Independents or Partisans - A Look at the Edmonton Mayoral Race

Municipal elections are looming in Alberta. While every election has the potential to shake up the political landscape, this year’s vote is likely to usher in dramatic changes in Edmonton's governance. Voters are scheduled to cast their ballots on October 20th, 2025. As such, a dive into the rapidly developing election landscape in Alberta’s capital city is warranted.   

Arrival of the Political Parties

A unique feature of the 2025 election will be the introduction of political parties at the municipal level. While only Edmonton and Calgary will see parties introduced, the new system may be extended to other municipalities if it is seen as successful in the eyes of the province. Under the party system, any candidate running as either a councillor or a mayor may align themselves with a particular political brand, clarifying where they stand on a shared list of issues and opening up new avenues for campaign financing. Slates are also part of the mix. They are short-term groupings of candidates who agree to support each other during the campaign. Unlike political parties, slates are easier to register but must disband after the election.

As the introduction of municipal parties and slates is a novel idea in Alberta, the organization and formation of these new political entities are ongoing. As of writing, only one party and one slate have officially met the registration criteria in Edmonton. Notably, neither has an associated mayoral candidate. Despite this, others have declared their intentions to compete for the mayoralty this autumn. 

The Major Mayoral Candidates

The competition to win the city’s highest office is looking to be contentious. The election will not see an incumbent in the running, with current Mayor Amarjeet Sohi choosing not to seek reelection following his failed bid to return to the House of Commons in the recent federal election. Despite the entrance of multiple new candidates, two current city councillors are likely to lead in this race for mayor.  

Tim Cartmell, who has served as councillor for Ward pihêsiwin for two terms, announced his intentions to run as Edmonton’s next mayor in November. With a campaign promising “safer streets, tough on taxes, and build it better,” Cartmell has also launched a municipal party of his own. The Better Edmonton Party officially launched in mid-May but has yet to announce a slate of candidates to run alongside the mayoral candidate. If a mayor like Cartmell is elected along with a team of politically aligned councillors, it would become easier to implement a shared political agenda. 

Andrew Knack, has also announced his mayoral candidacy, but without an attached political party of his own. Knack is the longest-serving councillor on the city council, having represented Ward Nakota Isga for three consecutive terms. Early messaging from Knack has centred around stewarding the city’s rapid growth to focus on affordability and public safety. Knack’s sentiment that "political parties are poison" reflects a sentiment shared by many incumbent municipal leaders in lamenting the loss of independence for candidates.  

What is at Stake?

A key issue identified by both mayoral candidates’ campaigns is the city’s response to the recent boom in population. Since the last municipal election in 2021, Edmonton’s population has increased from 1,050,000 to just over 1,190,000. In 2024 alone, the city experienced 5.73% growth. Housing availability and affordability rank high in each candidate’s list of top issues, with infrastructure development and public transit being highlighted as necessary for handling future growth.  

Also shared by both Cartmell and Knack, public safety has arisen as a central point of each campaign. Cartmell’s focus on policing and a “zero tolerance” policy is aimed at making the downtown core safer and more accessible for residents. Knack has similarly highlighted the need for the city to be safer but is not planning to release his policy plan until mid-June.

With one candidate embracing the political party model and the other rejecting its premise, a subtle ballot box question may be on Edmontonians’ feelings towards the new party system. While associating with an organized party can provide dramatically greater funding options for campaigns, it has yet to be seen if voters prefer their elected officials to remain as independent candidates.  

As political parties begin to take root at the local level, this year’s vote may decide not only who leads Edmonton, but how city politics will work going forward. Voters are not just picking a mayor; they are choosing what type of government they want. That could mean a return to an independent mayor with their own goals, a full team working off the same page, or something much more conflictual. If a mayor can win with a group of aligned councillors, decisions could become more coordinated, potentially similar to what you see in caucus politics at the provincial or federal levels.