2025 Columbia, Missouri mayoral election
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Columbia, Missouri, held a mayoral election on April 8, 2025, concurrently with elections for the city council members for city wards 3 and 4. The incumbent mayor, Barbara Buffaloe, was re-elected to a second term in office. She garnered just over 55 percent of the total citywide vote.[1]
Background
[edit]In 2022, former Columbia Sustainability Manager Barbara Buffaloe won the mayoral election to succeed outgoing Mayor Brian Treece, subsequently being sworn into office on April 18, 2022. Mayor Buffaloe sought re-election to a second term, announcing her second consecutive mayoral campaign on January 28, 2025. At this launch event, Mayor Buffaloe outlined her campaign's guiding themes, hoping to convince voters with accomplishments from her first term.[2][3]
Mayor Buffaloe faced-off against two challengers during the election campaign; paint store owner Blair "Murph" Murphy and Missouri School of Journalism adjunct professor Tanya Heath. Both of these challengers qualified for the general election ballot, while Lucio Bitoy IV achieved ballot access as a recognized write-in candidate. A major theme for the mayoral election was improving city safety and the reduction of crime in the Columbia area, overall, with all three qualified candidates making it a central issue of their respective campaigns.[1][3]
The mayor's campaign garnered endorsements from various local groups, including the local union representing public sector employees in the Columbia city government. In addition to public safety concerns, Mayor Buffaloe also promised to prioritize addressing the city's turnover rate within its administration.[4]
Murphy's first-time political campaign was bolstered by both individual donations and a large contribution from Citizens for a Better Columbia PAC. While Murphy received several endorsements from local businesspeople, he also picked up the controversial public endorsement of head Missouri Tigers football coach Eli Drinkwitz, who was subsequently subjected to a formal ethics complaint for endorsing Murphy; alleged as a potential violation of the University of Missouri's employee policies.[5] In terms of campaign fundraising and spending, the Murphy campaign exceeded that of all other candidates.
Candidates
[edit]| Candidate | Experience | Announced |
|---|---|---|
| Barbara Buffaloe | Incumbent mayor (2022-present) Former Columbia Sustainability Manager (2010–2021) |
January 31, 2025[3](Website) |
| Tanya Heath | Adjunct professor at the Missouri School of Journalism Candidate for Mayor of Columbia, Missouri (2022) Former president of the American Advertising Federation of Mid-Missouri |
September 25, 2024[3][6] |
| Blair "Murph" Murphy | Owner of Johnston Paint and Decorating CrimeStoppers Board member |
October 17, 2024[3][6] (Website) |
Write-in candidates
[edit]- Lucio Bitoy IV, former Missouri Department of Social Services worker [7]
Endorsements
[edit]- Local officials
- Quinton Lucas, mayor of Kansas City (2019–present)[8]
- Mary Anne McCollum, former mayor of Columbia, Missouri (1989–1994)[9]
- Adrian Plank, state representative from the 47th district (2023–present) (Democrat)
- Kathy Steinhoff, state representative from the 45th district (2023–present)[10] (Democrat)
- Individuals
- David Wilson, co-founder of True/False Film Festival[11]
- Organizations
- Local officials
- Dwayne Carey, Boone County Sheriff (2005–present)[15] (Democrat)
- Individuals
- Eli Drinkwitz, head coach of the Missouri Tigers football (2019–present)[16]
- Organizations
- Columbia Police Officers Association[17]
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Barbara Buffaloe | 14,073 | 55.08% | |
| Nonpartisan | Blair "Murph" Murphy | 10,663 | 41.73% | |
| Nonpartisan | Tanya Heath | 779 | 3.05% | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in | 37 | 0.14% | |
| Total votes | 25,552 | 100% | ||
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Burnett, Story by Annie Goldman, Zoe Naylor and Amber Roldan; Photos by Michael Baniewicz, Kyle Button and Sara Kate (April 8, 2025). "Barbara Buffaloe wins second term as Columbia mayor". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Pray, Chase (February 2, 2025). "Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe kicks off reelection campaign with pizza and politics". The Maneater. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Carlson, Beth (October 29, 2024). "Columbia mayor candidates announce campaigns ahead of spring elections". KOMU 8. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
- ^ Missourian, Max Quinn & Zoe Naylor, Columbia (January 26, 2025). "City workers endorse Buffaloe, Sample in local elections". KOMU 8. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Reporter, Hunter Walterman, KOMU 8 (April 4, 2025). "Blair Murphy raises record funds for mayoral campaign, raising some eyebrows". KOMU 8. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Valeski, Lucy (November 22, 2024). "New candidates file for city council, mayor races". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
- ^ McGuire, Erika (April 3, 2025). "Columbia mayoral candidate interview: Lucio Bitoy". ABC17NEWS. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
- ^ Khairmode, Vrunda (February 1, 2025). "Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe kicks off reelection campaign with pizza and politics". The Maneater. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ Khairmode, Vrunda (February 1, 2025). "Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe kicks off reelection campaign with pizza and politics". The Maneater. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ Khairmode, Vrunda (February 1, 2025). "Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe kicks off reelection campaign with pizza and politics". The Maneater. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ "Very proud to have community leader, entrepreneur and visionary David Wilson on #TeamBuffaloe". Facebook. March 21, 2025. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ "Endorsements | Trusted Supporters of Abortion Action MO". Abortion Action MO (Press release). March 29, 2025. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ "Boone County Democrats issue mayoral, school board endorsements". Columbia Daily Tribune (Press release). February 18, 2025. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ "City workers endorse Buffaloe, Sample in local elections". KOMU 8 (Press release). January 26, 2025. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ Walterman, Hunter (March 12, 2025). "Murphy racks up law enforcement endorsements as election day draws closer". KOMU 8. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ "Ethics complaint filed against Mizzou coach Drinkwitz for violation of University of Missouri's Collected Rules and Regulations". Columbia Missourian. February 28, 2025. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ Walterman, Hunter (March 12, 2025). "Murphy racks up law enforcement endorsements as election day draws closer". KOMU 8. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ "20220405SGM" (PDF). Boone County Clerk - Election Results. April 8, 2025.