Three Democratic candidates for Hamilton County Commissioner will be on the ballot in the May 5 primary.
Incumbent Stephanie Summerow Dumas faces challengers Herman Najoli and Cincinnati City Councilmember Meeka Owens.
The winner of that race will face Jonathan Pearson in November.
Find more information, including candidates up for county judicial races and election results on Primary Election Day, go to citybeat.com/2026-election-headquarters.
Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name. Click the arrow to read more about each candidate.
Hamilton County Commissioner Candidates
Stephanie Summerow Dumas
Candidate for: Hamilton County Commissioner
Party: Democrat
Incumbent
Stephanie Summerow Dumas is an incumbent candidate for Hamilton County commissioner. She previously served as the vice-mayor and mayor of Forest Park from 1993 to 2005; and as the village manager of Lincoln Heights from 2011 to 2015.
In 2018, Summerow Dumas beat then-incumbent Hamilton County commissioner Chris Monzel. She won her second term in 2022. She is currently serving as president of the commission.
Summerow Dumas faces Herman Najoli and Meeka Owens in the Democratic primary on May 5. The winner of that race will move on to the General Election in November against Republican Jonathan Pearson.
In an interview with LINK nky before the upcoming May Democratic primary, the commissioner spoke on her history outside of politics, her achievements while in office, and the beliefs that ground her.
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“I’ve been a social worker for 48 years,” Summerow Dumas said. In 1977, she graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a B.S. in the field. She was awarded the Social Work Distinguished Alumni Award from the school in 2024; along with the Bridge Builders award from Best Point Education and Behavioral Health in 2025.
She has also published three books focusing on her Christian faith, politics and advocating for survivors of domestic violence.
Summerow Dumas pointed to multiple accomplishments during her tenure; starting with being the first African American woman county commissioner in the state of Ohio. She also highlighted her work with county rent and food assistance programs, disability and re-entry housing and youth initiatives. The new Bengals lease and Regional Safety Training Complex as two infrastructural achievements that Summerow Dumas mentioned.
If re-elected, the commissioner said she would be working on the construction of the Marriott Convention Headquarters Hotel across from the Duke Energy Convention Center, expanding the county animal shelter, funding job and family resources, and building more housing; all while balancing the county budget.
As for what she believes?
“I believe in positivity, integrity, honesty, fairness, transparency, being a team player, flexibility, goodwill and hard work,” Summerow Dumas said.
Herman Najoli
Candidate for: Hamilton County Commissioner
Party: Democrat
Herman Najoli did not respond to requests for comment. This profile was compiled using publicly available information online.
Herman Najoli is the third Democratic candidate running for the county commissioner seat. He has previously run for county commissioner in 2020, and mayor in 2021.
Najoli moved to the United States from Kenya in 2001, and found himself in Cincinnati in 2007. Since arriving in the Queen City, he has worked as an educator at the Cincinnati Museum Center and as a case manager for City Gospel Mission.
Najoli faces Stephanie Summerow Dumas and Meeka Owens in the Democratic primary on May 5. The winner of that race will move on to the General Election in November against Republican Jonathan Pearson.
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He has also served as an adjunct faculty member at Indiana Wesleyan University, where he taught a class on Global Studies and International Business.
Najoli did not respond to a request for comment, but did fill out Ballotpedia’s candidate connection survey.
Meeka Owens
Candidate for: Hamilton County Commissioner
Party: Democrat
Meeka Owens is a member of Cincinnati City Council, first winning her seat in the 2021 election.
Owens previously served as the social responsibility officer for mayor Aftab Pureval’s then-Clerk of Courts administration. She also cofounded the Greater Cincinnati Voter Collaborative in 2020, which worked to protect voting rights during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Owens won re-election in 2023 and 2025. She currently sits as the chair of city council’s Climate, Environment and Infrastructure Committee and as vice chair of the Equitable Growth and Housing Committee.
Owens faces Stephanie Summerow Dumas and Herman Najoli in the Democratic primary on May 5. The winner of that race will move on to the General Election in November against Republican Jonathan Pearson.
In an interview with LINK nky before the upcoming May Democratic primary, the councilmember spoke on her history outside of politics, her achievements while in office and the beliefs that ground her.
Click here for more candidate profiles and a guide for making your voting plan
Owens graduated from Miami University in 2003 with a B.S. in Mass Communication and Marketing. She went on to achieve a master’s in Human Resources Development from Xavier University. After graduating, she went on to found Optimize Organizational Development in 2009.
Owens underscored multiple achievements of her time in office; including policies focused on sustainable cost-of-living reductions, growing access to healthcare and stable housing and coalition building across the city’s many communities.
She called special attention to her efforts to expand support for families facing financial-related housing challenges — the so-called “eviction prevention program.” The program includes rent assistance and legal representation for tenants at risk of eviction. According to an independent November 2025 report, 779 households used the legal service provided, and 95% of them had “favorable outcomes,” including avoiding eviction altogether.
“My approach is rooted in listening first, then acting with urgency and purpose,” Owens said.
In regard to her beliefs, Owens said she believes every resident deserves stability, dignity and opportunity.
“I know that strong communities are built when the local government invests in people,” Owens said, “and when we prioritize practical solutions over politics, and outcomes over conflict.”
This article appears in April 15-28, 2026.