40 Years of Mayoral Campaign Numbers

Over the last 40 years, Columbus has seen a wide range of mayoral races. Some years had just two qualified candidates, while others drew larger fields with five or six people stepping forward to lead the city. On average, about three candidates qualify each cycle, which shows just how much the level of competition can change depending on the moment and the issues facing our community.

Here is a look at the number of qualified candidates in the last ten mayoral cycles:

1986 – 2
1990 – 2
1994 – 3
1998 – 3
2002 – 3
2006 – 2
2010 – 5
2014 – 2
2018 – 6
2022 – 2

That’s part of what makes local elections so interesting. Every cycle brings a different mix of ideas, personalities, and visions for where Columbus should go next.

It will be exciting to watch how the next mayoral race unfolds and to see where this race leads us for the next 4 years.