Yellowknife election 2026: Here’s the provisional list of candidates

Who’s running for mayor and council in Yellowknife this fall? What are the key dates? And what else do you need to know?

This page is your one-stop shop – bookmark it.

The deadline for nominations has passed, though candidates still have some time this to either withdraw or have their eligibility challenged. We’ll update the provisional list of candidates below if anything changes.

Check the “last updated” timestamp at the top of this page to see when things change.

If we’re missing something or you have information to share, email us with links.

Who’s running for mayor?

Melissa Syer and Garett Cochrane are the two candidates for mayor.

Cochrane, who is Métis and 2SLGBTQ+, is near the end of his first term as a city councillor. He currently works as a community relations officer on the Giant Mine Remediation Project.

Syer is a former executive director of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce and now an economic opportunities manager at City Hall.

Ben Hendriksen, the incumbent, had said in the past he would not seek re-election to the position this fall. Hendriksen became mayor in May last year, replacing Rebecca Alty after she was elected as the Liberal MP for the NWT. This time around, he’s running for a councillor’s seat instead.

Who’s running for council?

Twenty-two people are running for one of the eight council seats.

Adrian Bell
Owner of a realty company who served two terms on city council before running unsuccessfully for mayor in 2018.

Andy Young
A foster parent, minor hockey coach and former Yellowknife Catholic Schools board trustee.

Ben Hendriksen
Mayor of the city since 2025.

Cody Drygeese
A Yellowknives Dene First Nation member and environmental specialist who has worked on engagement regarding the Arctic Corridor project.

Donna Lee Demarcke
The chief executive officer of NWT Tourism and a former Hay River town councillor and deputy mayor.

Fraser Fuite
A teacher who is perhaps most recognized for riding his electric unicycle year-round.

Gerri Whiteford
A nurse, social worker and small business owner.

Jeremy Flatt
Operator of the Fat Fox café and catering venture, federal proportional representation advocate.

Keneisha Buddoo
An educator, reservist and small business owner.

Nazim Awan
A public servant with more than 20 years’ experience in northern economic development.

Roberta Marie Campbell
An Indigenous, northern-born artist and retired nurse with a background in mental health, addictions, crisis response and community support.

Rob Foote incumbent
An inventory and supply chain quality manager with the NWT Health and Social Services Authority. He was appointed to council to fill a vacancy in May 2025 after having finished ninth in the 2022 municipal election.

Rob Warburton incumbent
The owner of a real estate investment company who was elected to council in 2022 and is currently serving as deputy mayor.

Roland Laufer
Off-grid Yellowknifer who ran for NWT MP as the Green Party’s candidate in 2021.

Ryan Fequet incumbent
Regulatory specialist first elected to council in 2022.

Rylund Johnson
A former MLA for Yellowknife North who more recently worked as a lawyer for the city.

Simon Whitehouse
A journalist and communications manager.

Skye Plowman
Head bartender at the Explorer Hotel, comedian and host.

Steve Payne incumbent
A career and education advisor with the GNWT. He was elected to council in 2015 and is running for his fourth term.

Tammy Soanes-White
An instructor at Aurora College.

Vibhesh Tripathi
A small business owner.

Yanik D’Aigle
Banker and small business co-owner who ran as the NWT’s Conservative candidate in the 2019 federal election.

Who’s holding election forums?

The NWT Arts Centre Initiative is holding a forum for mayor and council candidates on October 15 from 6:30-8:30pm at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. The organization is accepting questions until October 6.

Stand by for Cabin Radio to announce its live mayoral broadcast, for which both candidates are confirmed.

What are the key dates?

Election day is Monday, October 19.

Early voting begins on October 5 and runs until October 16.

Nominations for mayor and council opened on September 8 and closed at 3pm on September 21.

The list of candidates will be finalized at 3pm on September 24, after a period for withdrawals and challenges has ended.

The new mayor and council will be sworn in on November 2.

How do I register to vote?

Elections NWT is, for the first time, helping to run the city’s election. Register on the Elections NWT website.

Who can vote?

If you are a Canadian citizen aged 18 or older who has resided in Yellowknife for 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the day on which you vote, you’re eligible, the city says.

Where do I vote?

People can vote early in the office of the returning officer, at Elections NWT on the third floor of YK Centre East 4915 – 48 Street, between 9am and 4pm Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, from October 5 to 16.

On election day, October 19, voting stations will be open from 10am to 7pm at:

• Weledeh Catholic School
• Tree of Peace Friendship Centre
• École Įtłʼǫ̀
• Multiplex
• Range Lake North School

More election information, including campaign rules and alternative ways to vote, is available on the city’s website.

What’s Cabin Radio’s election plan?

We will bring you detailed interviews with the candidates, some issues-related coverage during the election period and a live special on election night. There’s also a live mayoral broadcast with the two candidates – details coming soon.

What happened last time?

Here’s our coverage of the 2022 election night, including who ran and who was elected. Here’s everything we wrote about that election.