Muscogee school board District 8 race: latest updated results in 2026 election
Here are the latest updated results for the Muscogee County School District Board District 6 race in the 2026 election.
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.
The winner will be sworn into office in January for a four-year term.
The following results from the Muscogee County Elections and Registration Office are complete but yet to be certified:
- Margot Schley 2,364
- Joshua Smith 1,162
Margot Schley’s reaction to her victory
“I am incredibly honored and grateful for the trust our community has placed in me,” Schley told the Ledger-Enquirer in an emailed interview. “This election showed that our residents care deeply about the future of our schools, our students and our community. I’m humbled by the support and energized to continue serving alongside so many dedicated families, educators and neighbors.”
The key to her victory, Schley said, was “staying focused on what matters most — strong public schools, responsible leadership and listening to the community. Throughout this campaign, I had meaningful conversations with parents, teachers, retirees and students, and there was a shared desire to keep moving our district forward together. I’m thankful for every volunteer, supporter and voter who believed in that vision.”
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Asked what she wants to accomplish on the board the next four years, Schley said, “I want to continue strengthening academic opportunities for all students while supporting and retaining excellent teachers and staff. I also want to ensure we remain fiscally responsible, transparent and focused on preparing students for success after graduation — whether that’s college, careers or service. Protecting the quality of our public schools and maintaining community trust will remain top priorities.”
Schley said she thanks the district’s residents “for participating in this election and for caring about our schools and community. Public education succeeds when communities stay engaged, informed and involved. I look forward to working with my fellow board members, district leadership, teachers, parents and students to continue building a strong future together.”
Joshua Smith’s reaction to his loss
In an emailed interview with the L-E, Smith said he has “immense gratitude and pride in what our community accomplished. We looked at the numbers, and they reveal a historic truth: District 8 is officially awake. With my wife running in 2022 and myself in 2026, total voter turnout in this seat has risen significantly, and this cycle saw a massive surge.
“Our grassroots movement forced the status quo to produce turnout numbers they have never had to face before. Securing over 1,100 and my wife over 1,300 votes as first-time candidates proves that our working families are deeply engaged, hungry for transparency and ready for a new standard of leadership.”
Analyzing why he lost the election, Smith said, “As someone who works daily with data and complex systems, I look at this strictly through the facts. The establishment has deep roots, entrenched networks and a massive financial apparatus designed to protect the status quo.
“We were running a completely grassroots, word-of-mouth campaign against an entrenched system. It takes time to break through that kind of institutional inertia, but the fact that we made them sweat and forced them to scramble for every single vote shows that the gap is closing rapidly.”
Asked whether he intends to run for this seat again or another public office, Smith said, “True leadership isn’t defined by a title, and it doesn’t stop when an election ends. Trust is forged in the quiet years between election cycles, when there isn’t a ballot on the line.
“I am absolutely built for the long haul, and my commitment to the parents, teachers and students of Muscogee County hasn’t wavered one bit. Whether that means running for this seat again in 2030 or seeking another public office where I can best serve, I will step up when the time is right.”
Smith added, “Our work is just beginning. We are officially transitioning our campaign platform into a permanent, active grassroots initiative called Columbus United with Joshua Smith.
“We are moving away from politics for this next season to focus entirely on community accountability and service. Over the next four years, we are launching a Citizens’ Budget Review Committee to break down the MCSD annual budget for parents, hosting Quarterly Parent Huddles to bring neighborhood concerns directly to the boardroom podium, and organizing youth sports clinics and community service days. I am already in discussions with local business professionals, faith leaders and city officials to align our efforts.
“To the 1,162 voters who stood with me: Hold your heads high. The standard has officially changed in Muscogee County, the public eye is firmly on the boardroom, and we aren’t backing down.”
This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 9:09 PM.
