Opinion: Voters Should Follow the Money—and the Associations—Behind Local Campaigns

As voters evaluate candidates for Columbus mayor, campaign finance disclosures provide an important window into not just who is running, but who is influencing those campaigns.

Recent campaign filings submitted online by Joanne Cogle shows $22,600 paid to Magnolia Grove Consultants, an extreme MAGA right wing political consulting firm listed as providing campaign services. Those expenditures appear on pages 10 and 11 of the disclosure report and are part of the public record available to voters.

Campaign finance data alone does not tell the full story. Context matters.

Magnolia Grove Consultants is led by Ben Garcia, who publicly identifies himself as a Christian Nationalist on social media. Garcia’s own public profiles—prior to recent changes—have included self-descriptions aligning with White Christian nationalist ideology. These associated views are often linked with cultural conservatism, and white supremacy. Screenshots of those profiles, archived before edits made earlier this week, reflect language he chose to present publicly.

The firm’s consulting footprint is also documented. Materials associated with Magnolia Grove Consultants list political candidates it has advised or supported, including Randy Robertson, John Anker, and Cogle’s mayoral campaign. These connections are not allegations; they are drawn from campaign filings and publicly shared promotional information.

None of this is about guilt by association. Candidates are free to hire consultants of their choosing, and consultants are free to hold political beliefs. But voters are equally free—and arguably obligated—to consider what those relationships may signal about a campaign’s values, strategy, and future governing priorities.

Local elections often hinge on trust. Transparency about financial support and political alignment allows voters to make informed decisions, especially at a time when national ideological movements increasingly seek influence at the municipal level.

Campaign finance disclosures exist for a reason. They are meant to be read, questioned, and understood—not ignored.

As Columbus voters head toward Election Day, May 19, 2026, following the money is not cynical. It is civic responsibility.