Martin Ritsma, the incumbent seeking a second term, leads the Stratford, Ontario mayoral market as the October 26 election approaches, reflecting traders’ assessment of his established profile from a narrow 2022 victory and ongoing council work on housing supply and development. Recent candidate forums have centered on affordability measures, density intensification, development charges, and the Grand Trunk site, with limited differentiation emerging among challengers Jo-Dee Burbach, Mark Hunter, Robert Ritz, and Andrew Rea. No major endorsements, polling shifts, or late disruptions have altered positioning in the final weeks, leaving the field structured around incumbency and local policy execution.