**Incumbent Patrick Johnstone of Community First New West leads trader sentiment in the New Westminster, BC mayoral race ahead of the October 17 election, with market pricing reflecting his established position and party majority on council.** Johnstone, elected mayor in 2022 after prior council service, emphasizes continuity on affordable housing delivery, renter protections, climate initiatives, and harm-reduction approaches to homelessness and addictions, including support for services like the health contact centre. Challenger Daniel Fontaine of the New Westminster Progressives, a current councillor, highlights taxpayer concerns over repeated property tax hikes, critiques of certain bike lane and regional governance projects at Metro Vancouver, and a preference for greater provincial responsibility on housing and social issues. Recent debates and candidate interviews have sharpened contrasts on these files, while labour endorsements and the two-party dominance of the ballot have reinforced the frontrunner dynamic in the final days.