Columbus mayoral campaign hired firm led by self-described Christian nationalist
Columbus Councilor Joanne Cogle’s mayoral campaign paid over $20,000 to a consulting firm run by an individual who described himself as a “Christian Nationalist”.
According to campaign disclosures for Dec. 30, 2025, and Feb. 2, 2026, Cogle’s campaign made six payments totaling $22,600 to Magnolia Consultants, otherwise known as Magnolia Grove Consultants, a political consulting firm.
The first payment of $6,500 was made to the firm Aug. 11, 2025, and the most recent payment of $3,700 was made Jan. 6, 2026, according to those disclosures.
The firm’s president, Ben Garcia, previously described himself as a “Christian Nationalist” on his Instagram profile, according to a screenshot sent to the Ledger-Enquirer.
Garcia’s Instagram account no longer describes himself as a Christian nationalist, instead using “Follower of Christ.” He also has created a YouTube channel, entitled The Ben Garcia Show, with the tagline “A New Conservative Voice”.
Christian nationalism is an ideology that seeks to fuse the Christian religion with a nation’s character, according to Britannica, which describes its advocates as those who want the government to promote or enforce the religion’s position within it.
This ideology is most commonly associated with the right wing of the Republican Party. The Columbus Council and mayor are nonpartisan offices, meaning they aren’t supposed to represent a political party.
A screenshot also showed Cogle’s campaign listed as one of Magnolia Grove’s clients, along with Columbus Councilor John Anker, who is running to retain his citywide District 9 seat.
Magnolia Grove Consultants no longer lists on its website Cogle’s campaign among its clients.
Garcia managed Cogle’s campaign while he worked for her, she confirmed to the Ledger-Enquirer in a text message Monday.
“These views recently came to my attention and do not align with my personal values or with the nonpartisan approach that defines my campaign and my public service,” Cogle said. “My focus has always been and will continue to be on practical solutions for Columbus: public safety, infrastructure, economic growth and quality of life for all residents.”
Cogle dropped Garcia and Magnolia Grove Consultants from her campaign in late January or early February, “when this came to my attention,” she said.
This was done “out of an abundance of caution and to remain consistent with those values,” she said.
Anker’s campaign remains listed as a client, but recent disclosures do not show that his campaign has paid the firm.
Magnolia Grove Consultants’ other listed clients are Georgia State Senators Randy Robertson (R-Cataula), Shawn Still (R-Johns Creek), and Matt Brass (R-Newnan), along with Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, a Republican candidate for governor.
This story was originally published February 10, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
