Is 2026 going to be a non election year for some in Ottawa ?

As of today’s date, June 12, there are 5 wards where the incumbent has no challenger . There is one ward where no one has registered. Candidates can file their nomination papers up till August 21st but this is still a strange landscape we find ourselves in at this stage of the election . If you want to be successful you should be knocking on doors, attending summer BBQs and designing election signs . In short, time is running out . Giving an incumbent a free pass is not good for anyone including the incumbent who should want to meaningfully reconnect with their constituents at least once every 4 years .

On the flip side there is a lot of activity in wards 1, 9 and 24 . Presumably the incumbents are all running again though one has still not registered . The number of challengers running in these wards range from 3 to 6. It suggests that there is some discontent in these wards with the incumbents but the reality is that the best way for an incumbent City Councillor to get re-elected is to have multiple challengers. You don’t need a majority to get elected, just one more vote than anyone else . In this scenario you might not be voting for the current Councillor but there are enough options for your protest vote that the incumbent will likely win the election despite the other candidates best efforts.

Here is hoping by August 21st there are challengers in every ward. If not I am concerned for the health of democracy in our City and you should be as well.