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.
Two council members, Basheer Jones of Ward 7 and Council President Kevin Kelley of Ward 13, retired to run for Mayor of Cleveland in the concurrent mayoral election. Neither won the mayoral race.
Councilman Joe Jones was reelected.
Councilman Kevin Bishop was reelected.
Councilman Kerry McCormack was reelected.
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. Although he was legally barred from holding office, Johnson ran a campaign to regain his seat, though he would be eliminated in the primary.
Ward 4 elected Democratic precinct committeewoman Deborah A. Gray, the twin sister of councilwoman Delores Gray, who unsuccessfully ran for election to a full term in Ward 5.
Councilwoman Delores Gray ran unsuccessfully for a full term after being appointed to fill the seat of retiring councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland. Gray was unseated by Richard A. Starr, the director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland.
Councilman Blaine Griffin ran unopposed.
Incumbent Councilman Basheer Jones gave up his seat to run for Mayor of Cleveland in the concurrent mayoral election. Jones was succeeded by State Representative Stephanie Howse.
Councilman Michael Polensek was reelected.
Councilman Kevin Conwell ran unopposed.
Councilman Anthony Hairston ran unopposed.
Councilman Brian Mooney won election to a full term.
Councilman Anthony Brancatelli was unseated by lawyer Rebecca Maurer. Brancatelli was the only elected Councilmember to lose reelection.
City Council President Kevin Kelley gave up his seat to run for Mayor of Cleveland in the concurrent mayoral election. Voters replaced Kelley with community organizer and housing advocate Kris Harsh.
Councilwoman Jasmine Santana was reelected.
Councilwoman Jenny Spencer was elected to a full term.
Councilman Brian Kazy ran unopposed.
Councilman Charles J. Slife won election to a full term.