Sutcliffe to officially enter race for mayor of Ottawa today

Ottawa’s mayor speaking at the mayors breakfast with the Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association. Jan. 8, 2026. (Natalie van Rooy/CTV News Ottawa)

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

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

In a media advisory, Sutcliffe’s campaign said he would register as a candidate for mayor at 12 p.m.

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.

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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