Columbia uses a two-round system, where election runoffs are held if no candidate obtains the majority of the vote.

Incumbent Democratic Mayor Stephen K. Benjamin was the only candidate to file; he was automatically declared re-elected with no votes.

In the runoff Republican Daniel Rickenmann defeated Democratic candidate Tameika Isaac Devine.

Previously, Columbia has historically voted for Democratic candidates, including Joe Biden for U.S. president by nearly 40 points.

[9][10] Some Republicans, including Ben Shapiro and United States Senator Rick Scott of Florida, cited Rickenmann's win as part of a "red wave.