Local

Columbus mayor race is shaping up with 7 contenders already

Stories by Columbus Ledger-Enquirer journalists, with AI summarization

Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson is currently completing the last of his two terms, which means the position is up for grabs in the 2026 election. Over the summer, candidates began announcing and filling their paperwork to run for the office.

Former city manager Isaiah Hugley declared his candidacy on July 10 with a message highlighting leadership and unity.

Mark LaJoye, who has run for sheriff several times previously and lost each time, entered the race July 11, aiming to bolster community safety and transparency.

​Steven Kelly filed to run for mayor on ​July 21. He's a small business owner and U.S. Army veteran.

Kia Legette, a business owner, filed July 25 to run for Columbus mayor.

District 7 Councilor Joanne Cogle joined the mayoral lineup on Aug. 1, emphasizing practical solutions and transparency.

Then Byron Hickey, who serves District 1 as a councilor, announced his mayoral candidacy on Aug. 29, underscoring the competitive nature of the election with no incumbent in the running.

The most recent candidate to enter the race at the time of publication was Jonathan Jones, though more information about him wasn't immediately available.

The Columbus mayor election will be May 19, 2026.

Read more in the stories below:

Columbus City Manager Isaiah Hugley speaks Monday morning during a press conference at the Citizens Service Center in Columbus, Georgia. The Columbus Consolidated Government hosted a news conference Monday morning, Aug. 10, 2020, to provide details about the local application process for grant funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act(CARES). By Mike Haskey

NO. 1: ‘CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE CITIZENS OF COLUMBUS.’ ISAIAH HUGLEY FILES TO RUN FOR MAYOR

He submitted to the Muscogee County Board of Elections and Registration his declaration of intent to accept campaign contributions. | Published July 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brittany McGee

The Columbus Council chamber is in the City Services Center, 3111 Citizens Way, off of Macon Road. By Robin Trimarchi

NO. 2: THIRD CANDIDATE ENTERS CITYWIDE COLUMBUS COUNCIL SEAT RACE. UPDATED LIST HERE

See the list of candidates running for Columbus Council after they filed with the Muscogee County Board of Elections and Registration their declaration of intention to accept campaign contributions. | Published July 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brittany McGee

This is the First Avenue entrance to City Hall in Columbus, pictured July 14, 2025. By Mike Haskey

NO. 3: COLUMBUS COUNCILOR JOANNE COGLE JOINS THE 2026 RACE FOR MAYOR AS THE FIELD GROWS

Candidates have begun filing their paperwork to run for Columbus mayor in the 2026 election, a race that won’t have an incumbent because Mayor Skip Henderson is completing the last of his two terms. | Published August 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brittany McGee

Columbus City Councilor Byron Hickey answers questions during an interview with the Ledger-Enquirer. By Mike Haskey

NO. 4: COLUMBUS COUNCILOR BYRON HICKEY PLANS RUN FOR MAYOR. WHAT WE KNOW.

Columbus Councilor Byron Hickey plans to announce his candidacy for Columbus mayor at a news conference Friday, he confirmed to the Ledger-Enquirer. | Published August 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brittany McGee

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.