Sutcliffe officially enters race for mayor of Ottawa today

Mark Sutcliffe signs the nomination papers to run for Mayor of Ottawa in the 2026 municipal election. (Leah Larocque/CTV News Ottawa)

Mark Sutcliffe officially entered the race for mayor of Ottawa today as he seeks a second term at Ottawa City Hall.

Sutcliffe had repeatedly said he would seek re-election but didn’t register when candidate registration began on May 1.

Sutcliffe was joined by his wife Ginny and family at the city’s Election Office to register for mayor Monday morning.

The longtime broadcaster and entrepreneur was first elected mayor in October 2022.

Sutcliffe will be the fourth candidate to register to run for mayor.

Current Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper, community organizer and economist Neil Saravanamuttoo and Alex Lawson, who owns a home construction company, all entered the race on May 1.

Leiper welcomed Sutcliffe to the campaign.

“This campaign is about aiming higher. Making life more affordable with transit that works, housing you can afford and making Ottawa a city you can be proud of,” Leiper said on social media.

“Let’s make this a forward-looking, positive campaign.”

The municipal election will be held on Monday, Oct. 26.

Ottawa will host four days of special advance voting days from Oct. 1 to 4, and an advance voting day on Oct. 16.

Candidates for mayor and councillor can officially begin their campaign once they have filed nomination forms with the City Clerk.

“Candidates may accept contributions of goods, services or money and incur expenses during their campaign period only,” City Clerk Caitlin Salter-MacDonald told CTV News Ottawa in January.

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