‘Exciting’ turn for mayoral candidate

A modest group of voters gathered at a Portage Avenue diner on Sunday, drawn by the prospect of meeting Noah Redden, a 27-year-old software developer who has seen his political fortunes rise in Winnipeg's mayoral race. Just two days after a new poll placed Redden in third place with 14 per cent support, tying him with Mike Vogiatzakis, Abacus Data revealed the 27-year-old's surge in popularity.

Scott Gillingham, the incumbent, remains the frontrunner with 36 per cent support, but his lead has narrowed to 19 percentage points from the previous Abacus survey in September. Former city councillor Kevin Klein has dropped to second place with 19 per cent support, a four-point decrease since September.

Redden's campaign has focused on social media, using concise messages to appeal to younger voters. He believes his platform – emphasizing public transit improvements, compassionate care for the homeless, and addiction support – resonates with Winnipeggers. "I’m feeling pretty good... To see it increase as much as it has has been really exciting," Redden told the Free Press.

Redden's grassroots approach has included sharing his vision with voters at Dreamland Diner in St. James. Attendees, like Sandra Bender and Karen Klassen Bender, praised his platform and expressed hope for compassionate policies addressing homelessness and addiction. Meanwhile, Gillingham's spokesman, Colin Fast, remained focused on his own campaign, dismissing Klein's criticism of Abacus's latest poll numbers as "fictional."