2026 Georgia General Election

2026 Georgia Primary Election

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Republican

2026 Georgia Primary Runoff

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Chris is from Columbus. He attended Chattahoochee Valley Community College and Columbus State University, and has a bachelor's degree in political theory and a law degree from the University of Georgia.

Surprise candidate enters race to be next Columbus mayor on last day of qualifying

Chris' campaign for mayor of Columbus is his first run for public office.

Chris currently works as an attorney at his own law firm and as a political consultant. He previously worked as the owner of Focus Jury Research, LLC and an attorney at the Keenan Law Firm.

As of March 11, 2026, Chris Breault’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Economy

Public Services

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Believes that "Columbus is a city in the decline... mentioning trash on roads and poorly maintained parks."

- Believes that "Columbus is a city in the decline... mentioning trash on roads and poorly maintained parks."

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

Last-minute qualification in Columbus mayoral race brings final candidate count to six

In 2025, the Georgia Supreme Court suspended Breault's law license for six months for violating the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct.

In 2021, Breault was held in criminal contempt of court after testifying as a witness at the trial of Mark Jones.

- In 2025, the Georgia Supreme Court suspended Breault's law license for six months for violating the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct.
- In 2021, Breault was held in criminal contempt of court after testifying as a witness at the trial of Mark Jones.

Ethics & Conduct

Facebook

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Chris Breault

Isaac Brickman

Zachary Mangels

Walter Ley

Isaiah Hugley Sr. graduated from Talladega College and Mississippi State University. He is a married father of two.

Isaiah has served as the City Manager of Columbus, Georgia, since 2005. He has also taught at Columbus State University and served on numerous boards.

Aims to attract and retain well-paying jobs, expand affordable housing through public-private partnerships, and invest in historically overlooked neighborhoods.

Wants to increase access to youth programs, job training, and adult education.

- Aims to attract and retain well-paying jobs, expand affordable housing through public-private partnerships, and invest in historically overlooked neighborhoods.
- Wants to increase access to youth programs, job training, and adult education.

Aims to support city staff and first responders while fostering mutual respect, creating space for communication, and uniting neighborhoods through inclusive leadership and shared purpose.

- Aims to support city staff and first responders while fostering mutual respect, creating space for communication, and uniting neighborhoods through inclusive leadership and shared purpose.

Advocates for ensuring veterans have access to stable housing, career opportunities, and mental health support.

- Advocates for ensuring veterans have access to stable housing, career opportunities, and mental health support.

Supports strengthening community policing and expanding mental health crisis response teams.

Advocates for investing in officer training that emphasizes de-escalation and cultural awareness.

Wants to build stronger relationships between law enforcement and neighborhoods.

- Supports strengthening community policing and expanding mental health crisis response teams.
- Advocates for investing in officer training that emphasizes de-escalation and cultural awareness.
- Wants to build stronger relationships between law enforcement and neighborhoods.
- Supports crime prevention programs.

As of March 11, 2026, Isaiah Hugley Sr.’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Isaiah Hugley Sr.

- Wants to support city staff and first responders while fostering mutual respect, creating space for communication, and uniting neighborhoods through inclusive leadership and shared purpose.
- Wants to ensure veterans have access to stable housing, career opportunities, and mental health support.
- Seeks to strengthen partnerships with the Veterans Association (VA), local veteran organizations, and members of Congress.
- Supports expanding veteran reintegration programs and reducing veteran homelessness.

- Supports strengthening community policing and expanding mental health crisis response teams.
- Supports investing in officer training that emphasizes de-escalation and cultural awareness.
- Wants to build stronger relationships between law enforcement and neighborhoods.
- Supports crime prevention programs.

LinkedIn

Jaketra Dionne Bryant earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Alabama, a master's degree in community counseling from Argosy University, and a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in organizational leadership from Beulah Heights University.

Jaketra provides speaking and coaching services to businesses.

As of March 11, 2026, Jaketra Dionne Bryant’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports expanding the Safe Summer program to include positive public safety engagement, on-site mental health support, and trusted points of contact for youth.

Supports establishing a local youth resource hub and call center to provide access to mental health support, conflict mediation, employment opportunities, and community mentors.

Wants to launch NextGen Columbus to rebuild trust and reduce youth involvement in gangs and violence by "expanding positive, non-enforcement interactions between youth and public safety, investing in leadership pathways, and restoring safe, structured activities during high-risk hours."

Wants to establish Mayor's Youth Leadership & Policy Cohorts that bring high school juniors, seniors, and college students directly into City Hall to learn policy, government, and civic leadership.

Seeks to redirect education-related city funding toward literacy support tools and software.

Aims to invest in classroom support funds and family engagement incentives.

Plans on appointing a diverse executive and administrative leadership team.

- Supports expanding the Safe Summer program to include positive public safety engagement, on-site mental health support, and trusted points of contact for youth.
- Supports establishing a local youth resource hub and call center to provide access to mental health support, conflict mediation, employment opportunities, and community mentors.
- Wants to launch NextGen Columbus to rebuild trust and reduce youth involvement in gangs and violence by "expanding positive, non-enforcement interactions between youth and public safety, investing in leadership pathways, and restoring safe, structured activities during high-risk hours."
- Wants to establish Mayor's Youth Leadership & Policy Cohorts that bring high school juniors, seniors, and college students directly into City Hall to learn policy, government, and civic leadership.
- Seeks to redirect education-related city funding toward literacy support tools and software.
- Aims to invest in classroom support funds and family engagement incentives.
- Plans on appointing a diverse executive and administrative leadership team.

Seeks to deliver a citywide plan to expand affordable housing, stabilize neighborhoods, and invest in revitalization.

Supports increasing down payment assistance and helping renters become homeowners through strong partnerships.

Wants to launch a confidential tenant portal, strengthen renter protections, and advocate for policies that address rising rent.

Aims to hold landlords accountable by increasing penalties for repeat violations and enforcing consistent inspections to ensure safe housing.

Supports partnerships between the city, community, and private partners.

Supports policies that are shaped by community input and engagement.

Advocates for a Stay in Your Home Initiative that aims to protect seniors by tying property tax relief to personal income rather than blanket tax freezes.

Aims to hold growth accountable by requiring luxury developments to contribute to affordable housing solutions.

- Seeks to deliver a citywide plan to expand affordable housing, stabilize neighborhoods, and invest in revitalization.
- Supports increasing down payment assistance and helping renters become homeowners through strong partnerships.
- Wants to launch a confidential tenant portal, strengthen renter protections, and advocate for policies that address rising rent.
- Aims to hold landlords accountable by increasing penalties for repeat violations and enforcing consistent inspections to ensure safe housing.
- Supports Community Land Trusts.
- Supports revitalizing vacant properties.
- Supports partnerships between the city, community, and private partners.
- Supports policies that are shaped by community input and engagement.
- Advocates for a Stay in Your Home Initiative that aims to protect seniors by tying property tax relief to personal income rather than blanket tax freezes.
- Aims to hold growth accountable by requiring luxury developments to contribute to affordable housing solutions.

Supports redirecting city funding toward a coordinated mental health transition and reentry system that establishes pathways to mental health services, stabilization, and housing supports.

Aims to expand mental health response capacity across public safety and corrections, such as specialized training and staffing for patrol officers, jail personnel, and dedicated mental-health response teams.

Aims to launch the Columbus Violence Reduction Strategy (CVRS) that seeks to "[disrupt] cycles of violence through targeted intervention, coordinated accountability, and strategic support for those most at risk of serious harm."

Supports data-backed prevention and intervention public safety approaches, prioritizing repeat violence, cross-agency coordination, and community-based partnerships.

- Supports redirecting city funding toward a coordinated mental health transition and reentry system that establishes pathways to mental health services, stabilization, and housing supports.
- Aims to expand mental health response capacity across public safety and corrections, such as specialized training and staffing for patrol officers, jail personnel, and dedicated mental-health response teams.
- Aims to launch the Columbus Violence Reduction Strategy (CVRS) that seeks to "[disrupt] cycles of violence through targeted intervention, coordinated accountability, and strategic support for those most at risk of serious harm."
- Supports data-backed prevention and intervention public safety approaches, prioritizing repeat violence, cross-agency coordination, and community-based partnerships.

Wants to launch a city-supported urban agriculture and environmental resilience initiative that redirects underutilized land and resources.

Wants to align environmental policy with public health and economic opportunity.

Prioritizes sustainable land use, neighborhood-based green projects, and partnerships that expand food access while connecting the workforce to agriculture, conservation, and environmental stewardship.

- Wants to launch a city-supported urban agriculture and environmental resilience initiative that redirects underutilized land and resources.
- Wants to align environmental policy with public health and economic opportunity.
- Prioritizes sustainable land use, neighborhood-based green projects, and partnerships that expand food access while connecting the workforce to agriculture, conservation, and environmental stewardship.

Jaketra Dionne Bryant

Joanne Elizabeth Cogle is a married mother.

Joanne served as a City Councilor for District 7 for the past three years.

Joanne is the founder of numerous businesses and previously worked as an instructor at Columbus State University.

Seeks efficient small business licensing and permitting by creating online resources.

Supports improving community partnerships for economic growth.

- Seeks efficient small business licensing and permitting by creating online resources.
- Supports improving community partnerships for economic growth.

Wants to address issues with Columbus jails and recreation centers.

- Wants to address issues with Columbus jails and recreation centers.

As of March 11, 2026, Joanne Elizabeth Cogle’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Wants to prioritize public safety by building off of Columbus's recent policing policies.

- Wants to prioritize public safety by building off of Columbus's recent policing policies.

Seeks to make city-wide maintenance schedules more efficient and effective.

Claims "if we maintain and repair our existing infrastructure, we can save taxpayers from funding massive new projects that weigh down our City’s finances."

- Seeks to make city-wide maintenance schedules more efficient and effective.
- Claims "if we maintain and repair our existing infrastructure, we can save taxpayers from funding massive new projects that weigh down our City’s finances."

Joanne Elizabeth Cogle

- Wants to address issues with Columbus jails and recreation centers.
- Seeks to make city-wide maintenance schedules more efficient and effective.
- Said, "If we maintain and repair our existing infrastructure, we can save taxpayers from funding massive new projects that weigh down our City’s finances."

Local army veteran files to run for Columbus mayor

Mark Allen LaJoye has degrees in criminal justice from Troy University and a master's degree in law from St. Louis University.

Candidate for sheriff apologizes for statements about Muscogee County sheriff’s son

Mark previously ran for Muscogee County Sheriff in 2024, 2020, 2016, 2012, and 2008, but did not win.

Mark currently works as a radio host. He previously worked for the Columbus Police Department. Mark served in the U.S. Army for 40 years.

Supports fiscal responsibility and developing business and infrastructure.

- Supports fiscal responsibility and developing business and infrastructure.

Advocates for engaging and uplifting neighborhoods.

- Advocates for engaging and uplifting neighborhoods.

As of March 11, 2026, Mark Allen Lajoye’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Mark Allen Lajoye

- Supports engaging and uplifting neighborhoods.

Steven John Kelly graduated from the University of Phoenix and Georgia Southern University. He is a father of six.

Steven is a retired United States Army veteran with experience owning a remodeling and renovations business.

Wants to address homelessness and poverty because "we cannot ignore what is happening in our streets."

Aims to invest more in youth engagement because of the belief that not investing more in children now will hurt Columbus in the future.

Committed to economic growth and thinks it cannot be done by "taxing our way forward."

- Wants to address homelessness and poverty because "we cannot ignore what is happening in our streets."
- Aims to invest more in youth engagement because of the belief that not investing more in children now will hurt Columbus in the future.
- Committed to economic growth and thinks it cannot be done by "taxing our way forward."

As of March 11, 2026, Steven John Kelly did not have a website or any information online.

Prioritizes addressing crime and public safety since "nothing else works" if the issue is not dealt with.

- Prioritizes addressing crime and public safety since "nothing else works" if the issue is not dealt with.

Supports improving infrastructure because "people are tired" of problems like potholes "not being fixed."

- Supports improving infrastructure because "people are tired" of problems like potholes "not being fixed."

Steven John Kelly

Steven John Kelly graduated from the University of Phoenix and Georgia Southern University

Steven is a retired United States Army veteran.

As of March 11, 2026, Steven John Kelly’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- The mayor leads the executive branch of local government, presiding over city council meetings, making sure city departments run smoothly, and providing services to citizens. 
- The mayor runs the city day to day and prepares the budget each year, meaning that they propose how much funding goes to each city department, including the police department, city parks, transportation, and the fire department. 
- The mayor also hires the Police Chief, Fire Chief, and city department heads, such as City Planning, Parks & Recreation, and Transportation. 
- Most Georgia mayors are elected in odd years to four year terms. Elections are nonpartisan. 

Columbus Mayor

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