Attorney Chris Breault qualifies on deadline day, expanding Columbus, Georgia’s 2026 mayoral field to six

Late filing finalizes ballot lineup for May 19 election

The field for Columbus, Georgia’s 2026 mayoral election was finalized on March 6, the last day of the qualifying period, when attorney Chris Breault completed the steps required to appear on the ballot. His entry brought the total number of qualified candidates to six ahead of the city’s May 19, 2026 election date.

Georgia’s candidate qualifying window for the 2026 cycle ran from March 2 through March 6, with the closing deadline at noon on the final day. Breault qualified on March 6, making his candidacy the latest addition during the official qualifying period.

Who is running for mayor

With qualifying complete, the list of mayoral candidates includes:

• Steve Kelly
• Isaiah Hugley Jr.
• Joanne Cogle
• Mark LaJoye
• Jaketra Bryant
• Chris Breault

The six-way contest sets up a crowded campaign calendar as candidates seek to build name recognition, organize voter outreach, and raise funds in advance of Election Day.

Debate scheduled; election administration sets additional dates

A televised mayoral debate featuring the full candidate slate is scheduled for April 7. With early voting and absentee voting processes typically occurring in the weeks before municipal elections, election administrators in Muscogee County are also moving forward with routine public meetings and election logistics for the 2026 cycle.

Separately from the mayor’s race, the elections office has published notices for a special election to fill remaining terms for certain Columbus Council seats that will be held in conjunction with the May 19 voting date.

Candidate eligibility and public record considerations

Breault’s entry adds a practicing attorney to a field that already includes current and former public officials. Public records also show that Breault previously received a six-month suspension from the practice of law in Georgia tied to professional conduct rules, a matter likely to draw scrutiny as the campaign progresses.

The qualifying deadline closes the administrative process for ballot access and shifts the campaign into its next phase: voter engagement, public forums, and issue-based contrasts among the candidates.

The mayoral race will be decided on May 19, 2026, when Columbus voters choose the city’s next chief executive from the six qualified candidates.