Columbus Council District 9 citywide race: latest updated results in 2026 election

Here are the latest updated results for the Columbus Council citywide District 9 race in the 2026 election.

In a 6-3 vote, the council appointed John Anker to the seat the same day former Councilor Judy Thomas resigned for health reasons in March 2025.

Anker, founder and president of Ankerpak, is now running as an incumbent for the seat, campaigning on fiscal responsibility and lowering the millage rate.

Cathy Cook, a dentist, emphasized that she was not a “career politician” and campaigned on supporting incentives for grocery store development in underserved areas, expanding affordable housing and prioritizing small-business growth.

U.S. Army veteran Rocky Marsh promised to strengthen communication and trust between the local government and the community, campaigning on greater transparency with regular updates and accessible forums.

John Van Doorn, a Valdosta State University visiting political science professor, also campaigned on rebuilding trust in the local government, promising neighborhood meetings and more accountability for public servants.

If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters will qualify for a June 16 runoff.

All four candidates are running in the special election and the regular election for the District 9 seat. The city charter requires a special election to fill the vacancy because Anker was appointed until a special election could be held and certified.

So the winner of the special election will be sworn in after the result is certified, and the winner of the regular election will be sworn in after the four-year term expires in January.

Live Updates

7:20 p.m. (Advanced and absentee vote totals from the Muscogee County Elections and Registration office)

Regular election:

1. Cook - 8,902
2. Anker - 6,059
3. Marsh - 4,172
4. Van Doorn - 1,680

Special election:

1. Cook - 8,950
2. Anker - 5,981
3. Marsh - 4,236
4. Van Doorn - 1,647

Brittany McGee

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Brittany McGee is the community issues reporter for the Ledger-Enquirer. She is a 2021 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Media and Journalism with a second degree in Economics. She began at the Ledger-Enquirer as a Report for America corps member covering the COVID-19 recovery in Columbus. Brittany also covered business for the Ledger-Enquirer.