A majority of current Ottawa city councillors are preparing to run for re-election in the upcoming municipal elections scheduled for October 26. As of now, at least 19 out of the 24 sitting councillors have expressed their intention to seek re-election, with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe also confirming his plans to run again.
Compared to the previous election in 2022, where only 13 incumbents were on the ballot, this year’s election is expected to see a different landscape. Out of the 22 councillors who responded to inquiries about their 2026 intentions, Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper is aiming for a mayoral run, necessitating his withdrawal from the council seat candidacy. Among the remaining 21 councillors, all but two have confirmed their intent to run again.
While the majority of councillors are eager to continue their work, some, like Barrhaven West’s David Hill, Orléans West-Innes’s Laura Dudas, and Riverside South-Findlay Creek’s Steve Desroches, have expressed their desire to see ongoing projects through the next term. Additionally, Bay ward Coun. Theresa Kavanagh is keen on overseeing the opening of the LRT west extension in her ward, emphasizing the importance of continuity in achieving long-term goals.
One of the longest-serving council members, Kanata South Coun. Allan Hubley, is gearing up for his fifth consecutive run, citing strong support from his family and community as well as good health. On the other end of the spectrum, the newest council member, Isabelle Skalski, who won her seat in a byelection just seven months ago, is already preparing for another campaign, now as an incumbent facing the task of defending her record.
Moreover, a third-party group, Horizon Ottawa, known for endorsing progressive candidates in city elections, is planning to adopt a different strategy this time around. Instead of endorsing specific candidates, the group intends to focus on canvassing against incumbent councillors by highlighting their voting history, developer contributions, and public statements. The group aims to challenge incumbents in a few select wards, recognizing the difficulty of unseating them based on past election results.
Horizon Ottawa plans to commence its canvassing efforts once the weather warms up, targeting specific wards and incumbents. The deadline for candidates to file their nomination paperwork for the city council elections is August 21, with the campaigning expected to intensify closer to the election date.