Amarjeet Sohi elected mayor of Edmonton

Former federal cabinet minister Amarjeet Sohi was elected mayor of Edmonton on Monday, confirming polls that placed the veteran politician well ahead of the eight other candidates in Alberta’s capital.

Sohi replaces Don Iveson, who announced last fall he would not seek re-election. Iveson was Edmonton’s mayor since 2013.

Sohi beat out Mike Nickel, a conservative-leaning city councillor; Kim Krushell, who has also served as a city councillor; Cheryll Watson, who has worked for 20 years in the tech industry; and others vying for the top municipal position.

Amarjeet Sohi greats family and camapaign workers. #yegvote pic.twitter.com/h8mB86d4MD

— Darcy Ropchan (@darcyropchan) October 19, 2021

The 57-year-old Sohi, who moved to Edmonton from India as a teenager, worked as a city bus driver until he was elected to council in 2007.

He successfully ran for the Liberals in the October 2015 federal election in the riding of Edmonton Mill Woods and became minister of infrastructure and communities. He was named natural resources minister in 2018. He was defeated by Conservative Tim Uppal in the 2019 election.

Sohi adding he’ll be there for all Edmontonians, even those who didn’t vote for him.

Sohi also talking about fighting the fourth wave, says they need the province to be a partner. #yegvote pic.twitter.com/m99nIGesx4

— Darce Vader (@darcyropchan) October 19, 2021

Sohi threw his name in the municipal race in May. At his campaign launch event, he said Edmonton “needs a mayor who understands that collaboration is at the heart of a strong community and a strong economy.”

Municipal elections were held across the province.

Edmonton reported record-high turnouts for early voting. The city had counted about 36,000 voters at the polls just before 1 p.m.

Provincial referendum questions on the federal equalization program and daylight time were also on the ballot, but Albertans won’t know those results until the 26th.

—With files from The Canadian Press