Columbus 2027 mayoral race begins: Ginther seeks fourth term against former ally Hardin
Photo: WOSU Public Media (file photo)Ohio's bruising 2026 election cycle is over, but in Columbus, the next big political fight is already underway: the 2027 mayoral race is shaping up to be the city's most competitive in decades.
Mayor Andy Ginther is seeking a fourth term, and his challenger is City Council President Shannon Hardin — a former ally who publicly broke with the mayor and announced his candidacy in August, ushering in a new tone at City Hall marked by confrontation between the council and the mayor's administration.
State Rep. Munira Abdullahi may join them. Two days before she appeared on the 2026 ballot, the 30-year-old Somali American pulled the requisite paperwork to run for mayor in 2027, signaling she may enter the race. She is wrapping up her first term in elected office. If elected mayor, Abdullahi would become Columbus' first female mayor as well as its first Muslim mayor and first immigrant mayor.
Ginther, Hardin and Abdullahi are all Democrats. Columbus city elections are technically nonpartisan, but the city hasn't had a Republican mayor this century, and a Republican hasn't bothered to run since 2015.
To get on the ballot, a candidate has to collect at least 1,000 valid city voter signatures and file by Feb. 3. If more than two candidates make the ballot, there will be a primary election on May 4 to narrow the field. The top two vote-getters advance to the general election on Nov. 2, 2027.
A primary is likely. Six longshot candidates have also pulled petitions to run for mayor in 2027, though it is unclear how many will ultimately qualify for the ballot. Joe Motil, a local Democratic activist who unsuccessfully challenged Ginther in 2023, told The Dispatch on Nov. 9 that he has decided not to run again and plans to support Abdullahi's bid.
Ginther continues to build on a substantial fundraising advantage. He entered November with more than $2 million on hand, compared with about $470,000 in Hardin's campaign account and less than $30,000 in Abdullahi's state campaign account. Ginther's campaign had its strongest fundraising quarter ever between August and the end of October, bringing in over a half million dollars, according to a quarterly filing submitted to the city.
In the third quarter, which included the months after Hardin formally launched his candidacy, the council president raised about $215,000 — less than half of what Ginther raised in that period. Hardin's campaign said Nov. 5 that over 650 individuals contributed during the quarter. By contrast, Ginther had 164 donors in the same time period, relying on average on fewer but deeper-pocketed donors. "Our campaign is about building a movement, not simply building a bank account," Hardin said in a campaign announcement. Samantha Baker is the only other candidate besides Ginther and Hardin to file campaign finance records with the city for the mayoral race so far; her campaign filed a form declaring it was exempt from filing because it had raised and spent less than $1,000.
Lines are already being drawn, with many longtime officeholders and party leaders backing Ginther. A Nov. 11 fundraiser for Ginther includes a stacked host committee with top billing going to all three Franklin County commissioners: John O'Grady, Erica Crawley and Kevin Boyce. Other co-hosts include former Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland, former Rep. Tim Ryan, former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray, Attorney General-elect John Kulewicz, City Attorney Zach Klein, and dozens of other current and former elected officials.
But some Democrats are breaking with Ginther and backing Hardin. Fresh off his upset victory, U.S. Congressman-elect Don Leonard of Columbus told The Dispatch he plans to back Hardin for mayor. Hardin has also officially received endorsements so far from Franklin County Prosecutor and former council member Shayla Favor and current Columbus City Councilmembers Rob Dorans and Lourdes Barroso de Padilla. It is likely the majority of sitting council members will back Hardin; some other members, including Nancy Day-Achauer and Tiara Ross, have already signaled their support for Hardin without formally endorsing yet.
Two of Columbus' most influential Democratic power brokers, Rep. Joyce Beatty and former Mayor Michael B. Coleman, have yet to publicly endorse in the race. Coleman endorsed Ginther to become his successor in 2015, but the elder statesman shares a close personal bond with Hardin, dating back to when Hardin's mother worked at City Hall.
Besides the mayoral race, Columbus will also hold a special election for city auditor in 2027 and vote on seven City Council seats in a new election system approved by voters. City Council appointed Jacquelin Lewis to the auditor role earlier this year after Columbus City Auditor Megan Kilgore resigned to take a private-sector job; if Lewis wants to serve the rest of the term through 2029, she'll have to run for the office. City charter amendments passed in this election expanded the council and implement district-only elections, so for the first time council members will not just be required to live in their districts but also only be voted on by voters in their districts. In 2027, five Columbus City Council districts are on the ballot: districts 2, 5, 6, 8 and 9. The District 9 seat is being vacated by Hardin. The entire city will also vote on two new at-large council member spots after voters OK'd four at-large seats phased in over two city election cycles.
Sources: The Columbus Dispatch, "The 2026 elections are over. Now Columbus' 2027 mayoral race begins" (Nov. 10, 2026, full text verified); The Columbus Dispatch, "'The Columbus way has lost its way,' Hardin says in mayoral campaign kickoff" (Aug. 20, 2026); The Columbus Dispatch, "Columbus mayor's race may have another contender as state rep. pulls papers" (Nov. 2, 2026); The Columbus Dispatch, "Congressman-elect Don Leonard endorses Hardin, praises break from 'Columbus Way'" (Nov. 6, 2026); Wikipedia, "2027 Columbus, Ohio mayoral election" (corroboration: declared candidates, May 4, 2027 primary, Nov. 2, 2027 general election). Event date verified: Tuesday, November 10, 2026 (Dispatch story published Nov. 10).
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