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. We’ll keep adding names as people declare their candidacies, and anything important about the election will appear here. Check the “last updated” timestamp at the top of this page to see when this page changes.
If we’re missing something or you have information to share, email us with links to candidacy announcements or anything else that you think belongs here.
Who’s running for mayor?
So far, Cabin Radio is only aware of Garett Cochrane formally declaring an intent to run for mayor. Cochrane, who is Métis, is near the end of his first term as a city councillor.
Ben Hendriksen, the incumbent, has said in the past he will not seek re-election this fall. Hendriksen became mayor in May last year, replacing Rebecca Alty after she was elected the Liberal MP for the NWT.
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Who’s running for council?
To date, we have seen the following people indicate they intend to run for a council seat:
Adrian Bell
Realtor who served two terms on council before running unsuccessfully for mayor in 2018.
Rob Foote incumbent
Appointed to council to fill a vacancy in May 2025 having finished ninth in 2022’s municipal election.
Rylund Johnson
Former Yellowknife North MLA who has more recently served as a city lawyer.
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Keneisha Buddoo, an educator who has been steadily building toward a council run in a series of Facebook posts, is also expected to formally announce. You can expect more prospective candidates to step forward in the near future.
What are the key dates?
Election day is Monday, October 19.
Nominations open on September 8. Before that point, people can declare they are running but can’t formally become a candidate. Nominations close at 3pm on September 21. The list of candidates is finalized at 3pm on September 24, after a period for withdrawals and challenges has ended.
The new mayor and council are 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?
Check the city’s election page for details of polling stations, voting hours and other options.
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 election special on the night.
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.
