Incumbent Mark Sutcliffe maintains a dominant position in the Ottawa mayoral race ahead of the October 26 vote, supported by his established record, recent policy pledges on property tax caps, transit affordability, public safety staffing, and housing supply, along with endorsements from multiple former mayors. Challenger Jeff Leiper, a sitting councillor, has focused on infrastructure funding through a proposed levy and expanded non-profit housing targets, while Alex Lawson has emphasized development charge relief and eliminating the vacant unit tax. Neil Saravanamuttoo has highlighted efficiency measures and lower transit fares. Early summer polling showed a tighter contest among decided voters, but the absence of major recent shifts or consolidated opposition has reinforced trader consensus around the incumbent's re-election path.