Columbus mayoral race headed to a runoff. Election day voting results complete

The 2026 Columbus mayoral election is headed to a June 16 runoff between former city manager Isaiah Hugley and Columbus Councilor Joanne Cogle after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote during Tuesday’s election.

Hugley or Cogle will be the next Columbus mayor, succeeding Mayor Skip Henderson, who will complete his second term at the end of the year.

Hugley leads the six candidates vying for the office in Tuesday’s election with about 44.7% of the vote. Cogle received about 25% of the vote.

Hugley worked 41 years for the Columbus Consolidated Government, including 20 years as city manager, before the council voted 7-3 May 27 to fire him. Cogle who owns Crossfit CSG gym, is among the councilors who voted yes to fire Hugley.

Attorney Chris Breault was third with about 12.9%, followed by licensed professional counselor Jaketra Bryant, U.S. Army veterans Mark LaJoye and Steven Kelly.

Hugley and Cogle have been considered the top candidates throughout the campaign season, based on their experience and the money they have raised.

Hugley, if elected, would be the first Black candidate to be elected mayor of Columbus in its 198-year history. A.J. McClung was 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 thanks the more than 16,000 voters who supported his campaign, he told the Ledger-Enquirer, and he encourages them to go out and vote again during the June 16 runoff election.

Going into the June 16 runoff, Hugley urged voters to look at the experience, from an operational standpoint, of the candidates, he said.

“I believe I’m the candidate who’s ready Day 1 to do those things,” Hugley said. “If you can’t check that box, then that’s probably not the best person to turn the keys (of Columbus) over to.”

During his campaign, Hugley promised to lean on his decades of experience working for the city, working with Choose Columbus to create job opportunities, advocating for a plan to have I-14 run through Columbus, and investing in infrastructure to revitalize communities.

Cogle, if elected, would be the second woman to be mayor of Columbus, following Teresa Tomlinson (2011-19). Cogle became a Columbus Councilor in 2023 after working to create the TriColumbusGA triathlons.

She promised voters an easier process for zoning and permitting to encourage small businesses, continue the improvements Columbus Police Chief Stoney Mathis has led in the police department, and strengthen ties to Columbus State University and Fort Benning to ensure the city is in a better financial position.

Cogle thanked voters for their support and also urged them to return to the polls June 16. The results of Tuesday’s election were “exactly where we thought that they would be,” she told the Ledger-Enquirer.

“I’m really thankful for Columbus’ belief in what the future holds,” Cogle said. “I’m looking forward to serving as the next mayor.”

The winner of the runoff will be sworn into office in January.

Complete results

10:12 p.m. (Complete reporting, according to the Muscogee County Elections and Registration Office)

1. Hugley - 16,315 (44.68%)
2. Cogle - 9,188 (25.17%)
3. Breault - 4,718
4. Bryant - 3,460
5. LaJoye - 1,861
6. Kelly - 968

9:07 p.m. (with 13 of 25 precincts reporting, according to the Muscogee County Elections and Registration Office)

1. Hugley - 13,866
2. Cogle - 6,424
3. Breault - 2,954
4. Bryant - 2,543
5. LaJoye - 1,142
6. Kelly - 647

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

1. Hugley - 11,075
2. Cogle - 4,474
3. Breault - 1,917
4. Bryant - 1,787
5. LaJoye - 825
6. Kelly - 462

This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 7:52 PM.

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.