Open seats, long-serving mayors headline Ontario election night

Several cities will have new faces at the head of the council table

Published Oct 26, 2026  •  2 minute read

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe unveiled his public safety plan at a campaign event Sept. 3. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

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Battling to become mayor of Canada’s capital region headlined a night of mayoral races across Ontario, as voters from Windsor to Thunder Bay went to the polls on Monday.

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In Ottawa, incumbent Mark Sutcliffe was seeking a second term as mayor against 13 challengers, including city council colleague Jeff Leiper, homebuilder Alex Lawson and economist Neil Saravanamuttoo.

Results weren’t available by press time.

Mayors see shake-up, status quo across Ontario

Several cities will have new faces at the head of the council table.

In Milton, 89-year-old Gord Krantz was seeking to win a 15th term — extending Canada’s longest mayoral run in history.

Krantz was first elected to council in 1965, and has been Milton’s Mayor since 1980.

In Burlington, incumbent Marianne Meed Ward was facing off against a pair of city councillors who gave up their seats to run against her.

Rob Burton’s bid to continue his 20-year run as Oakville’s mayor was too close to call by press time.

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In Thunder Bay, a 10-candidate field was vying to replace outgoing mayor Ken Boshcoff, who didn’t seek re-election.

Also not running for re-election was North Bay Mayor Peter Chirico, a campaign that’ll be best remembered for a debate where a candidate waved around women’s underwear and offered to change his gender as a means to attract women voters.

Guelph will also elect a new mayor Monday, replacing outgoing mayor Cam Guthrie, who didn’t seek re-election.

With Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal not seeking re-election for health reasons, he’ll also be replaced.

In Kingston, Bryan Paterson is seeking a fourth term over challenger Coun. Conny Glenn, one year after Paterson’s unsuccessful run for the federal Conservatives.

In Clearview Township, Doug Measures is battling Robert McArthur to seek another term, while voters in Barrie will see Alex Nuttall defend his mayor’s seat against Tanya Saari, Kay Sayer and Russell Tighe.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens is seeing his fourth term against Coun. Fred Francis. Dilkens has previously stated that a fourth term would be his last.

In London, Josh Morgan is looking to be re-elected as mayor, challenged by Coun. Susan Stevenson and businesswoman Kirsten Krose.

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