Financial disclosures show hundreds of thousands of dollars donated to mayoral candidates

Five of the nine mayoral candidates running in Calgary combined to raise more than $820,000 in donations in the months leading up to the official election period, public documents show.

Financial disclosures from between Jan. 1 and July 31 of this year provide an early look at how much the candidates’ campaigns raised and spent, even before nomination day.

Disclosures for the rest of the year—including the period in the run-up to election day—are not due until March 2026.

Sonya Sharp collected the most money through donations in the first seven months of this year, with $218,127.

The current Ward 1 councillor, who is now seeking the mayor’s seat, spent $182,162 in campaign expenses over that same time period.

Jeromy Farkas, the former councillor who is running to be mayor for the second time, gathered $162,338 in donations and spent $182,100 on his campaign in the first half of the year.

Incumbent Jyoti Gondek came in third for donations collected in the same period with $151,197.

Her campaign seeking a second term as mayor spent $86,086 before August.

Jeff Davison ($146,049) and Brian Thiessen ($145,227) raised similar amounts and reported deficits in the first months of the campaign.

Davison reported $229,585 in campaign expenses through July, while Thiessen spent $179,912.

Independent candidate Jaeger Gustafson did not collect any donations but reported more than $5,400 in campaign spending from his own funds.

All of the financial disclosures show the bulk of expenses going to staffing and professional fees, marketing and signage.

The other mayoral candidates—Sarah Elder, Larry Heather and Grant Prior—either reported no donations or did not have to file because they declared their bid after July 31.

Under new contribution rules by the provincial government, municipal candidates can accept donations from individual Alberta residents, unions and corporations.

They can donate up to $5,000 to candidates and, due to donation changes, can also donate an additional $5,000 to municipal political parties in Calgary and Edmonton.

After an election, campaigns with any surplus over $1,000 must donate it to a registered charity.

A surplus of less than $1,000 can be retained by the candidate or donated.

Campaign deficits must be eliminated within 60 days of filing a disclosure with Elections Calgary and can be paid for by donations or up to $10,000 from the candidate.