Meet all mayoral candidates in Vancouver’s 2026 municipal election

Vancouver voters will choose a mayor for the next four years on Oct. 17, with eight candidates offering differing approaches to affordability, public safety, municipal services and development.

Muhammad Ahmad, running for Bright Future Vancouver, is a community advocate with a background in public affairs and non-profit work who has not held elected office. His platform includes rent-to-own housing, free transit for Vancouver residents, expanded child care and a tax surcharge on high-value properties.

Kareem Allam, a former political strategist who managed Ken Sim’s successful 2022 campaign and later served as his chief of staff, is running for the Vancouver Liberals. Allam says the administration he helped create needs to change. He is promising more frontline city workers, investment in parks, pools, libraries and community centres, and a focus on basic municipal services.

Rebecca Bligh, a former ABC member running as an independent, has served two terms as a city councillor. As leader of Vote Vancouver, she is campaigning on affordability, housing, child care, reliable transit and stronger public services, while promising a more collaborative and less partisan City Hall.

Independent candidate Amauri Caliman has not held elected office and has comparatively little publicly available campaign information. His candidacy offers voters an independent option outside Vancouver’s established civic parties.

Pete Fry is the Green Party candidate for the recently united “progressive left.” He has nearly eight years of City Hall experience and previously worked as a community activist and communications professional. Fry is campaigning on affordable housing, climate action, public safety and greater government transparency. A consistent critic of the current administration, he faces the task of turning an opposition record into a mayoral mandate.

Scott Gilbert is an independent activist and the self-proclaimed mayor of Bowser Island, a former encampment in North Vancouver. His website lists “Drain the Swamp” as a campaign focus on issues affecting the Downtown Eastside.

Colleen Hardwick, a former city councillor and urban-planning advocate, is running for TEAM for a Livable Vancouver. Her campaign argues that development must be matched by infrastructure and focuses on neighbourhood character and stronger municipal services.

Incumbent Mayor Ken Sim is seeking a second term with ABC Vancouver. The former entrepreneur has emphasized public safety during his campaign. Earlier this year, ABC’s council majority approved a motion to include two plebiscite questions about drug use on the ballot.

Sim enters the campaign following significant political controversy. Earlier this year, an independent investigation found that he violated Vancouver’s Code of Conduct and harassed Coun. Sean Orr over allegations involving antisemitism and terrorism, though council ultimately imposed no sanctions. Separately, Sim apologized after it emerged that he had started a false claim that Orr was distributing illegal drugs.