Yukon’s upcoming territorial election this fall is poised to be an intriguing and uncertain event, with the addition of new ridings, revised riding boundaries, a fresh pool of candidates, and a significant influx of new voters.
On November 3, voters will cast their ballots to select the 21 members of the 36th legislative assembly, with approximately half of these positions expected to be filled by newcomers. Only 10 incumbent candidates are seeking re-election in the upcoming election.
Among the key ridings to monitor during the post-election outcome are Whistle Bend South and Whistle Bend North. These newly established ridings are situated in the rapidly expanding and diverse Whistle Bend neighborhood of Whitehorse. All candidates running in these ridings are women, with Yvonne Clarke from the Yukon Party aiming to transition from representing Porter Creek Centre to Whistle Bend North. The other contenders in the Whistle Bend races include Tiara Topps from the NDP and Beverly Cooper from the Liberals.
Vuntut Gwitchin, the northernmost and least populous electoral district in Yukon, is notoriously unpredictable in elections, having been represented by all major parties over the past decade. This year, the incumbent Annie Blake from the NDP faces competition from Liberal Debra-Leigh Reti and Sandra Charlie from the Yukon Party.
In Whitehorse West, a historically influential riding, the departure of former Liberal MLA Richard Mostyn has opened the door for new Liberal leader Mike Pemberton to contend against Laura Lang from the Yukon Party and Katherine McCallum from the NDP.
The Klondike riding, previously held by former premier Sandy Silver, is now up for grabs, with the Liberals yet to confirm their candidate. The race is expected to be highly competitive, with newcomers Brent McDonald from the NDP and Richard Nagano from the Yukon Party in the running.
Mayo-Tatchun, Yukon’s largest electoral district, has a history of political twists and turns. In this election, incumbent Liberal MLA Jeremy Harper faces challenges from Cory Bellmore of the Yukon Party and Colin Prentice from the NDP, both affiliated with the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation.
With these developments and candidates vying for seats across various ridings, Yukon’s upcoming territorial election is set to be a closely watched and pivotal event in shaping the region’s political landscape.
