Winnipeg mayoral race shows grassroots challenger Noah Redden climbing to third in latest poll
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A new Abacus Data poll puts 27-year-old software developer Noah Redden tied for third with 14% support, while incumbent Scott Gillingham leads with 36% ahead of Wednesday's election.
A recent Abacus Data survey released Friday shows software developer Noah Redden surging into third place with 14% of decided voters, tying him with candidate Mike Vogiatzakis. Incumbent mayor Scott Gillingham remains in front with 36% support, though that total is 19 points lower than a September poll conducted for the Free Press. Former city councillor and Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Kevin Klein is second with 19%, down four points since September.
Redden, who is running a grassroots campaign built around social media and ordinary voters rather than big-money machinery, told the Free Press at a diner in St. James that his message on public transit, homelessness and addiction seems to be connecting with people. > "I’m feeling pretty good… the increase in support has been really exciting," he said. He added that his limited fundraising capacity forced him to lean heavily on social-media posts aimed at younger voters, highlighting the disadvantages faced by smaller campaigns.
Supporters at the event included Sandra Bender, 46, and her mother Karen Klassen Bender, 71, who praised Redden’s platform and voiced frustration with Gillingham’s handling of transit and homelessness policies.
Gillingham’s spokesperson Colin Fast said the incumbent’s campaign will continue focusing on voter mobilisation for election day, adding, "We’re going to keep focusing on our own campaign, and getting ready for election day when we’ll have 200 people mobilized throughout Winnipeg to get out the vote."
Kevin Klein dismissed the poll’s methodology, calling the results "fictional" and pointing out that the sample came from an online panel and text-message recruitment, which means a standard margin of error cannot be applied.
The poll also listed eight other candidates receiving between one and seven percent support. Voters are scheduled to cast ballots on Wednesday.