About City Council
About this position
- Office level
- City
- Election frequency
- Every 3 years
- Affiliation
- Nonpartisan
- Positions
- 1 open seat
Election type
- Partisan election (party labels appear on ballots)
- Run-off election
How to run for City Council
- Step 1
Meet eligibility requirements
Must be at least 21 years of age, a U.S. citizen, and a resident of the city for one year preceding the election and of the ward for six months preceding the election.
- Step 2
File for office
- Filing requirements
- No filing fee or petition signature requirement.
- Filing period
- December 15, 2026 - January 19, 2027
- Paperwork instructions
- Submit paperwork to the County Clerk's office.
- Where to file
- 801 E Walnut St, Rm. 236, Columbia, MO 65201
- Filing phone
- 573-886-4295
- Step 3
Launch your campaign
A real campaign starts with a real plan. Get a custom campaign plan from GoodParty.org, personalized for your race and district.
Get started
Need help? You don't have to run alone. Join the GoodParty.org Community to get advice from real independents who have run and won.
Who's currently in office
Learn about who represents you in Columbia.
What this symbol means
Candidates and elected officials with this symbol took the GoodParty.org Pledge, promising to serve people first, independent of both major parties and big-money interests.
- View profileValerie CarrollWard 1Nonpartisan · Current term 2026 to 2029
- View profileVera ElwoodWard 2Current term 2025 to 2027
- View profile
Jacquelyn "Jacque" SampleWard 3Nonpartisan · Current term 2025 to 2028 - View profile
Nick FosterWard 4Nonpartisan · Current term 2025 to 2028 - View profile
Christina HartmanWard 5Nonpartisan · Current term 2026 to 2029 - View profile
Betsy PetersWard 6Nonpartisan · Current term 2024 to 2027
Are you ready for Columbia's next election?
Check your voter registration
Verify your voter registration in under a minute.
Find your polling location
Learn where to go to vote in person.
Request a mail-in ballot
Apply for an absentee ballot to vote by mail.



