Yellowknife election 2026: Read our candidate interviews

Who’s running for mayor and council in Yellowknife this fall? What are the key dates? And what do the candidates say?

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

On this page, you can find links to our newsroom’s interviews with the people who want to run Yellowknife for the next four years.

Cabin Radio’s mayoral debate took place on Monday, October 5. That’s where you can find more information about what the two candidates for mayor believe and how they see Yellowknife’s future.

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

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 initially said he was running for a councillor’s seat instead but later withdrew.

Who’s running for council?

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

Adrian Bell – read the Cabin Radio interview
Owner of a realty company who served two terms on city council before running unsuccessfully for mayor in 2018.

Andy Young – read the Cabin Radio interview
A foster parent, minor hockey coach and former Yellowknife Catholic Schools board trustee.

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

Donna Lee Demarcke – read the Cabin Radio interview
The chief executive officer of NWT Tourism and a former Hay River town councillor and deputy mayor.

Fraser Fuite – read the Cabin Radio interview
A teacher who is perhaps most recognized for riding his electric unicycle year-round.

Gerri Whiteford – has not responded
A nurse, social worker and small business owner.

Jeremy Flatt – read the Cabin Radio interview
Operator of the Fat Fox café and catering venture, federal proportional representation advocate.

Keneisha Buddoo – read the Cabin Radio interview
An educator, reservist and small business owner.

Nazim Awan – read the Cabin Radio interview
A public servant with more than 20 years’ experience in northern economic development.

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

Rob Foote – read the Cabin Radio interview 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 – read the Cabin Radio interview 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– read the Cabin Radio interview
Off-grid Yellowknifer who ran for NWT MP as the Green Party’s candidate in 2021.

Ryan Fequet – read the Cabin Radio interview incumbent
Regulatory specialist first elected to council in 2022.

Rylund Johnson – read the Cabin Radio interview
A former MLA for Yellowknife North who more recently worked as a lawyer for the city.

Simon Whitehouse – read the Cabin Radio interview
A journalist and communications manager.

Skye Plowman – read the Cabin Radio interview
Head bartender at the Explorer Hotel, comedian and host.

Steve Payne – read the Cabin Radio interview 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 – read the Cabin Radio interview
A business instructor at Aurora College.

Vibhesh Tripathi – read the Cabin Radio interview
A small business owner.

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

Who’s holding election forums?

Cabin Radio broadcast a 90-minute forum featuring the two mayoral candidates on Monday, October 5.

The Community Debate Team and OpenNWT hosted a council candidates’ election forum at École William McDonald School on Tuesday, October 6.

The NWT Art 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.

What are the key dates?

Election day is Monday, October 19.

Voting at the office of the returning officer begins on October 5 and runs until October 13. Mobile polls run from October 14-16.

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

The list of candidates was finalized at 3pm on September 24, after a period for withdrawals and challenges 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 5-13. Mobile polls will be offered from October 14-16.

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

To receive a mail-in ballot package, apply to the returning officer by email. Completed mail-in ballots must be received by the returning officer no later than October 19 to be counted.

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.

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.