These local candidates qualified for Columbus nonpartisan elections on first day
For the past nine months, candidates for the nonpartisan offices in the 2026 Columbus elections have been filing declarations of intention with the Muscogee County Elections and Registration Office to accept campaign contributions. But no candidates in these races for mayor, city council, school board and judge have been official — until now.
Monday was the start of the five-day qualifying period. By the noon Friday deadline, the ballot for these May 19 elections will be set. Here is the list of candidates who qualified Monday, according to the elections office:
Columbus mayor
- Isaiah Hugley
- Steve Kelly
Columbus Council
- Simi Barnes, District 1
- Karen Gaskins, District 1
- Charmaine Crabb, District 5 (incumbent)
- Laketha Ashe, District 7
- Marquese “Skinny” Averett, District 7
- John Anker, citywide District 9 (incumbent)
- Cathy Cook, citywide District 9
- Rocky Marsh, citywide District 9
- John Van Doorn, citywide District 9
Muscogee County School District Board
- Naomi Buckner, District 4 (incumbent)
- Mark Cantrell, District 6 (incumbent)
- Kia Chambers, countywide at-large seat (incumbent)
State Court judge
- Andy Prather (incumbent)
Qualifying fees
The 2026 qualifying fees to be a candidate for the four-year terms in those offices are:
- $4,943 for State Court judge
- $1,950 for mayor
- $360 for city councilor
- $360 for school board member
Mark Rice
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer