2015 Columbus, Ohio mayoral election explained

Flag Image:	Flag of Columbus, Ohio.svg
Country:	Columbus
Type:	Mayoral
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2011 Columbus, Ohio mayoral election
Previous Year:	2011
Next Election:	2019 Columbus, Ohio mayoral election
Next Year:	2019
Election Date:	November 3, 2015
Image1:	Columbus Mayor Andy Ginther 31 Dec 2015 (1).jpg
Candidate1:	Andrew Ginther
Party1:	Nonpartisan candidate
Popular Vote1:	88,822
Percentage1:	59%
Candidate2:	Zach Scott
Party2:	Nonpartisan candidate
Popular Vote2:	60,686
Percentage2:	41%
Mayor
Before Election:	Michael B. Coleman
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:	Andrew Ginther
After Party:	Democratic Party (United States)

The 2015 Columbus mayoral election took place on November 3, 2015, to elect the Mayor of Columbus, Ohio. The election was officially nonpartisan, with the top two candidates from the May 5 primary advancing to the general election, regardless of party.^[1]

Incumbent Democratic Mayor Michael B. Coleman was not running for re-election to a fifth term in office.^[2]

Candidates

Democratic Party

Declared

• Andrew Ginther, President of the Columbus City Council^[3]
• James Ragland, development director at the Cristo Rey Columbus High School and former State Central Committeeman for the Ohio Democratic Party^[4]
• Zach Scott, Franklin County Sheriff^[5]

Declined

• Joyce Beatty, U.S. Representative (endorsed Ginther)^[2]
• Kevin Boyce, State Representative and former Ohio State Treasurer (endorsed Ginther)^[6]
• John Patrick Carney, State Representative and nominee for Ohio State Auditor in 2014^[1]
• Michael B. Coleman, incumbent mayor (endorsed Ginther)^{[2] [7]}
• Tracy Maxwell Heard, Minority Leader of the Ohio House of Representatives^[1]
• Michael C. Mentel, attorney and former Columbus City Council President^[1]
• Michelle Mills, Columbus City Councilmember^{[2] [8]}
• Charleta Tavares, State Senator^[8]

Republican Party

Declared

• Terry Boyd, former President of the Columbus Board of Education^{[9] [10]}

Declined

• Jim Hughes, State Senator^[11]
• Ron O'Brien, Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney^[11]

Primary results

The Columbus Mayoral primary was nonpartisan, but candidates were endorsed by their parties. The two candidates who received the most votes advanced to the general election in November regardless of party.

Further reading

• News: Jarman. Josh. Election To Succeed Mayor Coleman Could Widen Democrats' Rift. 7 December 2014. The Columbus Dispatch. The Dispatch Printing Company. December 7, 2014.

Notes and References

1. News: Jockeying starts for nonpartisan primary in 2015. Gary Seman Jr. . December 2, 2014. December 9, 2014. This Week. December 16, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141216035655/http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/clintonville/news/2014/12/01/succeeding-coleman-jockeying-starts-for-nonpartisan-primary-in-2015.html. live.
2. News: Lucas Sullivan. Doug Caruso. Mayor Coleman Announces He Won't Run Next Year. November 25, 2014. November 26, 2014. The Columbus Dispatch. November 27, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141127170358/http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/11/25/Coleman_out.html. live.
3. News: Josh Jarman. Ginther launches campaign for mayor of Columbus. December 10, 2014. December 10, 2014. The Columbus Dispatch. January 26, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150126040511/http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/12/10/ginther-set-to-run-for-mayor-of-columbus.html. live.
4. News: Walker Evans. James Ragland Enters Race for Columbus Mayor. January 19, 2015. February 3, 2015. Columbus Underground. February 3, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150203225339/http://www.columbusunderground.com/james-ragland-enters-race-for-columbus-mayor. live.
5. News: Josh Jarman. Sheriff Zach Scott says he's running for mayor. November 27, 2014. December 3, 2014. The Columbus Dispatch. December 19, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141219023036/http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/11/26/sheriff-running-for-mayor.html. live.
6. News: Strickland, Boyce among Democrats backing Ginther for Columbus mayor. Lucas Sullivan. January 22, 2015. February 3, 2015. The Columbus Dispatch. February 3, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150203224823/http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/01/22/strickland-boyce-among-dems-backing-ginther.html. live.
7. News: Coleman Endorses Ginther to Take over Mayor's Office. ABC6. Elizabeth Faugl. December 17, 2014. December 19, 2014. December 19, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141219174207/http://www.abc6onyourside.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/Coleman-Endorses-Ginther-to-Take-over-Mayor-39-s-Office-64069.shtml. live.
8. News: Columbus mayor's race might draw several prominent politicians. Lucas Sullivan. December 7, 2014. December 9, 2014. The Columbus Dispatch. December 11, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141211141058/http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/12/07/columbus-mayors-race-might-draw-several-prominent-politicians.html. live.
9. News: Coleman endorses Ginther for mayor. The Columbus Dispatch. Lucas Sullivan. December 18, 2014. December 24, 2014. December 24, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141224150251/http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/12/17/Coleman_to_endorse_Ginther_for_mayor_at_event.html. live.
10. News: Republicans tap Boyd for Columbus mayor, former Ohio State player Dimitrious Stanley for council. The Columbus Dispatch. Lucas Sullivan. January 16, 2015. January 20, 2015. January 19, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150119212630/http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/01/15/GOP-names-candidates-for-mayor-and-council.html. live.
11. News: Local Government Insider: GOP still looking for Columbus mayoral candidate. The Columbus Dispatch. Lori. Kurtzman. Holly. Zachariah. January 8, 2015. January 16, 2015. January 11, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150111030043/http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/01/08/wanted-republican-mayoral-candidate.html. live.