UC expert weighs in on local, national election results

Local news media turned to a University of Cincinnati expert for analysis of the general election that saw some Democratic gains in states like New Jersey and Virginia.

UC College of Arts and Sciences Associate Professor David Niven was a guest on WVXU public radio's weekday news program Cincinnati Edition, where he talked about issues that drove voters to the polls this week.

Niven teaches political science in UC's School of Public and International Affairs. He told host Lucy May that voters in the Cincinnati mayor's race were not swayed by an effort by partisan outsiders to make the election about crime.

“If this election had been held outside the city of Cincinnati ... where kind of a cartoonish depiction of Cincinnati took hold in the national media this summer, (crime) would have been a big issue,“ Niven said. “This is a city where population is growing, the economy is growing and crime is on the decline.“

Niven, PhD, was named a 2025 Andrew Carnegie Fellow, which will provide support for his research.

Niven also spoke with Local 12 news anchor David Winter about local election results, which saw some Democratic gains. Niven told Local 12 that national politics were on the minds of voters even in local races.

Listen to Cincinnati Edition.

Featured image at top: Voters came to the polls this week for the 2025 general election. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC