CLEVELAND, OH — On Tuesday, the full slate of Ohio Working Families Party-endorsed candidates running for Cleveland City Council advanced to the general election. Rebecca Maurer, Ward 5; Mohammad Faraj, Ward 7; Alana Belle, Ward 9; and Tanmay Shah, Ward 12, all advanced on Tuesday and will appear on the ballot again in November. Nikki Hudson, Ward 11, had already secured a spot in the general election.

“The Ohio Working Families Party is extremely proud that all five of our endorsed candidates in the Cleveland City Council elections will advance to November,” said Aleena Starks, Ohio State Director for the Working Families Party. 

“We endorsed this slate of candidates because they’ll fight for working people in neighborhoods throughout our city. While the November elections are going to be a challenge, our candidates will face a broader electorate that is not impressed by the status quo we’re up against. Cleveland deserves a city council that will stand up for working people, and the WFP is going to do everything we can over the next eight weeks to help these five candidates win their races.”

The Ohio Working Families Party has provided indispensable support to these candidates and campaigns. In January of this year, Ohio WFP started monthly trainings with prospective candidates across the city. After the WFP released its slate of endorsements, candidates and their staff began meeting regularly with WFP to receive strategic support, build their campaigns, create a fundraising program, and craft a winning message for voters.

The Ohio WFP has also organized its members and volunteers to support its City Council slate. It made over 50,000 texts and 30,000 calls, and the support will continue through November’s general election.

In addition, earlier this year the Ohio WFP released its “Our City, Our Future” policy platform for the city of Cleveland. It highlights the WFP’s vision for tackling urgent issues like economic justice, affordability, and community safety — and includes some of the policies Ohio WFP-endorsed candidates would champion if elected.