Zajac Wins Columbus City Council District 7 Seat

 Rebecca Zajac, executive director of Dragonfly Trails, won the Columbus City Council District 7 runoff election Tuesday, defeating Laketha Ashe and earning a seat on the Columbus Council.

According to unofficial election results, Zajac received 1,217 votes, or 57.8%, compared to 889 votes, or 42.2%, for Ashe.

The victory concludes a competitive runoff campaign in one of the city's most closely watched council races and positions Zajac as part of a new generation of leadership that will take office following the 2026 municipal elections.

Supporters gathered Tuesday evening to celebrate the outcome as results showed Zajac maintaining a steady lead throughout the vote count. Her campaign focused heavily on community engagement, neighborhood revitalization, public safety, economic development and increasing opportunities for residents throughout District 7.

District 7, which encompasses portions of south Columbus, has traditionally been viewed as a pivotal district in city politics. The seat became open following the expiration of the current council term, prompting a multi-candidate race that ultimately led to a runoff between Zajac and Ashe.

Zajac's victory follows months of campaigning that included neighborhood meetings, community forums and extensive voter outreach efforts. Throughout the campaign, she emphasized the importance of collaboration between residents, city government and community organizations to address issues affecting the district.

As executive director of Dragonfly Trails, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving youth and families, Zajac built her campaign around her experience in community service and nonprofit leadership. She frequently cited her work connecting residents with resources and creating partnerships as preparation for serving on the City Council.

Ashe also mounted a strong campaign, focusing on issues affecting working families, economic opportunity and neighborhood improvement. The runoff followed a competitive initial election in May that left neither candidate with enough votes to avoid a second round of voting.

The District 7 race drew significant attention from political observers because of its potential impact on the balance and direction of the Columbus Council. Zajac will join several newly elected officials who will help shape policy decisions on economic development, public safety, infrastructure and quality-of-life issues over the next four years.

With the election decided, Zajac will begin preparing for the transition into office and is expected to participate in orientation activities for newly elected council members before taking her seat later this year.