[25]
- Jeff Fusco, former acting Mayor of Akron (2015) and at-large Akron City Council (1994–1997, 2010–present)[25]
- David James, former Akron Public Schools Superintendent (2003–2021)[25]
- Mayor of Akron (2016–present)[9]
- Phil Lombardo, Akron city councilor from ward 2 (2020–present)[25]
- Brad McKitrick, Akron city councilor from ward 6 (2020–present)[25]
- Mayor of Akron (1987–2015)[17]
- Margo Sommerville, Akron city council president from ward 3 (2013–present) (his daughter)[25]
Labor unions
- Teamsters Local 348[25]
- Ohio AFL-CIO[17]
- Tri-County Building & Construction Trades Council[17]
Declined to endorse
Local officials
- Nancy Holland, Akron city councilor from ward 1 (2021–present)[25]
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Greer | Malik | Mills | Mosley | Schaffer | Somerville | Wilhite | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center for Media & Opinion Research[26][b] | March 27 – April 2, 2023 | 400 (LV) | ± 5.0% | 3% | 18% | 3% | 15% | 5% | 17% | 6% | – | 33% |
| Center for Media & Opinion Research[27][c] | January 17 – February 4, 2023 | 510 (A) | ± 4.3% | – | 8% | – | 7% | 3% | 12% | 4% | 2% | 66% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Shammas Malik | 8,303 | 43.15 | |
| Democratic | Marco Sommerville | 4,944 | 25.70 | |
| Democratic | Tara Mosley | 3,361 | 17.47 | |
| Democratic | Jeff Wilhite | 1,549 | 8.05 | |
| Democratic | Mark Greer | 816 | 4.24 | |
| Democratic | Keith Mills | 143 | 0.74 | |
| Democratic | Joshua Schaffer | 124 | 0.64 | |
| Total votes | 19,240 | 100.00 | ||
Republican primary
Disqualified
- Jim Isabella, former WNIR talk show host[29][30]
Independents
Certified
- Nathaniel Green (write-in)[31]
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Shammas Malik | 36,629 | 95.72 | |
| Write-in | 1,638 | 4.28 | ||
| write-in | Nathaniel Green | 172 | 0.45 | |
| Invalid or blank votes | 1,466 | 3.83 | ||
| Total votes | 38,267 | 100 | ||
References
- ^ Esparra, Lydia (May 3, 2023). "Who is Shammas Malik? Get to know Akron's presumptive next mayor". WKYC. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
- ^ Esparra, Lydia (November 7, 2023). "Ward 8 councilman Shammas Malik officially elected Akron mayor". WKYC. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ "Akron City Councilman Shammas Malik will run for mayor in 2023". Ideastream Public Media. September 22, 2022.
- ^ a b c Livingston, Doug (April 10, 2023). "These eight people want to be the next mayor of Akron. See who has filed to run for office". Akron Beacon Journal.
- Spectrum News 1.
- ^ DeNatale, Dave "Dino" (October 5, 2022). "Marco Sommerville to run for mayor of Akron after Dan Horrigan declines to seek 3rd term". WKYC.
- ^ Livingston, Dan (October 5, 2022). "County Councilman Jeff Wilhite launches 'full-bore' campaign for Akron's open mayor race". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ Becka, Megan (October 4, 2022). "Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan will not seek re-election in 2023". cleveland.
- ^ a b Livingston, Doug; Marshall, Abbey (October 7, 2022). "Marco Sommerville announces Akron mayoral campaign, gets Mayor Dan Horrigan's endorsement". Akron Beacon Journal.
- ^ "Shammas Malik 2022 Annual Campaign Finance Report".
- ^ "Keith Mills 2022 Annual Campaign Finance Report".
- ^ "Tara Mosley 2022 Annual Campaign Finance Report".
- ^ "Marco Sommerville 2022 Annual Campaign Finance Report".
- ^ "Jeff Wilhite 2022 Annual Campaign Finance Report".
- ^ "Final fundraiser to support Shammas Malik for Mayor! Tue Apr 25, 2023". All Events in Akron. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ "Endorsement: Shammas Malik offers a bold new approach for Akron". Akron Beacon Journal. April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ Cleveland.com. April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ a b "Voice of the People: Support for Sommerville, Malik for Akron mayor". April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ "Ohio Citizen Action Endorses Shammas Malik". Ohio Citizen Action. March 20, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ "FROM THE DESK OF AARON UHL: We here at the UA College Dems are proud to endorse @shammasmalik for Akron Mayor!". Twitter. UAkron College Dems (@CollegeDemsUA). April 27, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
- ^ "Former Councilmember supports Mosley for mayor". Akron.com. April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ "Dr Cornel West Supports Tara Mosley for Mayor". YouTube. Studio One23 Productions. April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- EventBrite. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ Our Revolution (@OurRevolution) (February 15, 2023). "We are proud to endorse @TaraLMosley for Mayor of #Akron Ohio! Tara is a progressive leader who will fight for the change that the working class of Akron needs. Let's build local power". Twitter. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Livingston, Doug (April 23, 2023). "Two on campaign mailer say they actually aren't endorsing Marco Sommerville for Akron mayor". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ Center for Media & Opinion Research
- ^ Center for Media & Opinion Research
- ^ "May 2, 2023 Primary/Special Election". Summit County Board of Elections. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
- ^ Livingston, Doug (January 17, 2023). "Former WNIR conservative talk show host Jim Isabella mounts campaign for Akron mayor". Akron Beacon Journal.
- ^ Huntsman, Anna (February 13, 2023). "Seven Democrats are running for Akron mayor, but sole Republican fails to make the ballot". Ideastream Public Media.
- ^ "Certified Candidate List" (PDF). September 23, 2023.
- ^ "Official Write-in Results" (PDF). Retrieved November 30, 2023.
Notes
- ^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear - ^ This poll was sponsored by Akron Beacon Journal, Ideastream Public Media, and the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron
- Ray C. Bliss Institute for Applied Politics at the University of Akron, the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce, State and Federal Communications, and the United Wayof Summit & Medina
External links
Official campaign websites
- Mark Greer (D) for Mayor
- Shammas Malik (D) for Mayor
- Keith Mills (D) for Mayor
- Tara Mosley (D) for Mayor
- Joshua Schaffer (D) for Mayor[usurped]
- Marco Sommerville (D) for Mayor
- Jeff Wilhite (D) for Mayor[usurped]
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