Columbus Council District 9 citywide race: latest results in 2026 runoff election
Dentist Cathy Cook has won the citywide District 9 Columbus Council seat, defeating Councilor John Anker in Tuesday’s runoff election.
Anker was appointed to the seat in March 2025 in a 6-3 vote, the same day former Councilor Judy Thomas resigned for health reasons.
“Above all, to God alone be the glory,” Cook told the Ledger-Enquirer. “And then a huge amount of gratitude to my team and to the people of Columbus who decided that they would like for me to lead them and represent them and be the voice and advocate for them and for the entire city, no matter what their zip code is.”
Cook said she has been keeping up with the council’s issues and is ready to begin getting to know her peers as she plans to take her seat after the vote is certified.
The race went to a runoff after no candidate won more than 50% of the vote in the May 19 election. Cook topped the four-person field with 37% of the vote. Anker was in second place with 35% of the vote to qualify for the runoff.
Here are Tuesday night’s latest results from the Muscogee County Elections and Registration Office, representing the early in-person votes, the absentee votes and all 25 precincts on election day, although yet to be certified:
Regular election
Cook 18,674 (59.89%)
Anker 12,506 (40.11%)
Special election
Cook 18,780 (60.21%)
Anker 12,411 (39.79%)
Both candidates ran in the special election to complete Thomas’ term 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, as the winner of the special election, Cook will be sworn in after the result is certified, and as the winner of the regular election, she again will be sworn in after the four-year term expires in January.
Emphasizing she is not a “career politician,” Cook campaigned to support incentives for grocery store development in underserved areas, expand affordable housing, and prioritize small-business growth.
Anker, founder and president of Ankerpak, ran as an incumbent for the seat, campaigning on fiscal responsibility and lowering the millage rate.
This story was originally published June 16, 2026 at 8:02 PM.
