Laverne Gore, Buckeye-Shaker.
Laverne Gore, Buckeye-Shaker. Credit: Alicia Brown / Courtesy of LaVerne Gore

The first on-the-record challenger in the 2025 Cleveland mayoral race is here. LaVerne Jones Gore announced her bid for mayor during an intimate press conference at her home on Monday afternoon. 

Gore is a Cleveland native, born and raised in the Hough neighborhood. She operates her own consulting firm, LA Gore and Principles. She has also served as a recruiter for the United States Military Academy.

She is no stranger to the political scene, having run her first campaign in 1993 for a seat on Cleveland City Council. Since then, she has run for multiple other offices. Most recently, she ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2021 to represent Ohio’s 11th congressional district. She also ran for: Cuyahoga County Council in 2010; Cleveland mayor in 2009; and to be a Cuyahoga County Council Commissioner in 2000 and 2002. While she has managed to win two primaries, she has yet to hold political office.

‘I face an uphill battle’

While the mayoral race is officially nonpartisan, Gore is registered as a member of the Republican party. The last Republican mayor to hold office in Cleveland was George Voinovich who served three terms. His last term ended in 1989.

“I know that I face an uphill battle because I am a Republican,” Gore said. “Many people wanted me to run as an independent, which I technically am because I didn’t vote in the last primary election. For me, I just wanted to tell the truth. We just came off of a general election where the country decided which direction they wanted to see things go in.”

“Maybe the people of Cleveland would like to try something different,” she added.

When Signal Cleveland asked Gore what made her want to throw her hat in the ring once again, her answer was simple: she wants to see change.

“I had been going back and forth about it for a while,” she said. “I wasn’t going to run, but I’m seeing so many things that are happening in Cleveland that just can’t be ignored anymore. It’s time.”

Key issues are housing, education, crime

Among the many issues the city is facing, Gore said, are housing, education and crime.

“We have housing issues here,” Gore said. “We have education issues here. We have crime issues here. Yet all we can seem to muster up conversations about is the Cleveland Browns and if they are moving the stadium to Brook Park.” 

Gore said her top priority would be to talk and listen to the people, specifically the ones who do not make their voices heard during elections.

“I’ve been going through the city and dissecting it bit by bit,” Gore said. “Everything I’ve seen is special interest politics. We’re talking to the LGBTQ+’community, who I think need to be heard. We are talking to environmentalists, who I think need to be heard. Where the city is now, I think we need to start listening to the parents and the citizens of Cleveland.”

Talking with non-voters

Gore noted the usually low voter turnout in Cleveland mayoral races and acknowledged the need to have conversations with non-voters.

“There is a large number of people in Cleveland who don’t vote, so we don’t really know what they are thinking,” Gore said. You essentially are having a small percentage of voters making decisions for everyone. Most people don’t vote, so it just makes me wonder what Cleveland could look like if everyone’s voice is accounted for.”

Although rumors have swirled about other potential challengers to Bibb’s re-election bid, Gore is the first one to go on record to confirm she is running.

“Ultimately, I am a homeowner in Cleveland,” Gore said. “I want to be a part of driving that change that the city needs.”

Community Reporter (he/him)
I work to gain the trust of Cleveland residents through direct community engagement and storytelling. My goal is to amplify and celebrate the residents and stakeholders who contribute to the success of city neighborhoods. I’m hoping to erase the negative stigma that has been cast on some neighborhoods throughout the years.