The 2026 Winnipeg municipal election takes place on October 28, 2026. The offices of mayor, city councillors, and school trustees of the city of Winnipeg will be elected as a result of this election.City of Winnipeg. (n.d.). 2026 Municipal Election. Retrieved May 28, 2026, from City of Winnipeg – 2026 Election This election is a part of municipal elections held across the province. The elections will use the first-past-the-post voting election system, either to elect the mayor in a municipality-wide district, or to elect councillors in single-member wards.
Background The deadline to register as a mayoral candidate is September 22, 2026, with seven candidates announced prior to May 28, 2026. Candidates for councillor and school trustee must wait until June 30, 2026, to register their campaigns. There will be four vacant spots on the city council come election day.
Mayoral election Incumbent mayors have historically performed exceptionally strongly in Winnipeg. The last sitting mayor to suffer an election-night defeat in Winnipeg was in 1956.CBC News. “Incumbent in Winnipeg's mayoral race has yet to make a campaign promise.” June 16, 2026. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-mayoral-race-analysis-9.7235947
City Council Elections There are 15 city council wards in Winnipeg with 9 of the current councillors saying they plan to run again. River Heights-Fort Garry Coun. John Orlikow says he plans to retire from Winnipeg's city council at the conclusion of his 6th term this fall. Janice Lukes of the Waverley West ward will also not run for reelection after completing three terms serving the council. She told reporters she felt she had accomplished what she had set out to do when she entered politics, including securing a new recreation centre for her ward. St. Vital's Brian Mayes will also not seek reelection after nearly 15 years representing his ward. He cited issues working with Mayor Gillingham as a reason for his departure. Councilwoman Sherri Rollins, who originally filed paperwork to run again in the Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry ward, later withdrew also citing frustrations working with the mayors office. St. Norbert-Seine River ward councilman Markus Chambers will also not run for reelection citing personal and family health reasons.ref>
Councilman Russ Wyatt was the last incumbent to confirm he is running for reelection on the city council. Wyatt has been charged with sexual assault for two separate incidents and has continued to attend council meetings since the charges were filed while maintaining his innocence. After the election, the Provincial government of Manitoba has signalled it may change laws to allow municipalities to suspend city council members when facing serious charges in the future. Changes to voting The 2026 municipal election in Winnipeg will feature some new technology for voters and poll workers. As of the end of April 2026, 527,412 Winnipeggers were on the city's voter list, and this number is expected to grow with an online system for voters to check their registration status prior to election day. On election day itself, the city has replaced its remaining paper voter-registration records with digital poll books. These digital books allow election workers to instantly discern whether anyone is eligible to vote and make the process faster for everyone. The digital books will also allow more flexibility for voters to vote at any location within their ward that is most convenient to them.
There are also changes to candidates, specifically rules for school trustee positions. Candidates for school trustee positions on Winnipeg-area school boards must now register their campaigns. This change in rules will ensure candidates are subject to limits on how much money they can raise or spend.
Mayoral election
Candidates Candidate Information AnnouncedMayor of Winnipeg (2022–present)St. James Ward Councillor (2014–2022)May 1, 2026Operator of a community group called Protect the Kids Canada, centred around youth advocacy.Mazher is a newcomer to Winnipeg politics, campaigning on fixing potholes, halting property-tax increases and reversing water rate hikes.Real estate agent in Winnipeg. Umar ran for Mayor in 2018 and ran for the Manitoba Liberal Party in 2023 in the riding of McPhillips.CBC News. “Real estate agent Umar Hayat making another run at Winnipeg mayor's office.” May 13, 2026. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/umar-hayat-mayoral-election-9.7199051Funeral director and director of Voyage Funeral Homes and Crematorium. Vogiatzakis also registered to run for mayor in 2014 but did not end up on the ballot.CBC News. “Funeral director Vogiatzakis registers for Winnipeg mayoral race.” May 8, 2026. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/mike-vogiatzakis-winnipeg-mayoral-race-9.7192917Christopher is a grocery clerk who also ran in 2022. Clacio describes himself as a progressive candidate.CTV News Winnipeg. “Registration period for Winnipeg mayoral candidates opens today.” May 1, 2026. https://www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/article/registration-period-for-winnipeg-mayoral-candidates-opens-today/ [article.wn.com]Founder of a business called JamRock Security. This is Don's third campaign for mayor in Winnipeg. He finished fourth in 2018 and ninth in 2022.Johnny Calderon is an online content creator, comedian, and entertainer. Software developer. ElectricianRealtor, former mayoral candidate in 2010. Pledging to end investments in bike lanes and add security cameras to bus shelters.Kevin KleinMinister of Environment and Climate (2023) MLA for Kirkfield Park (2022–2023) Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood Councillor (2018–2022)September 1, 2026
Opinion polls Polling firm Link Last dateof polling Alam Calderon Clacio Gillingham Gross Hayat Klein Redden Vogiatzakis Woodstock Marginof error Sample size Lead Probe<1%2%1%55%1%1%23%4%11%1% n/a600 32%
City Council elections Incumbents not standing for re-election John Orlikow, River Heights-Fort Garry Janice Lukes, Waverley West Brian Mayes, St. Vital Sherri Rollins, Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry Markus Chambers, St. Norbert-Seine River
Ward Candidates Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood Evan Duncan; Dennis Bayomi Daniel McIntyre Fred Morris; Cindy Gilroy Elmwood-East Kildonan Adam Dudek; Jessica Wiebe; Emma Durand-Wood; Chris Sweryda; Abel Gutierrez Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry Carson Mauthe; Kevin Stuart; Jeff Palmer; Brook Jones Mynarski Harold Brazil; Ross Eadie; Ayaz Noor Mohammed; Natalie Smith; Laurie Kozak; Terry Wachniak North Kildonan Orvie Dingwall; Tyler Andersen; Jeff Browaty Old Kildonan Greg McFarlane; Devi Sharma; Love Randhawa Point Douglas Vivian Santos; Mark Requinta River Heights-Fort Garry Sara MacArthur; Jorge Requena Ramos; Georgina Sabesky St. Boniface Sylvie Schmitt; Robyn Vilde; Nicholas Douklias; Matt Allard St. James Shawn Dobson; Tyler Crichton; Kelly Ryback St. Norbert-Seine River Ray DuBois; Anita Roy; Louise May; Govind Thawani St. Vital Doug Reimer; Season Kirkwood; Chris Sigurdson Transcona Russ Wyatt; Lora Meseman; Chris Giesbrecht; Nathine Dagdick; Shawn Nason Waverley West Uche Nwankwo; Jasmine Brar; Antar Banik; Nafiya Naso; Yuanchao Li
Ward results
School trustee elections The city of Winnipeg also runs elections to elect school trustees for school divisions within Winnipeg; these school divisions are Louis Riel School Division, Pembina Trails School Division, River East Transcona School Division, St. James – Assiniboia School Division, Seven Oaks School Division, and Winnipeg School Division. Each school division is divided into a certain number of wards, and there may be more than one candidate elected to the Office of School Trustee for each ward.
School division Ward Candidates Louis Riel School Division Ward 1 Ina Prokipchuk; Anna Weier; Moe Koroma; Ian Walker Louis Riel School Division Ward 2 Brian Mayes; Lauren Lambert; Irene Nordheim Louis Riel School Division Ward 3 Peter Bjornson; Ben Singer; Sandy Nemeth; Ryan Palmquist Louis Riel School Division Ward 4 Bethany Kolisniak; Jocelyn Greenwood; John Baert; Chipalo Simunyola Pembina Trails School Division Ward 1 Linda Karn; Sharon Esau; Samantha Pope; Terri MacLeod; Janet Belluk; Craig Stahlke Pembina Trails School Division Ward 2 Tim Johnson (acclaimed); Lauralee Gooding (acclaimed); Christine Jolly (acclaimed) Pembina Trails School Division Ward 3 Noman Zaheer; Carrissa Reyes; Towela Mkanda; Asim Nawaz; Alicia Becker; Cindy Nachtigall; Eric Labaupa; Tasneem Vali; Heethy Maan; Patricia Eyamba; Veerpal Sandhu; Tony Guan River East Transcona School Division Ward 1 Adam Burkowski; Susan Bywater; Ryan Frick; Jerry Sodomlak; Colleen Carswell River East Transcona School Division Ward 2 Manjot Kang; Idunnu Tokurah; Sheri Hanson River East Transcona School Division Ward 3 Lorlie Froese; Lindsay Fritzsche; Brian Hooper; Garry Kowalski; Brianne Goertzen River East Transcona School Division Ward 4 Peter Kotyk; Michelle Kowalchuk; Timothy Giesbrecht; Joe Hilmerich; Chloe Wowryk Bakker; Pamela Jansen; Brenda Bage; Susan Olynik; Jenn Kiziak Seven Oaks School Division Ward 2 Jagjit Khattra; Manpreet Toor; Leila Castro; Rob Bilsland; Sandeep Bhatti; Derek Dabee; Ernesto Ofiaza; Dirk Leavesley Seven Oaks School Division Ward 3 Evan Krosney; Lisa Brooks; Edward Ploszay; Mary-Jane Napolitano; Richard Sawka; Danica Vicovac; Teresa Jaworski St. James–Assiniboia School Division Centre Ganesh Tailor; Pierre Attallah; Michael Cabral; Craig Johnson; Craig McGregor St. James–Assiniboia School Division East Pradeev Sockalingam; Tara Smith; Vicki Rempel; Holly Hunter St. James–Assiniboia School Division West Sandy Lethbridge (acclaimed); Cheryl Smukowich (acclaimed); Fiona Shiells (acclaimed) Winnipeg School Division Ward 1 Katrina Tessier (acclaimed) Winnipeg School Division Ward 2 Chris Brown; Jennifer Claydon; Andrew Kohan; Michael Thompson Winnipeg School Division Ward 3 Kathy Heppner (acclaimed) Winnipeg School Division Ward 4 Linda Hathout; Jamie Bonner; Lionel Lien Winnipeg School Division Ward 5 Reid Pereira (acclaimed) Winnipeg School Division Ward 6 Dante Aviso (acclaimed) Winnipeg School Division Ward 7 Tamara Kuly (acclaimed) Winnipeg School Division Ward 8 Leah Mason; Prabhnoor Singh; Sonia Becenko; Michael Block; Patrick Allard; Ewa Romolo Winnipeg School Division Ward 9 Ann Evangelista; Linda Schatkowsky
References
External links Results website
Notes