The 2021 Cleveland City Council election was held on November 2, 2021. The primary elections were held on September 14, 2021. All 17 seats on Cleveland City Council were up for election for four-year terms. Elections in Cleveland are officially nonpartisan, with the top two candidates from the primary election advancing to the general election, regardless of party.[1]
Two council members, Basheer Jones of Ward 7 and Council President Kevin Kelley of Ward 13, retired to run unsuccessfully for Mayor of Cleveland in the concurrent mayoral election.[2]
Ward
Name
Entered office
Running
1
January 2018
Yes
2
January 2018
Yes
3
April 2016
Yes
4
June 2021
No
5
May 2021
Yes
6
May 2017
Yes
7
January 2018
No
8
Michael Polensek
January 1978
Yes
9
November 2001
Yes
10
January 2018
Yes
11
February 2020
Yes
12
May 2005
Yes
13
Kevin J. Kelley
January 2005
No
14
January 2018
Yes
15
November 2020
Yes
16
January 2015
Yes
17
January 2021
Yes
East Side[]
Ward 1[]
Councilman Joe Jones successfully ran for reelection.
Campaign signs for City Council and Mayoral candidates in Buckeye–Shaker
Councilwoman Marion Anita Gardner was appointed by Cuyahoga County Probate Judge Anthony Russo to fill the seat of indicted Councilman Ken Johnson. Gardner chose not to run for election to a full term.[5] Although he was legally barred from holding office, Johnson ran a campaign to regain his seat, though he would be eliminated in the primary.[6]
Ward 4 would elect Democratic precinct committeewoman Deborah Gray, the twin sister of councilwoman Delores Gray, who unsuccessfully ran for election to a full term in Ward 5.[7]
Councilwoman Delores Gray ran unsuccessfully for a full term after being appointed to fill the seat of retiring councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland. Gray would be unseated by Richard A. Starr, the director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland.[8]
Incumbent Councilman Basheer Jones gave up his seat to run unsuccessfully for Mayor of Cleveland in the concurrent mayoral election.[2] Jones would be succeeded by State RepresentativeStephanie Howse.[7]
City Council President Kevin Kelley gave up his seat to run unsuccessfully for Mayor of Cleveland in the concurrent mayoral election.[2] Voters replaced Kelley with community organizer and housing advocate Kris Harsh.[1]