Hugley wins Columbus mayoral runoff, becomes city’s first elected Black mayor

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - Former city manager Isaiah Hugley won the Columbus mayoral runoff election Tuesday, defeating City Council member Joanne Cogle to become the city’s first elected Black mayor.

Hugley received 16,309 votes to Cogle’s 15,312 votes, a margin of 51.58% to 48.42%. The race drew 31,621 total votes with a turnout of 24.88%.

Hugley, who served nearly 20 years as city manager before his termination in May 2025, campaigned on a message of unity and experience. He becomes Columbus’ 71st mayor and will take office in January.

“I’m ready to go to work for the people of Columbus, Georgia,” Hugley said Tuesday night.

Cogle declined to comment Tuesday night and did not concede, saying she is waiting on provisional ballots as well as military and overseas ballots to be counted. Muscogee County Elections Director Nancy Boren said those votes total about 54 ballots.

Historic celebration

When the numbers came in, Warehouse 9 erupted. The room was packed with supporters who called themselves “the movement” celebrating a victory months in the making.

“We made history — but we couldn’t do it by ourselves,” a supporter said. “We had other people join in, and it was all about a movement that made history.”

Among those watching history unfold was former Columbus City Councilman Bob Wright, the city’s first African American city councilman.

“To be here long enough to see the first African American mayor — I could not be more pleased,” Wright said. “Not because he’s African American, but also because he’s the best qualified.”

Ready to work

Hugley said he is ready to get to work immediately and wasted no time laying out what that work will look like.

“Citizens of Columbus can expect from me to move forward with civility, dignity, respect — with a plan to ignite this city, with a plan to move this city forward,” Hugley said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do all over this city — with all of the communities and neighborhoods in this city — and I’m ready to get that work done.”

Throughout the campaign, Hugley emphasized his relationships within the community and his track record overseeing major infrastructure projects and economic development efforts during his tenure as city manager.

“Our goal is to bring our people together, to unite the city,” Hugley said during the campaign. “I have the relationships to do that.”

Hugley outlined priorities including addressing poverty, youth violence, affordable housing and unifying the city.

Vote breakdown

Hugley performed strongly in advance voting, receiving 9,014 votes compared to Cogle’s 4,761. Cogle won election day voting 10,071 to 6,523.

Hugley was appointed city manager in February 2005, becoming the first African American to hold that position. He had spent two decades working within Columbus’ city government before his appointment.

His termination in May 2025 came after a city council vote citing “a pattern of sustained dysfunction and operational breakdown” within departments he oversaw. Seven council members voted to terminate him, while three voted against the motion.

At the time, Hugley told the council, “You haven’t seen the last of me. We coming.”

Runoff campaign

The runoff followed a May general election in which no candidate secured a majority. Hugley led that race with 16,315 votes to Cogle’s 9,188. More than 14,000 people voted early in the runoff election last week.

Both candidates spent the final day of the campaign rallying supporters. Cogle held an event at Lakebottom Park while Hugley’s campaign hosted a phone bank.

Hugley voted alongside his wife, State Representative and Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley, during early voting.

“I was able to receive more than 7,500 votes, more than the closest opponent with six people, other candidates in the race,” Hugley said after voting. “I’m overwhelmed that the people of Columbus, Georgia, they’ve already said yes to this campaign.”