CLEVELAND, Ohio — Almost two years ago, Tanmay Shah took the podium during a Cleveland City Council meeting and delivered a warning to Council President Blaine Griffin and the city’s political establishment: ask the “billionaires” for campaign contributions.

“Because we’re coming for you,” Shah warned in March 2024 . “And you can build your war chest, but you can’t stop us.”

On Tuesday, Shah made good on his words. The democratic socialist who ran one of the most left-leaning campaigns among all council candidates all but completed his upset of Councilman Danny Kelly, beating the incumbent in the Ward 12 race by just nine votes after all mail-in and provisional ballots were counted. Results were certified Tuesday morning by the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.

That “advice” came af

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