Isaiah Hugley to Launch Mayoral Campaign on Columbus Day

The wait is over.

Isaiah Hugley, the former longtime city manager of Columbus, will officially launch his campaign for mayor on Monday, Oct. 13, with a public announcement at 11 a.m. at Warehouse 9, located at 920 9th Street in the city’s historic Liberty District.

If elected in the 2026 mayoral race, Hugley would become the 71st mayor of Columbus — and the first Black candidate to be popularly elected to the office. While A.J. McClung, also African American, served briefly as interim mayor in 1973 following the death of Mayor J.R. Allen in a plane crash, he was appointed, not elected.

The race to succeed Mayor Skip Henderson, who is term-limited and ineligible for re-election, has already drawn multiple contenders. Hugley’s entrance into the race adds a high-profile name to an increasingly competitive field.

Hugley served as city manager for more than two decades, the longest tenure in Columbus’ consolidated government history, overseeing daily operations, guiding major infrastructure and economic development projects, and shaping key public policy decisions. His tenure ended following a controversial 7-3 city council vote to terminate his employment six months prior to his retirement— a decision that continues to spark sharp debate across political and community lines.

Announcing his candidacy on Columbus Day in the Liberty District — a neighborhood deeply rooted in African American heritage — is being viewed as both symbolic and strategic, underscoring themes of legacy, representation, and renewal.

Further details regarding Hugley’s campaign platform, priorities, and team are expected to be revealed during Monday’s event.