Several community groups are putting on candidate forums and debates for the six Columbus Board of Education and both Columbus City Council candidates.
The forums often let the audience ask questions of the candidates and have them speak on issues that are important to the community. These two races will decide who fills three open seats on the Columbus City Schools' board and who fills the District 7 Columbus City Council seat representing downtown Columbus and much of the surrounding neighborhoods.
Some of the forums will have candidates from both races.
The deadline to register to vote this year is Oct. 6., with early voting scheduled to begin on Oct. 7. Election Day is Nov. 4.
Here's a list of some of the candidate forums happening through Election Day:
Columbus City Council, District 7 forums:
- Columbus Stand Up candidate forum
- Where: Fort Hayes Education Center, 546 Jack Gibbs Blvd., Columbus, Ohio, 43215
- When: Sunday, September 7, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. Doors open at 2 p.m.
- Missionary Baptist Ministers candidate night
- Where: Family Missionary Baptist Church, 996 Oakwood Ave., Columbus, Ohio, 43206
- When: Thursday, September, 25, 2025 at 6 p.m. Doors open 5:30 p.m.
- German Village Society candidate forum
- Where: German Village Society Meeting Haus 588 S. 3rd St., Columbus, Ohio, 43215
- When: Tuesday, September, 30, 2025 at 7 p.m.
- League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus candidate forum
- Where: Broad Street Presbyterian Church, 760 E Broad St, Columbus, Ohio, 43205.
- When: Tuesday, October, 7, 2025 at 6 p.m.
- Downtown Alliance for Voter Engagement candidate forum, moderated by WOSU's Amy Juravich, host of All Sides
- Where: Seventh Son Brewing Company, 1101 N. 4th St., Columbus, OH 43201
- When: Wednesday, October, 8, 2025 at 6 p.m.
Columbus Board of Education forums:
- Columbus Stand Up candidate forum
- Where: Fort Hayes Education Center, 546 Jack Gibbs Blvd., Columbus, Ohio, 43215
- When: Sunday, September 7, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. Doors open at 2 p.m.
- League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus, Columbus Education Justice Coalition and Pint Size Protesters candidate forum
- Where: Northland High School, 1919 Northcliff Dr, Columbus, Ohio, 43229.
- When: Monday, September, 22, 2025 at 6 p.m.
- Missionary Baptist Ministers candidate night
- Where: Family Missionary Baptist Church, 996 Oakwood Ave., Columbus, Ohio, 43206
- When: Thursday, September, 25, 2025 at 6 p.m. Doors open 5:30 p.m.
- Columbus Dispatch candidate debate
- Where: Columbus Metropolitan Library Main Branch, 96 S. Grant Ave., 43215.
- When: Tuesday, October, 21, 2025 at 6 p.m.
