For months, local political watchers had been abuzz about the possibility of a record number of candidates in this year's Cincinnati City Council race.

But it didn't come to fruition by Thursday afternoon's filing deadline. Some 27 candidates filed to be on the November ballot and will vie for nine open seats.

It fell short of the record 31 candidates, set in 2005. But the field still is six candidates larger than in 2013, when terms were extended from two years to four.

All notable and party-endorsed candidates met the deadline after 44 people had requested petitions. There were no surprise last-minute filings.

Here Politics Extra's initial breakdown of the race:

LOOKING FOR REPEAT

All six incumbents who were planning to run for re-election will be back on the ballot: independent Christopher Smitherman (North Avondale), Republican Amy Murray (Mount Lookout) and Democrats Wendell Young (North Avondale), David Mann (Clifton), P.G. Sittenfeld (Over-the-Rhine) and Chris Seelbach (OTR).

Political insiders believe they all will be re-elected. In a field race, a candidate only needs to garner between 5 percent and 6 percent of the votes to get elected, and strong name ID alone can carry a person to victory. All of the incumbents are well known.

It's worth noting that Young's route to victory might be a bit rocky after a rough August. He skipped one week of Council meetings, then voted against the Children's hospital deal. Young still is popular among African-American voters, a large voting bloc.

PX: Where in the world is Wendell Young?

Also, Murray's seat isn't fully safe, simply because it continues to get tougher for Republicans to win in a blue city. But she's well-liked, well-known and is one of four candidates to have raised six figures so far.

TOP RETURNING CONTENDERS

Democrats Laure Quinlivan (Mount Lookout), Greg Landsman (Mount Washington) and Michelle Dillingham (Kennedy Heights) were the three runners up in 2013. They're expected to be strong contenders again.

Quinlivan is seeking a return to Council after the former local TV reporter finished 859 votes behind Murray four years ago. "The Q" was snubbed for the Democratic and Charter endorsements, and her fundraising has lagged. But she likely has the strongest name ID among the nonincumbents, making her a serious contender.

Landsman is running another aggressive campaign, and he posted an impressive fundraising number ($129,788) the first half of the year. He played a key role in the successful preschool levy last year, and many believe that's helped elevate his profile.

Like Landsman, Dillingham also received the Democratic Party endorsement. The social worker is running another aggressive door-knocking campaign, and got a jump on the race by being the first to announce her campaign last year. She is a recovered heroin addict who wants City Hall to do more to address the heroin epidemic.

EMERGING NEWCOMERS

• Tamaya Dennard (Camp Washington): The former Sittenfeld aide received both the Democratic and Charter Committee endorsements. She's run a visible campaign, and her knowledge of City Hall operations gives her added credibility with the electorate.

• Derek Bauman (OTR): The retired Mason police officer finished tops among new candidates in fundraising the first six months of the year ($80,233). Insiders say he narrowly missed getting the Democratic endorsement. Bauman also was mysteriously snubbed for the Fraternal Order of Police endorsement, despite having been a long-time leader in his police union. Nonetheless, he has run a good campaign and has picked up endorsements from the Charter Committee and six unions.

• Ozie Davis (Avondale): The long-time community activist has been endorsed by the Democrats and FOP. He grew up in Avondale, and returned to the neighborhood after law school. Davis has done a lot for redevelopment projects and youth programs in Avondale, work that has gained him respect among Democrats, Republicans and regional leaders. Even though he announced he was running last September, Davis had to scramble at the last minute to get his petitions signed and his filing is pending a signature review by the board of elections.

POTENTIAL DARK HORSES

• Peterson Mingo (Evanston): If there's a surprise candidate in the race, then it's the 67-year-old pastor. Rev. Mingo is the Outreach Program Manager for the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission, a role that requires him to help keep peace after homicides. Mingo is regarded as one of the city's prominent African-American leaders, known for being on the front lines of fighting for racial reconciliation. Mingo's petitions also are pending a review.

• Jeff Pastor (Mount Lookout): One of three GOP-endorsed candidates in the race. He's looking to replace Charlie Winburn as an African-American leader in the party. Pastor, also endorsed by the FOP, is among a handful of candidates who seems to be seen everywhere around town and on social media.

• Lesley Jones (Mount Airy): She's new to politics, but received the Democratic Party endorsement. That helped to raise Jones' profile. She is founder and senior pastor of Mount Airy-based Truth & Destiny Covenant Ministries Fellowship United Church of Christ.

• Seth Maney (Clifton): The GOP-endorsed candidate is seeking to become the first openly gay Republican elected to local office in Hamilton County. The first-time candidate probably is a long shot to win, but we're including him here because this race could position Maney to be appointed to Council if Murray leaves early. She's being considered as Mike DeWine's running mate in next year's Ohio governor's race. Maney also had to scramble last-minute to turn in his petitions, and his signatures are pending a review.

PX: For this gay Cincinnati candidate, 'identity politics is a joke'

OTHERS OF NOTE

• Tamie Sullivan (Hyde Park): She's running as an independent after not seeking the Republican endorsement. She damaged her reputation with party leaders after writing an Enquirer op-ed in support of Hillary Clinton last year. Still, Sullivan has been endorsed by the FOP and raised $29,100 the first half of 2017, ranking her third among nonincumbents.

• Henry Frondorf (Westwood): The founder of the popular, Olympic-like neighborhood games received the Charter Committee endorsement. He's viewed as the race's true Charterite, and he's vying to fill Kevin Flynn's role on Council as the good-government advocate.

REST OF FIELD

• Manuel Foggie (Roselawn)

• Kelli Prather (West Price Hill)

• Brian Garry (Clifton)

• Beverly Odoms (Paddock Hills)

• Tonya Dumas (Walnut Hills)

• Herschal Chalk Jr. (East Price Hill)

• Cristina Burcica (CUF)

• Theo Barnes (Lower Price Hill)

• Erica Black-Johnson (Mount Airy)

Politics Extra is a column looking inside Greater Cincinnati and Ohio politics. Follow Enquirer political columnist Jason Williams on Twitter @jwilliamscincy and send email to jwilliams@enquirer.com.