Tight race expected between Sohi and Mahal in Edmonton Southeast

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Federal and municipal politics once again crossed the southeastern road in Canada’s 2025 election.

Amarjeet Sohi is running for the federal government again in the campaign for Jagsharan Singh Mahal, a conservative candidate and lawyer on Edmonton’s southeast riding due to the role of mayor Edmonton.

Cycling is expected to be another tense race between courage and the Conservatives, with 338 Canada forecasts to “get rid of” by April 28, reflecting the popularity of leaders from both parties in the polls.

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While Edmonton Southeast riding is new to this year, politics and dynamics are not. Voters will once again have recent municipal political experiences with liberal candidates that help or hurt their desirability, rather than conservatives.

Liberal Party and City Council

For a decade, liberals have been attracting candidates from the Edmonton City Council to represent this part of the city.

Later, Sohi served as a city councilman for two terms in 2015, and after re-defining the line, Sohi took a leave from the city hall and ran for liberals. He faced conservative candidate Tim Uppal in a fierce game, winning 41.2% – a 92 votes lead.

But Sohi lost his re-election in 2019, with Uppal winning with a bigger profit.

Edmonton City Hall is again from the Uppal Challenger in 2021. Then, Ward 8 Councilman Ben Henderson took an unpaid leave to run for the liberals of Edmonton Mill Woods. California defeated his liberals again.

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But Uppal is not a threat to Sohi this time. Uppal ran at the Edmonton Gateway in this election, bringing Sohi against conservative newcomer Mahal.

Sohi considers him the right person for the job, and seeing his exit from council to federal politics is a way for him to support Edmontonians.

“I feel a sense of obligation and responsibility that I have to do what is necessary for Edmonton,” he said in an earlier interview with Postmedia. “Whether as a member of the council, a member of Congress, a federal minister or mayor, I have done important things for our Edmonton and if I get elected to this position, I will continue to do that.”

Sohi promises to advocate for federal investment in the Edmonton area’s winning hydrogen and artificial intelligence potential.

“When we work together, I want to be on the table, make a plan to build the best economy we can build in the G7.”

From lawyer to councillor?

Mahal is a self-proclaimed family member who has been a lawyer for more than 12 years.

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He sees his connection to the community and knowledge of local issues as an advantage, and says the transition from lawyers to legislators as conservative MPs is natural.

“I know their problems directly, and I have legal experience,” he said in a recent interview. “I believe this gives me an advantage over any other candidate.”

Affordability, crime and support for small businesses are some of the main issues he sees on the ride. In addition to the conservative platform expected to reform the bail release system, Mahal will also advocate more support for the city, which will be “like a vacuum” after 4 p.m. and will work with the municipal government in hopes of reducing commercial property taxes.

“I would advocate for a strong local economy and inject more money into local businesses,” he said.

“There are some Canadians, Indian diaspora, or generally, struggling with affordability, and the costs are rising. Crime is rampant now, so we need to address these issues.”

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Six candidates

Four other names on the ballot in southeast Edmonton – Harpreet Grewal is NDP, Martin Schuetza’s BJP, Corinne Benson of the Communist Party of Canada and independent candidate Gurleen Chandi.

Healthcare is a priority for NDP candidate Grewal, a licensed practice nurse. She hopes to see more about federal spending conditions for provincial health care.

“It should be spent on health care and should be spent making it more accessible, not accessible,” she said in an earlier interview.

“I’m worried about being a nurse and a citizen, that’s why I decided to run. I feel like someone has to do that, why can’t it be me?”

lboothby@postmedia.clom

@laurby

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