The filing deadline for Cincinnati's mayoral race came and went without any surprises or drama on Thursday.

As expected, it'll officially be a race between incumbent Mayor John Cranley, City Councilwoman Yvette Simpson and former University of Cincinnati board Chairman Rob Richardson Jr. The Democratic candidates will face each other in the May 2 primary, and the top two finishers will then face each other in the Nov. 7 general election.  Read more here.

In a show of political force, a big contingent of elected Democrats in Hamilton County endorsed Mayor John Cranley’s re-election on Monday, continuing a steady stampede of support for the mayor from the city’s political, business and labor institutions.

Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil, Auditor Dusty Rhodes, Coroner Lakshmi Sammarco, Commissioner Todd Portune, Commissioner Denise Driehaus, Vice Mayor David Mann and state Rep. Brigid Kelly all announced they are backing Cranley. All are Democrats and all but Sammarco attended a news conference at the Banks on Monday morning.  Read more here.