The 2026 Ottawa municipal election will be held on October 26, 2026, to elect a mayor, city councillors, and trustees to the English and French public school boards and the English and French Catholic school boards in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Candidate nominations opened on May 1 and closed on August 21. The election will be held on the same day as the 2026 Ontario municipal elections.
Background
As mayor, Mark Sutcliffe has criticized both provincial (Ford ministry) and federal (Trudeau and Carney ministries) for "short-changing" the City's funding, particularly for transit. Sutcliffe supported Lansdowne 2.0, a controversial project to redevelop Lansdowne Park, a facility owned by the City of Ottawa. The project is expected to cost $418.8 million with the City of Ottawa paying a net cost of $130 million. This project is planned to fix the north-side stands in TD Place, reconstruct the 57-year old TD Place Arena, build a new event centre adjacent to the stadium for concerts and other activities, and build two new residential towers while producing $14.4 million for affordable housing. The planned reduction in the capacity of the arena (from 8,268 to 5,500 for hockey) has resulted in the Professional Women's Hockey League stating that the Ottawa Charge will no longer play in the arena, and instead play at the Canadian Tire Centre for the 2026–27 season.
Incumbents not running for re-election IncumbentPositionWard/ZoneDate announcedNew office holderJeff LeiperCouncillorKitchissippiJune 25, 2025TBDGlen GowerCouncillorStittsvilleFebruary 22, 2026TBDLynn ScottTrusteeZone 1 (OCDSB) (did not file)TBDDonna BlackburnTrusteeZone 3 (OCDSB)July 6, 2026TBDSuzanne NashTrusteeZone 4 (OCDSB) (did not file)TBDAmanda Presley TrusteeZone 5 (OCDSB) (did not file)TBDLyra EvansTrusteeZone 6 (OCDSB)May 4, 2026TBDDonna DicksonTrusteeZone 8 (OCDSB)May 6, 2026TBDMatthew LeeTrusteeZone 11 (OCDSB) (did not file)TBDCathryne Milburn TrusteeZone 12 (OCDSB)May 1, 2026TBDOlivier Tremblay-VenneriTrusteeZone 5 (CECCE)July 31, 2026TBDDenis ForgetTrusteeZone 6 (CECCE) (did not file)TBDMonique BriandTrusteeZone 10 (CECCE) (did not file)TBDPhilippe LandryTrusteeZone 7 (CEPEO) (did not file)TBDSonia BoudreaultTrusteeZone 10 (CEPEO) (did not file)TBD
Issues An October 2025 poll carried out by Liaison Strategies (sample size 800) found that the top issue for Ottawans in the next election were affordable housing (20%) followed by crime (19%), transit (18%), and homelessness (15%).
A January 2026 poll commissioned by the Ottawa Real Estate Board (sample size 1000) found that the top issues in the upcoming election were the cost of living (37%), housing affordability (19%), and public transit reliability (11%). A majority of respondents thought that candidates should campaign on the cost of living as a high-priority issue.
Declared candidates Jeff Leiper and Alex Lawson (who supported Sutcliffe in 2022) have criticized the incumbent mayor for overseeing a decline in the quality of city services.
Voting Alignment with Mayor The table listed below is the alignment each councillor has to the Mayor, based on recorded votes from minutes from City Council meetings, and major committees. IncumbentWardAlignmentFirst Elected/Previously ElectedRunning for re-election (Y/N)Shawn MenardCapital35%2018YesSean DevineKnoxdale-Merivale38%2022YesAriel TrosterSomerset38%2022YesJessica BradleyGloucester-Southgate40%2022YesTheresa KavanaghBay40%2018YesJeff LeiperKitchissippi41%2014NoRawlson KingRideau-Rockcliffe45%2019YesLaine JohnsonCollege48%2022YesStéphanie PlanteRideau-Vanier58%2022YesRiley BrockingtonRiver63%2014YesMarty CarrAlta Vista65%2022YesWilson LoBarrhaven East78%2022YesMatthew LuloffOrléans East-Cumberland79%2018YesCatherine KittsOrléans South-Navan84%2020YesClarke KellyWest Carleton-March85%2022YesDavid HillBarrhaven West85%2022YesDavid BrownRideau-Jock86%2022YesAllan HubleyKanata South87%2010YesGlen GowerStittsville88%2018NoIsabelle SkalskiOsgoode88%2025YesSteve DesrochesRiverside South-Findlay Creek88%2006, 2022YesTim TierneyBeacon Hill-Cyrville89%2010YesCathy CurryKanata North90%2021YesLaura DudasOrléans West-Innes90%2018Yes
Mayoral candidates Candidates Registered candidates
Queen Divine Priya Amber Bakshi Candidacy registered: August 20, 2026
Zed Chebib Zed Chebib, 71, is a Lebanese-born Canadian limousine driver and police reform advocate who is most known for being deported from Australia despite having resided in the country with his family for over a decade. He ran for mayor in 2022. Candidacy registered: June 8, 2026
Bernard Couchman Bernard Couchman, 47, is a businessman and perennial candidate. He ran for mayor in the 2014, 2018 and 2022 elections. Candidacy registered: August 21, 2026
Suraj Harish Suraj Harish, 77, is a civil engineer and former senior project manager with the city and the with the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton. Previously ran for city council in Kanata South Ward in the 2006 municipal election.
Candidacy registered: August 5, 2026 Campaign website: Campaign slogan: A former city employee is back to serve the community.
Alex Lawson Alex Lawson, 38, is a former lobbyist and home builder, who owns a local framing company. He lives in Dunrobin, and grew up in Heron Gate. He previously served on the board of the Kanata—Carleton Conservative Association. His campaign team includes Emrys Graefe, deputy campaign manager for the Conservatives in the 2015 federal election, Quito Maggi, CEO of Mainstreet Research, and previously included Ontario Proud founder Jeff Ballingall, Fred DeLorey, Conservative campaign manager during the 2021 federal election. Lawson stated he voted for Sutcliffe in the last election, but says city services have declined. Lawson has been criticized for his support of the 2022 Freedom Convoy, including liking a reply to one of his social media posts he made during the Freedom Convoy occupation, which stated "we need a revolution", with Lawson replying it's only "a start". He also said he delivered portable toilets to the convoy, which he said went "too far," stating that he delivered the toilets in order to dissuade protesters from disposing their waste on the streets.
Candidacy announced: January 23, 2026 Candidacy registered: May 1, 2026 Campaign website: Campaign slogan: Ottawa Deserves Better Campaign slogan (French): Ottawa mérite mieux
Jeff Leiper Jeff Leiper, 56, is the incumbent city councillor for Kitchissippi Ward, having served in the position since 2014. Leiper has generally been described as a progressive during his time on city council. Leiper stated he was concerned about inadequate city services, such as lack of sidewalk maintenance, delays in garbage collection, and especially the city's poor transit network. Leiper noted budget disputes with the incumbent mayor – he thought the city was not putting enough funding towards municipal services – and opposed cutting train service frequencies. Candidacy announced: July 24, 2025 Candidacy registered: May 1, 2026 Campaign website: Campaign slogan: A City That Works Campaign slogan (French): Une ville qui fonctionne bien
Geoff Nicholas Geoffrey Nicholas Griplas, 48, previously ran for city council in Orléans Ward in the 2018 Ottawa municipal election. On September 15, 2026, he was charged for making death threats against mayor Sutcliffe and against Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
Candidacy registered: August 21, 2026
Josh Rachlis Josh Rachlis, 53, is an actor, cartoonist, singer/songwriter, screenwriter, stand-up comedian, radio personality, filmmaker, and advertising copywriter.
He was an Independent candidate in Ottawa Centre in the 2025 Ontario general election. He was also the Green Party of Ontario candidate for Eglinton—Lawrence in the 2011 Ontario general election and in St. Paul's in 2014. He also was the Green Party of Canada candidate in Thornhill in 2015 and 2019. Candidacy registered: August 21, 2026
Neil Saravanamuttoo Neil Saravanamuttoo, 58, is an economist, podcaster, and organizer. Economic advisor to Catherine McKenney in the 2022 mayoral election. He co-founded CitySHAPES, a nonprofit organization focusing on housing, homelessness, transportation, climate change and municipal governance. Candidacy registered: May 1, 2026 Campaign website: Campaign slogan: A Better Ottawa. By Us. For Us. Campaign slogan (French): Un meilleur Ottawa. Par nous. Pour nous.
Ali Shayvard Ali Shayvard, 40, is an OC Transpo employee. Describes himself as a democratic socialist who was inspired by the election of New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Candidacy registered: August 21, 2026 Campaign website: aliforottawa.ca Campaign slogan: A New Dawn for Ottawa
Jacob Solomon Jacob Solomon, 23, is a political science graduate from the University of Ottawa and is now a Realtor. He ran for mayor in the 2022 election. Candidacy registered: August 21, 2026 Campaign website: https://sites.google.com/view/jacobsolomon/home
Mark Sutcliffe Mark Sutcliffe, 57, is the incumbent Mayor of Ottawa, having served in the position since being elected in 2022. Prior to being elected to office, he was an entrepreneur & business consultant, as well as a former local radio, print, & television media personality. Sutcliffe has been described as centrist; an Ottawa Citizen article described his governance style as "middle-of-the-road" but "socially conscious". Candidacy announced: June 24, 2025 Candidacy registered: May 25, 2026 Campaign website: https://marksutcliffe2026.ca/ Campaign slogan: Building a stronger Ottawa, together. Campaign slogan (French): Bâtissons ensemble une ville d'Ottawa plus forte.
Amjad Ali Syed Candidacy registered: August 21, 2026
Peter Westaway Peter Westaway, 63, is a bike repairer and a perennial candidate. He is a single issue candidate focused on reforming the Ottawa Greenbelt. He ran in Knoxdale-Merivale Ward in 2022 and in the 2025 Osgoode Ward by-election. He was also an Independent candidate in Nepean in the 2025 Ontario general election. Candidacy registered: July 15, 2026 Campaign website: cotg.ca/ Campaign slogan: Changing our Greenbelt.
Dropped Out
Declined Tim Tierney, incumbent city councillor for Beacon Hill-Cyrville
Lisa MacLeod, former Progressive Conservative MPP for Nepean—Carleton.
Endorsements + City councillorsAriel TrosterFederal politiciansMona FortierMarie-France LalondeDavid McGuintyGiovanna MingarelliYasir NaqviJenna SuddsProvincial politiciansCatherine McKenneyChandra PasmaGeorge DarouzeFormer politiciansAllan HigdonBob MonetteBrian CoburnDavid PrattDes AdamDon BoudriaEli El-ChantiryGlenn BrooksGord HunterJacquelin HolzmanJan HarderJanet StavingaJean CloutierJean ChrétienJim DurrellJim WatsonJohn BairdKatherine HobbsMadeleine MeilleurMarianne WilkinsonMark TaylorMathieu FleuryMerle NicholdsPeter HumePhil McNeelyRainer BloessShad QadriMediaOtherMaude Marquis-Bissonnette
Polls
Voting intention
Graphical summary
Table of data Polling firm Source Last dateof polling Sample Size Alex Lawson Jeff Leiper Neil Saravanamuttoo Mark Sutcliffe Other UndecidedElectRight* HTMLSept 18, 2026~600± 4 pp6%26%14%49%4%(DV)4%19%10%35%3%28%Liaison StrategiesHTML1000± 3.1 pp26%25%11%36%(DV) 17% 17% 7%24% 34%Quorus Consulting GroupHTMLJune 23, 2026400–13%25%8%54%–(DV)6%12%4%26%–48%Liaison StrategiesHTML~1000± 3.1 pp21%31%8%38%1%(DV) 12% 21% 6%24% 37% Liaison StrategiesPDF1,000± 3.09 pp16%36% 5%42%2% (DV) 9% 21% 3% 25% 1% 41% Liaison StrategiesHTMLHTML1,000± 3.09 pp13%37% –46%4% (DV) 7% 19% – 24% 2% 48% *ElectRight is a voter contact firm that is unaccredited by the Canadian Research Insights Council.
Approval +Mark SutcliffePolling companyDateApproveDisapproveNot sureSample sizeMethodMargin of errorLiaison Strategies8–10 May, 202641%10%1000IVR± 3.09 ppLiaison Strategies22–23 October, 202541%9%800IVR±3.46%
Issues