It’s election day in Columbus. Local history could be made. What else to know
Some of these nonpartisan races started nearly a year ago with declarations of intention to accept campaign contributions last summer. Now, the 2026 elections for mayor, city council and school board in Columbus culminate today, the final day of voting — unless a runoff is required.
If no candidate receives a majority of the vote in any of these races, a June 16 runoff between the top two vote-getters will decide the winner.
Whether you’ve been following all along or just realized today is your last chance to vote in this election, here’s a summary of the local races:
Columbus mayor
History could be made tonight when the final results are released. If former city manager Isaiah Hugley wins this race, he would be the first Black candidate elected mayor in the 198-year history of Columbus.
A.J. McClung is considered the first Black mayor of a major Southern city when, as Mayor Pro Tem, he served for 52 1/2 days as interim mayor of Columbus after J.R. Allen died in a plane crash in 1973.
Hugley’s main challenger in experience, name recognition and campaign money raised is Columbus Councilor Joanne Cogle of District 7. She is among the seven out of 10 councilors who voted to fire Hugley last year.
If she wins, Cogle would be the second woman elected mayor of Columbus, following Teresa Tomlinson (2011-19).
The other four mayoral candidates are:
- Chris Breault, a lawyer who specializes in personal injury cases.
- Jaketra Bryant, a licensed professional counselor.
- Steven Kelly, a U.S. Army veteran who co-owns S&J Contractors.
- Mark LaJoye, a U.S. Army veteran who worked in the Columbus Police Department for 13 years and lost five elections while running as a Republican to be Muscogee County sheriff.
The winner will be sworn into office in January. Mayor Skip Henderson can’t be on the ballot because city law limits the mayor to two four-year terms.
Columbus Council District 1
The 10-member council’s District 1 seat is filled by Byron Hickey, who isn’t seeking reelection. Competing for the seat are licensed professional counselor Simi Barnes, daughter of the late Councilor Jerry “Pops” Barnes, and retired Columbus police officer Karen Gaskins.
Hickey initially filed in August to run for mayor but withdrew from that race in January, citing a health concern. So the race for the council’s District 1 seat is a special election, and the winner will be immediately sworn into office after the results are certified, instead of waiting until January to fill the remainder of Hickey’s four-year term, which ends in January.
District 1 also has a regular election on the ballot, and the winner of that race — with Barnes and Gaskins still the only candidates — will take office in January.
Columbus Council District 3
The council’s District 3 seat is filled by Bruce Huff, who isn’t seeking reelection. Competing for the seat are veteran and entrepreneur Sherrie Aaron, pastor and educator Jake Golden IV and filmmaker Zack Lee.
Columbus Council District 5
The candidates are Councilor Charmaine Crabb, who works in property management and real estate, and challenger Robert Wadkins Jr., a lawyer.
Columbus Council District 7
The candidates are financial services and insurance professional Laketha Ashe, communications professional Chiara Richardson and Dragonfly Trails executive director Becca Zajac. Cogle is the council’s District 7 representative, but she chose to run for mayor.
Columbus Council District 9
In a 6-3 vote, the council appointed former mayor candidate John Anker to the citywide District 9 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 His opponents are dentist Cathy Cook, U.S. Army veteran Rocky Marsh and Valdosta State University visiting political science professor John Van Doorn.
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.
Muscogee County School District Board
Only three of the five seats on the 10-member Muscogee County School District Board have contested races on the ballot.
In District 6, the candidates are incumbent Mark Cantrell, who co-owns Action Buildings, and challenger Bob Roth, a retired U.S. Army colonel.
In District 8, the candidates are incumbent Margot Schley, a community volunteer whose professional background is in banking, and challenger Joshua Smith, a team leader at Kia Motors.
For the countywide at-large seat, the candidates are incumbent Kia Chambers, a licensed real estate broker, brokerage owner and former teacher, and challengers Sadiyah Abdullah, a former teacher, principal and MCSD administrator, and Kevin Miller, who hasn’t replied to the Ledger-Enquirer’s requests for an interview and information about him.
Voting info
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you are in line by 7 p.m., you are allowed to cast your ballot, according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office.
You can find your assigned polling location on your voter registration card or by logging into the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page.
For more information, call the Muscogee County Elections and Registration Office at 706-653-4392.
Free ride to the polls
The Urban League of the River Valley is providing free rides to the polls on election day, the organization announced Monday on its Facebook page. Call 706-322-6840 to reserve your ride. The service is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
