Edmonton Election 2025: A Progressive Voter’s Guide

Photo by Alex Pugliese on Unsplash

Edmontonians head to the polls on October 20th to choose their next mayor and city council. For those hoping to see a more progressive, anti-UCP direction at City Hall, the stakes could not be higher.

If you thought the UCP wasn’t trying to tilt this election in their favour think again and check out this email from a few weeks ago……

Key Dates and Voting Info

• Advance voting: October 7–11

• Election Day: October 20

• Voter registration: If you missed the August 15 deadline, you can still vote with two pieces of ID: one with your photo, name, and address (e.g., driver’s license), and another with your name and address (e.g., credit card statement).

• Voting station: Check ahead of time so you know where to cast your ballot.

Find all your voting information here

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Why Strategic Voting Matters

Progressive and anti-UCP voters need to be wary of vote-splitting. Edmonton’s municipal elections don’t allow for ranked ballots, which means too many progressive candidates in one race could split the vote and hand victory to a conservative-leaning opponent.

That’s why rallying behind viable, endorsed progressive candidates—even if they’re not your personal first choice—is essential for building a council that reflects the values of everyday Edmontonians, not corporate donors or the UCP agenda.

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Mayoral Race: The Progressive Choice

Four candidates have emerged as the most viable contenders:

• Andrew Knack – Widely seen as the only progressive candidate in the race. Knack is running an honest campaign, refusing to dangle unrealistic promises like a property tax freeze. Instead, he’s pushing for a responsible, predictable approach to budgeting that maintains services rather than cutting them. Importantly, Knack has committed to full donor transparency before Election Day.

• Tim Cartmell – Backed heavily by corporate money, Cartmell has raised the largest share of big-donor funding so far.

• Michael Walters – A former city councillor with close ties to lobbying firms. Critics argue he says what people want to hear but avoids real commitments.

• Rahim Jaffer – The former Conservative MP whose checkered past and right-wing leanings make him a poor fit for Edmonton’s future.

Watch my Michael Walters Video……

For progressives, the choice is clear: Andrew Knack. He has also received endorsements from all the major unions.

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Municipal Parties: A Red Flag

Another important factor this election: avoid candidates tied to municipal parties. These groups were created to skirt fundraising limits, allowing wealthy donors to pool money and tilt the balance of local politics. City council should remain independent, with councillors representing their wards—not party lines.

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Recommended Council Candidates

Here are the progressive, anti-UCP candidates with momentum, endorsements, or strong reputations in their wards:

• Ward Métis – Ashley Salvador

• Ward Papastew – Michael Janz

• Ward Pihêsiwin – Jackie Liu

• Ward O-Day’min – Anne Stevenson

• Ward Dene – Aaron Paquette

• Ward Sspomitapi – Jo-Anne Wright

• Ward Anirniq – Erin Rutherford

• Ward Karhiio – Karen Tang

• Ward Tastawiyiniwak – Jennifer Porritt

• Ward Nakota Isga – Rajah Maggay

• Ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi – Funke Olokude

• Ward Sipiwiyiniwak – Giselle General

This election is about more than potholes and property taxes. It’s about whether Edmonton becomes a city that stands up to the UCP’s ideological agenda, or one that bows to corporate donors and political interference.

Here is my list of Edmonton public school board candidates again:

Ward A - Marcelle Kosman

Ward B- Linda Lindsay

Ward C- Holly Nichol

Ward D- Nickela Anderson

Ward E -Sarah Doll

Ward F- Alex Marshall

Ward G- Saadiq Sumar

On October 20th, progressives must show up, vote strategically, and send a message: our city is not for sale.

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Thank you to everyone who has been following along and engaging so deeply in Alberta’s municipal elections. I never expected that talking about city council and mayoral candidates would get such a huge response, and I’m grateful to all of you who are tuned in and committed to doing your civic duty.

This page will continue to highlight both national and local politics. Tomorrow, I’ll be posting a breakdown of Calgary, and I’ll also be adding mayoral picks for other municipalities where I have some insight, though those won’t be full breakdowns.

I hope these guides have been helpful. As always, the best way to support my work is by becoming a yearly subscriber, or by sending one-time donations via e-transfer to coleachielbennett@gmail.com.