| Candidate2: | Randy Minchew |
| Next Election: | 2025 Columbia, Missouri, mayoral election |
| Previous Year: | 2019 |
| Previous Election: | 2019 Columbia, Missouri, mayoral election |
| Percentage2: | 38.90% |
| Popular Vote2: | 7,728 |
| Party2: | Nonpartisan politician |
| Type: | Mayor |
| Mayor | |
| Percentage1: | 42.93% |
| Popular Vote1: | 8,528 |
| Party1: | Nonpartisan politician |
| Candidate1: | Barbara Buffaloe |
| Image1: | File:Barbara Buffaloe at the BCHS (3x4 crop).jpg |
| Election Date: | April 5, 2022 |
| Country: | Columbia, Missouri |
| Next Year: | 2025 |
| Ongoing: | No |
| Before Election: | Brian Treece |
| After Election: | Barbara Buffaloe |
| Candidate3: | David Seamon |
| Popular Vote3: | 2,930 |
| Percentage3: | 14.75% |
| Party3: | Nonpartisan politician |
Columbia, Missouri held an election on April 5, 2022, concurrently with elections for the city council members for wards 3 and 4.
During a community briefing on September 17, 2021, incumbent mayor Brian Treece announced he would not seek re-election for a third term. Citing the "level of responsibility and the burden" of his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Treece said in his statement "The last 18 months have been no easy decisions. There's no playbook on handling a pandemic. That takes its toll."[1]
Petition forms for candidates were made available to pick up from the office of the City Clerk beginning on October 19, 2021. Candidate petition filings for the municipal elections opened on October 26 and closed on January 11, 2022, at 5 pm. Candidates running for mayor required the valid signatures of at least 100 registered Columbia voters.[2]
| Candidate | Experience | Announced | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbara Buffaloe | Former Columbia Sustainability Manager (2010–2021) | October 11, 2021[3] (Website) | |
| Tanya Heath | Adjunct professor at the Missouri School of Journalism Former president of the American Advertising Federation of Mid-Missouri | October 25, 2021[4] | |
| Randy Minchew | Candidate for Columbia City Council for Ward 6 (2021) Candidate for Columbia City Council for Ward 6 (2015) | October 25, 2021[5] (Website) | |
| David Seamon | Member of the Columbia Public Schools Board of Education since 2020 Veteran of the United States Marine Corps | October 21, 2021[6] (Website) |