**Jaroslav Polaček, the incumbent mayor seeking a third term with backing from a six-party centre-right coalition, and Ladislav Lörinc, the Košická strana candidate and Sídlisko KVP borough mayor, remain the clear frontrunners in the October 24, 2026 municipal election.** Recent polls and betting markets show them closely matched, with Lörinc occasionally edging ahead on name recognition and local focus while Polaček benefits from incumbency, completed infrastructure projects, and eurofund inflows exceeding 300 million euros. Martin Mudrák (Progressive Slovakia-led coalition) and Lenka Kovačevičová draw smaller but notable shares, fragmenting the field. The race stays tight because voters prioritize concrete local concerns such as transport, parking, and daily services alongside continuity of larger developments, leaving limited room for any single candidate to pull decisively ahead in the final weeks.