Candidates worth watching in upcoming election

Leo Bureau-Blouin is shown in this file photo.

MONTREAL - Here is a list of some of the prominent candidates who will be running in Quebec's election campaign and hoping to be elected on Sept. 4:

Jean-Martin Aussant: Former PQ member of the national assembly who is now leader of Option nationale, which is dedicated to achieving Quebec sovereignty. Won central Quebec riding of Nicolet-Yamaska by fewer than 200 votes for PQ in 2008.

Gaetan Barrette: Outgoing president of federation representing medical specialists is trying his luck with the Coalition for Quebec's Future in Terrebonne, north of Montreal.

Djemila Benhabib: Controversial PQ candidate in the central Quebec riding of Trois-Rivieres is of Algerian extraction and is a strict anti-Islamist.

Leo-Bureau-Blouin: Only 20 years old, the former student leader hopes to become the youngest-ever member of the national assembly. Had a high profile during the spring tuition protests and is up against incumbent Alain Paquet, junior finance minister, in the Montreal-area riding of Laval-des-Rapides.

Jean Charest: Liberal leader is seeking a fifth consecutive mandate in Sherbrooke, which encompasses his hometown of the same name. Won 45.2 per cent of the vote in 2008, compared with 37.6 per cent for the PQ candidate. This time he is up against another native son, Serge Cardin, who represented Sherbrooke for the Bloc Quebecois between 1998 and 2011.

Francoise David: Co-head of the staunchly leftist Quebec solidaire will be aiming to join her fellow co-leader Amir Khadir in the national assembly. She is running in the Montreal riding of Gouin. She increased her share of the vote to 31.9 per cent in 2008 from 26 per cent in 2007.

Pierre Duchesne: Ex-Radio Canada reporter is running for the PQ in what looks like a safe riding of Borduas for the sovereigntist party. The Liberals will continue to accuse him of being biased while he was still on TV.

Amir Khadir: Quebec Solidaire's only member in the national assembly. The co-leader of the leftist and sovereigntist party has enjoyed a high profile in the last five years. He won the Montreal riding of Mercier by 810 votes in 2008 and could face a tough fight in traditional PQ territory.

Francois Legault: Head of the Coalition for Quebec's Future (CAQ) seeks election in the Montreal-area riding of L'Assomption as he tries to get back into the legislature.

Jean-Francois Lisee: Onetime adviser to former PQ premiers Jacques Parizeau and Lucien Bouchard. He is running in safe PQ riding of Rosemont.

Pauline Marois: Parti Quebecois leader shouldn't have any trouble winning Charlevoix-Cote-de-Beaupre, northeast of Quebec City. She won 52.2 per cent of the vote in the 2008 election.