Marek Hattas, the incumbent since 2018, holds a commanding lead in the Nitra mayoral race due to his incumbency advantage, record of securing major EU-funded investments, infrastructure upgrades, and recent recognition of Nitra as Slovakia’s most transparent regional city. Late-September polling showed him at 55 percent against main challenger Igor Kršiak at 32.5 percent, while Hattas benefits from endorsements across a broad pro-democratic coalition including Progresívne Slovensko, SaS, KDH, and Demokrati. Kršiak, an independent with municipal experience, draws support from local networks but trails significantly. The remaining candidates—Marek Illéš backed by Smer-SD, Hlas-SD and Sme rodina, and Zuzana Uhríková supported by Republika and SNS—register minimal backing. Traders appear to price in the election-day outcome on 24 October, where Hattas’s established voter base and campaign momentum outweigh fragmented opposition.