Edmonton mayor Sohi to run for Liberals in federal election

Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi in 2024.

Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi is running for the Liberal party in next month’s federal election in a new Edmonton riding.

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Sohi confirmed on Sunday afternoon he will run in Edmonton Southeast.

Prime Minister Mark Carney called the election on Sunday morning. Canadians will head to the polls on April 28, six months before the fixed date.

The 61-year-old, who was elected mayor in 2021, was the Liberal MP in the old Edmonton Mill Woods riding for five years and served as a cabinet minister under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau before being defeated in the 2019 federal election.

Before that, the former transit driver sat on Edmonton city council as a councillor from 2007-15.

Also seeking office in Edmonton Southeast are Jagsharan Singh Mahal (Conservative), Harpreet Grewal (NDP), Carrie McLaren (Green) and Martin Schuetza (PPC).

The Edmonton Southeast riding joins Edmonton Gateway as new ridings after the Mill Woods riding was split in two.

The mayor’s office said Sunday that Sohi will take an unpaid leave of absence during the election campaign. His duties will be carried out by city councillors who will also take turns serving as deputy mayor.

If Sohi wins the federal seat, he will resign as mayor, while if he doesn’t, he will return to city council until the municipal election this fall and not seek re-election, the mayor’s office said.