Incumbent Mark Sutcliffe holds a clear lead in the Ottawa mayoral race ahead of the October 26 vote, supported by his record on transit expansions, provincial funding deals, and recent platform releases on public safety, rural infrastructure, and housing. Challenger Jeff Leiper, a sitting councillor, draws support from central wards on transparency and urban issues, while homebuilder Alex Lawson has gained ground among voters focused on traffic relief and development. Economist Neil Saravanamuttoo and other candidates trail amid a fragmented field. Sutcliffe’s endorsements from former mayors and early campaigning on first-responder hiring and safety coordination have reinforced his position, though polling through summer showed softening approval and a large undecided pool that could shift with final debates and advance voting.