Saskatchewan · City of Regina

How to run for Mayor in Regina

A plain-English guide to the 2028 cycle — eligibility, deadlines, paperwork, and key local contacts for mayor candidates in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Election day: Wednesday, November 8, 2028
Population (2021)
226,404
Head of council
1 Mayor
Term
4 years
Wards
10,

Step 1

Are you eligible?

On the day you file your nomination paper for mayor in Regina, you must be:

  • A Canadian citizen.
  • At least 18 years old.
  • A resident of Regina, OR a non-resident owner or tenant of land in Regina (or the spouse of one).
  • Not legally disqualified from running.
Common disqualifications include sitting judges, sitting MPs / Senators / MPPs (must resign before filing), municipal employees (must take an unpaid leave or resign), and people serving a sentence in a penal institution.

Step 2

What does the mayor do?

The Mayor is the head of council in Regina — chairs council meetings, is the public face of the city, and votes alongside councillors on by-laws, the annual budget, and major staffing decisions.

RoleSeatsTermNotes
Mayor14 yearsAt-large. **Chad Bachynski** elected Nov 13, 2024 with 31.5 % of the vote (defeating Lori Bresciani 24.89 % and incumbent Sandra Masters 23.12 %). First-time political candidate.

Step 3

The nomination process

Filing happens at the local Returning Officer, in person during regular office hours and on nomination day until 2:00 PM. You'll need to bring:

  • Nomination paper, signed in the presence of the clerk or a commissioner of oaths.
  • 25 voters (cities ≥ 20,000) or 5 voters (smaller cities and towns) from eligible electors of Regina.
  • Government-issued photo ID showing your name and qualifying address.
  • Filing fee: None at the provincial level. Some municipalities charge a nominal fee by bylaw.

Where to file

City Clerk's Office, Queen Elizabeth II Court, 2476 Victoria Avenue, Regina SK S4P 3C8 (filing by appointment).

Step 4

Key dates — 2028 cycle

DateEvent
Invalid DateNomination period opens
Invalid DateNomination period closes (last day to file)
November 8, 2028Election day
November 28, 2028New term of council begins

Step 5

Campaign finance

Saskatchewan has no province-wide campaign-finance regulation. Saskatoon (Bylaw 8491), Regina, and Moose Jaw have local disclosure / spending bylaws; most other cities have none.

Local

Specific to Regina

  • Low spending floor: Regina mayoral races have run at a fraction of the spending cap for years — even competitive 2024 races stayed well under $30 K. Don't budget for Toronto-scale spending; budget for mailers, signs, and a good ground game.
  • First-time candidate wins mayoralty: Bachynski's 2024 win is a strong signal that incumbency is *not* a lock in Regina.
  • Sign bylaw: election signs permitted on private property during the campaign period; not allowed on public boulevards. Confirm the current City sign-bylaw version with the Clerk's Office before printing.
  • Mail-in ballots: available on request; Regina uses electronic counters at polls but no online voting.
  • Advance polls: 5+ days, 10+ locations.

Ballot

Other roles on the same ballot

Voters in Regina also choose:

  • City Councillor — One per ward. Notable 2024 results: Shanon Zachidniak re-elected Ward 8; Jason Mancinelli won Ward 9.
  • Public School Trustee — Regina Public Schools — Mix of ward and at-large.
  • Catholic Separate Trustee — Regina Catholic Schools — At-large; Catholic supporters only.
  • CSF Trustee — Province-wide francophone division.

Sources

Official resources

Related guides

Also running in Regina?

Considering a different office? We have plain-English guides for every position on the Regina ballot:

This page is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. Always confirm details with the local Returning Officer and the most recent provincial candidate guide before filing. Last reviewed 2026-05-01.

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