Press Release: Mayoral Poll Shows Strong Desire For Change

Mayoral Poll Shows Strong Desire For Change

November 7th, 2024 – 3:30 pm

Common Sense Regina has released the results of a new mayoral poll today, indicating a strong desire for change at City Hall, with 68% of those surveyed saying that "it's time to elect a new Mayor."

The survey, conducted by polling company One Persuasion from October 30th to November 4th, reveals significant voter dissatisfaction and a potentially challenging path to re-election for the incumbent Mayor, with just three in ten decided voters intending to support Sandra Masters.

However, the divided nature of the opposition to Masters could still see her re-elected with just 31% of the vote.

The poll highlights a tight race between Masters at 31% and her closest competitor, Councillor Lori Bresciani, who stands at 26% support among those who are decided on a candidate.

Mayor Masters has a net favourability score of -3%, while Councillor Lori Bresciani, polling in second place, has a net favourability score of +27%.

Bresciani is also polling higher among women, older voters, and residents of Regina’s North and East.

Other contenders, including Chad Bachnyski at 17% and Bill Pratt at 16%, are further behind, with all other candidates collectively garnering just 11%.

“Voters are clearly expressing frustration with the City’s direction under the previous Mayor and Council,” said Peter McCaffrey, spokesperson for Common Sense Regina.

“There is a clear call for a shift in direction at City Hall to address core concerns instead of costly projects, but voters will need to use common sense on election day.”

The poll also analyzed potential reasons for the low approval ratings of the incumbent, finding high-profile projects such as the Lawson Aquatic Centre rebuild and a proposed downtown library are widely perceived as wasteful and are very unpopular.

According to the poll:

• 65% of respondents oppose rebuilding the Lawson Aquatic Centre, with 25% marking it as a "very important" issue influencing their vote and 35% considering it "moderately important." Opposition is even stronger among voters over 55 and those who say they are certain to vote.
• 67% oppose increasing taxes to fund a new downtown library, with 27% seeing the issue as "very important" and 34% as "moderately important" in their voting decision.
• 67% feel embarrassed by the "Experience Regina" rebranding debacle, with 38% placing direct blame on Mayor Masters.

Full details of the poll are available here.