Sam Johnson wins Columbia City Council seat over Aditi Bussells
Not-so-newcomer Sam Johnson will join Columbia City Council in 2026 after winning a runoff election Tuesday against incumbent Aditi Bussells, with nearly 56% of the vote – just over 5,700 ballots.
This will be Johnson’s first term on city council, but it won’t be his first experience in Columbia City Hall. Johnson was previously chief of staff to former Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, and currently leads the municipal advocacy firm Civint. He touts a strong knowledge of local government and a desire to serve Columbia through collaboration and building equity.
In a statement after declaring victory in the race, Johnson thanked his supporters.
“Every family in this city deserves the basics: A safe place to call home. A neighborhood where kids can grow up without fear. An economy where hard work comes with a fair shot at opportunity. Tonight, Columbia chose that vision.” Johnson said in a statement Tuesday night after declaring victory in the race.
That statement continued, “But let me be clear: tonight is not about one campaign beating another. It’s about one city choosing to move forward together.”
Among Johnson’s top campaign promises were to fill vacancies in the Columbia Police Department and to build relationships with other Midlands leaders to reduce government silos and boost coordination.
Johnson faced questions from critics during the race about his ability to avoid conflicts of interest while leading a firm that helps companies navigate local government. Johnson has said he’s not concerned about conflicts and would recuse himself from any vote should a conflict to arise.
Johnson is the only non-incumbent who won a seat to City Council, despite there being challengers in every race.
Bussells received about 4,540 votes in the Nov. 18 runoff. Bussells, a public health consultant for Deloitte, won her first term in 2021, also in a runoff. She received a record-setting 10,600 votes over challenger Tyler Bailey’s 9,100. Bailey is a current city councilman, winning Columbia’s other at-large seat in 2023.
Vote totals are unofficial until the results are certified, which typically happens the Friday after an election. Johnson will begin his council term in January 2026.
This story was originally published November 18, 2025 at 9:49 PM.
