Aditi Bussells, the Progressive Candidate, Sets the Record Straight
- CUBNSC
- Nov 17, 2025
- 5 min read
By Javar Juarez, Editor-in-Chief — CUBNSC.COM
Columbia, we need to tell the truth today — not the truth that the political establishment wants circulating in whisper campaigns, private text threads, manipulated Facebook posts, or hallway gossip, but the truth backed by record, receipts, and real leadership.
For months, the at-large City of Columbia race has been marred by toxicity: colorism, mischaracterizations, quiet dog whistles, self-serving elites, and a coordinated effort to convince Black voters — especially those of us who consider ourselves progressive — that Dr. Aditi Bussells is somehow not “for us.” I will be honest: I once believed the noise. I once believed the distortions. I once believed the people who told me she was disconnected from the community.
But today, after sitting down in an extensive, unflinching interview with Dr. Bussells, and after months of watching how both campaigns have operated in public and behind the scenes, I can say this with absolute clarity: Aditi Bussells is the only progressive in this race.
She is the only candidate rooted in data, policy, equity, and coalition-building.
And she is the only candidate whose record reflects measurable progress for all of Columbia — not just the connected few.
The establishment may not like that, but that’s precisely why this op-ed exists.
The “Machine” Didn’t Want Us to Know Her Record — Now We Do
Let us call the thing what it is: Columbia’s elite Democratic establishment ran a coordinated operation to distort Dr. Bussells’s intentions, her work, and even her identity. Much of their criticism has not been grounded in policy, but instead in colorism, cultural bias, and fear of a brown woman shifting power away from old networks of influence.
Yet when you strip away the noise and look at the record, a very different picture emerges.
In just one term, Dr. Bussells:
Modernized business licensing and ushered in a record number of new businesses.
Helped transform Finlay Park after decades of stagnation.
Championed Black Maternal Health Week — the first ever in Columbia’s history.
Delivered the city’s first separated bike lane and advanced walkability initiatives.
Brought national recognition to Columbia through the National League of Cities Board of Trustees.
Strengthened partnerships across city, county, and regional governments, avoiding the fiefdom politics Columbia is infamous for.
Advocated for attainable and mixed-use housing, where walkability, density, and access are core principles.
Used her public health background to push data-driven solutions on homelessness, safety, and community well-being.
This is not theory. This is not “when I get elected, I hope to do XYZ.”
This is execution.
This is progress.
This is what progressive governance looks like.
Meanwhile, the Opposition Offers No Platform — Just Proximity to Power
Let me also be clear: I originally supported Sam Johnson. My intention was honest, but my decision was based on limited information. Over time, it became painfully evident that the Johnson campaign has relied on two things: connections and proximity.
Not vision.
Not policy.
Not transparency.
Not a plan for the 21st century capital city Columbia is becoming.
To date:
Sam Johnson has not presented a detailed platform with measurable benchmarks.
He has not scheduled or completed an interview with CUBN, despite repeated outreach.
His recent press conference featured political figures known not for progress, but for stagnation, obstruction, and internal power consolidation.
His alliances raise serious questions about whether he represents a new direction, or simply a return to old political patronage.
Progressives cannot ignore these facts. Voters who care about equity, development, and good governance cannot overlook them either.
The Colorism and Identity Politics at Play Are Real — and Dangerous
Let’s address what many have whispered but few have said aloud:
The attacks on Aditi Bussells have been deeply influenced by colorism and cultural bias.
As an Afro-Latino myself, I know what it means to be told you’re “not Black enough,” or that your identity somehow disqualifies you from representing your own community. I have experienced it in this city. I have had my name mocked, my heritage questioned, my tone policed, and my belonging challenged.
And I saw the same tactics weaponized against Dr. Bussells — a brown woman, an immigrant’s daughter, a mother, a scientist, and a national voice for Columbia who does not fit the mold of what some gatekeepers believe local leadership should look like.
But Columbia’s future will not be led by gatekeepers. It will be led by people who break gates wide open.
A Progressive Lens for a Growing Capital City
Dr. Bussells’s vision is not just about tomorrow’s election — it is about the next decade of Columbia’s growth.
She sees Columbia not as a lesser Greenville or Charleston, but as a rising peer to Raleigh or Austin — places where:
density is embraced
young families thrive
creativity shapes culture
small businesses drive the economy
immigrants, Black families, young voters, and working parents define the civic landscape
That future is progressive.
It is inclusive.
It is pro-growth and pro-people.
It does not bow to cronyism or stagnation.
That future is impossible without leaders who understand both Columbia’s challenges and its potential.
The Moment Columbia Is In Requires Courage — Not Comfort
Tomorrow’s vote is not about political loyalty.
It is not about which insiders feel empowered.
It is not about preserving a machine.
It is about whether Columbia continues to grow or collapses back into the stagnation that paralyzed us for decades.
And respectfully, Sam Johnson has offered no road map for how he would move the city forward.
But Dr. Bussells has already moved it forward. And she has the receipts.
As she said in our interview:
“I chose to live here. I chose to raise my family here. And I want everyone to feel that they have a place in this city.”
That is what leadership sounds like.
Progressives, Independents, Young Voters, and Working Families — This Is the Moment
If we care about:
Black maternal health
walkable cities
economic mobility
attainable housing
good governance
cross-government collaboration
national representation
business development
safety rooted in public health
and the future of a diverse, inclusive Columbia
Then we must vote accordingly.
We must vote as if the city’s future depends on it — because it does.
A vote for Dr. Aditi Bussells is a vote for progress.
A vote for accountability.
A vote for a Columbia that works for everyone — not just the well-connected few.
This is not about choosing sides.
This is about choosing the future.
And the progressive future of Columbia runs through Dr. Aditi Bussells.
This was helpful. She’s got my vote.