Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi is considering running in the upcoming federal election in Edmonton Southeast, sources tell CTV News Edmonton.
Former city councillor Ben Henderson has recently dropped out as the Liberal candidate for that riding, his press secretary confirmed to CTV News Edmonton.
On Thursday, Sohi released a statement saying he would not be commenting on the speculation.
“I have been asked if I would consider putting my name forward to run with the Liberal Party of Canada in the upcoming federal election,” it read. “I will continue to stand up for Edmonton and serve my city, and I will have more to say about my political future in the coming days.”
Sohi previously represented the ward of Edmonton Mill Woods from 2015 to 2019 as a Liberal MP.
During that time he served as minister of natural resources and minister of infrastructure and communities.
CTV political analyst Scott Reid said Sohi is a “natural” choice for the Liberals, given he’s a former MP and federal cabinet minister.
“Mark Carney has spent his first week as prime minister dedicating a lot of energy to high-profile candidates,” Reid said. “Sohi fits that mold very well.
“He’s a well-known and established political name and he brings an impressive political machine … I suspect those are the many reasons that the liberals are anxious to have him on the ticket, just as they’re recruiting some stars all across the country.”
Sohi was elected mayor of Edmonton in 2021.
The next Edmonton municipal election will be held in October.
