--- title: "Josh Rachlis: candidate for mayor, Ottawa 2026 | voche.me" canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/josh-rachlis" last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:05:26.826Z" meta: description: "Josh Rachlis is on the City of Ottawa's list of certified candidates for Mayor, with a nomination filed on August 21, 2026. He describes himself as an acto..." "og:description": "Josh Rachlis is on the City of Ottawa's list of certified candidates for Mayor, with a nomination filed on August 21, 2026. He describes himself as an acto..." "og:title": "Josh Rachlis: candidate for mayor, Ottawa 2026" "twitter:description": "Josh Rachlis is on the City of Ottawa's list of certified candidates for Mayor, with a nomination filed on August 21, 2026. He describes himself as an acto..." "twitter:title": "Josh Rachlis: candidate for mayor, Ottawa 2026" --- ** Mayor · Ottawa 2026 # Josh Rachlis Actor, comedian and video creator running for Mayor, after earlier campaigns for other offices. Josh Rachlis is on the City of Ottawa's list of certified candidates for Mayor, with a nomination filed on August 21, 2026. He describes himself as an actor, comedian, songwriter, artist, advertising copywriter and social media creator. His campaign platform of September 14, 2026 is built on reliable transit, affordable living and safe streets. CBC News reports that he also ran for Toronto mayor in 2014, for Ottawa Centre in a provincial election and for an Ottawa school trustee seat. Explore priorities Campaign links Researched by voche.me · Not a campaign-authored page Candidate space2026 ![Josh Rachlis, from Josh Rachlis campaign (joshrachlis.substack.com).](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/images/candidates/josh-rachlis-640.webp) *Josh RachlisMayorv.* [Image: Josh Rachlis campaign (joshrachlis.substack.com)](https://joshrachlis.substack.com/about) 01 / Introduction ## About Josh Rachlis The City's list of certified candidates shows Josh Rachlis's nomination for Mayor filed on August 21, 2026, the last day nominations were open, and gives him a website, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. CBC News named him among the candidates who registered that day. He answered CBC News's candidate questionnaire, and CBC published his answers with its list of August 28, 2026. 580 CFRA, an Ottawa radio station, published an interview with him in its mayoral candidate series. voche.me did not listen to the audio and takes nothing from it. In his own words, he is an actor, comedian, songwriter, artist and content creator who posts daily videos about Ottawa, and an advertising copywriter. He says he started a Facebook group called Short-Notice Meetups five years ago that now has more than 11,000 members, that he works as a background actor in Christmas movies filmed in Ottawa, and that he was trained as a Climate Reality presenter by Al Gore. He says he has run for the Green Party provincially and federally. These are his statements, and voche.me has checked only the election history listed below. He lists his top issues as reliable and affordable transit, homes people can afford, and safe streets. His platform post proposes a "Compassion Park" for people who are homeless, a bus tracking app, shops in OC Transpo stations, sump pumps and green driveways for flood victims, shops along the Rideau Canal, and an Art Mayor to support the arts. In his CBC questionnaire he says he would not accept campaign donations from the development and construction industry and that he opposes City funding for a new NHL arena at LeBreton Flats. CBC News reported on August 20, 2022 that he decided at the City's election office to run for school board trustee. The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board survey published by FAIR Ottawa on October 9, 2022 lists him as a candidate in Zone 9 (Capital and Alta Vista) and shows that he sent no responses to the survey. In July 2023 CBC News wrote that his campaign history included running for Toronto mayor in 2014 and for Ottawa Centre MPP, and VoteMate's guide to the 2025 Ontario election lists him as an independent candidate for Ottawa Centre. voche.me did not find the vote counts for these races in an official result and leaves them out. No public office, complaint, finding or news report about conduct was found in the sources opened for 2026. [Seven mayoral candidates lay out transit and environment plans at Nepean Sportsplex forum ](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/news/mayor-forum-transit-trees-2026-10-09) Read the sources 02 / The issues ## Priorities & positions Campaign-source summary Summarized from the campaign’s published profile. These are stated positions, not an assessment of results or a complete platform. 01 ### Reliable, affordable transit In his CBC questionnaire he rates OC Transpo's current reliability 5 out of 10. He proposes talking to OC Transpo staff about the causes of late buses, an app that shows where each bus is and why it is late, more advertising on buses to raise money instead of fares, and shops in and outside stations.
Read the full position He says he would try free fares for one month as a test, and he picks a transit levy (a tax added to pay for transit) as the answer to OC Transpo's deficits. He asks for phone charging outlets on buses and in stations.
[CBC News · candidate questionnaire from Josh Rachlis, published with the August 28, 2026 candidate list ](https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/28722343/josh-rachlis.pdf) 02 ### Housing and homelessness He proposes a "Compassion Park", for example on a parking lot near ByWard Market, with benches, trees, heat lamps, snacks and links to meals, washrooms, showers, laundry, housing workers and health services.
Read the full position His post also lists more City money for non-profit and co-operative housing, City land for lasting affordable homes near transit, more supportive housing, and rent help and eviction prevention.
[Josh Rachlis · Josh Rachlis' platform as a candidate for Mayor of Ottawa, September 14, 2026 ](https://joshrachlis.substack.com/p/josh-rachlis-platform-as-a-candidate) 03 ### Safe streets In his CBC questionnaire he chooses more social supports over more enforcement as the City's answer to public drug use and encampments, and says the public should see where every police dollar goes.
Read the full position He does not say whether the police budget should rise or fall and says he would first ask experts and the public. He suggests sending both police and social workers to emergency calls, so that the one best suited can be chosen once the situation is assessed.
[CBC News · candidate questionnaire from Josh Rachlis, published with the August 28, 2026 candidate list ](https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/28722343/josh-rachlis.pdf) 04 ### Flooding and green space He says the City should find the cause of this summer's flooding, provide sump pumps to residents who need them, and help owners replace paved driveways with grass driveways that absorb rain water.
Read the full position In his CBC questionnaire he gives the number of flooded homes as 7,000. That is his figure, and voche.me has not checked it. He proposes that the City pay for the driveway changes or give tax breaks, and he suggests a corporate sponsor for the sump pumps.
[Josh Rachlis · Josh Rachlis' platform as a candidate for Mayor of Ottawa, September 14, 2026 ](https://joshrachlis.substack.com/p/josh-rachlis-platform-as-a-candidate) 05 ### Taxes, openness and money from developers He says he would not want to raise taxes, would explain and consult first if more money were needed, and would consider a referendum.
Read the full position He answers "Maybe" on using the strong mayor powers (the extra powers Ontario gave some mayors) and says he would use them only if there were no other solution. He says he would not accept campaign donations from the development and construction industry.
[CBC News · candidate questionnaire from Josh Rachlis, published with the August 28, 2026 candidate list ](https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/28722343/josh-rachlis.pdf) 06 ### Arts, film and community He proposes an Art Mayor to help grow the arts industry, support for more film shoots in Ottawa, and support for community centres and activities that reduce loneliness.
Read the full position He also proposes pop-up shops along the Rideau Canal and more things to do along the Ottawa River.
[Josh Rachlis · Josh Rachlis' platform as a candidate for Mayor of Ottawa, September 14, 2026 ](https://joshrachlis.substack.com/p/josh-rachlis-platform-as-a-candidate) [580 CFRA interview page](https://omny.fm/shows/580-cfra/city-in-review-getting-to-know-mayoral-candidate-josh-rachlis) Research status ## What voche.me has checked Evidence reviewed on October 5, 2026: the City of Ottawa's list of certified candidates, his Substack home page and platform post of September 14, 2026, the answers he gave CBC News's questionnaire, CBC News's candidate list of August 28, 2026 and its report of August 21, 2026, the page for 580 CFRA's interview with him, CBC News's report of nomination day in 2022, FAIR Ottawa's 2022 survey of school board candidates, CBC News's guide to the 2023 by-election and VoteMate's 2025 candidate page. His Facebook, Instagram and TikTok accounts answered with a login page or a profile line only, and no posts could be read. Gaps. His career, his Green Party campaigns, his Facebook group and his movie work come from his own statements and were not checked against another source. The audio of the CFRA interview was not heard. The vote counts and results of his earlier campaigns were not taken from official results and are left out. The questionnaire from voche.me has not been sent. [City of Ottawa · certified candidates, Mayor](https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/elections/candidates/certified-and-acclaimed-candidates/certified-candidates-mayor) 03 / Background ## Experience & community Dates not given ### Advertising copywriter and content creator (his own account) In his platform post he says he is an advertising copywriter, an actor, comedian, songwriter and artist, and that he posts daily videos about Ottawa. voche.me has not checked these statements against another source. [Josh Rachlis · Josh Rachlis' platform as a candidate for Mayor of Ottawa, September 14, 2026](https://joshrachlis.substack.com/p/josh-rachlis-platform-as-a-candidate) 2022 ### Candidate for school board trustee, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board CBC News reported that he decided at the City's election office to run for school board trustee. FAIR Ottawa's survey lists him in Zone 9 and shows that he sent no responses. voche.me did not find the result. [FAIR Ottawa · survey of Ottawa-Carleton District School Board trustee candidates, October 9, 2022](https://www.fairforall.org/ottawa/wp-content/uploads/sites/158/2022/10/Ottawa-Carleton-District-School-Board-trustee-candidate-survey-results221009.pdf) 2023 ### Independent candidate in the Kanata-Carleton provincial by-election CBC News's guide to the July 2023 by-election (a vote held between general elections to fill one seat) lists him as an independent candidate and says his campaign history includes running for Toronto mayor in 2014. voche.me did not find the vote count in an official result. [CBC News · Here's what you need to know for Thursday's byelection day in Kanata-Carleton, July 2023](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-carleton-byelection-1.6892596) 2025 ### Independent candidate for Ottawa Centre in the Ontario election VoteMate's guide to the 2025 Ontario election lists him as an independent candidate for Ottawa Centre. Its biography text is marked as submitted by the candidate or the campaign. [VoteMate · Josh Rachlis, independent for Ottawa Centre, 2025 Ontario election](https://votemate.org/ontario2025/candidates/11196) 04 / Questions & answers ## Questions for the candidate Proposed questions for a future interview. They have not been sent to the candidate, and no answers have been supplied. No questions and answers have been supplied. ### Have your own question? Ask Josh Rachlis directly. We send it to the campaign, and publish the reply here if we get one. 05 / About this page ## Questions about this page Facts voche.me can state about Josh Rachlis's page itself, answered directly rather than left blank.
Is this an official page for Josh Rachlis? No. This page is researched by voche.me from public sources, listed below, and is separate from Josh Rachlis's own campaign.
Does Josh Rachlis currently hold public office? Not according to this profile. voche.me has not listed a current public office for Josh Rachlis.
How many sources does this Josh Rachlis profile cite? This profile lists 11 sourced references, each with the date voche.me checked it, in the Sources section below.
Why do some questions on Josh Rachlis's page show no answer? The "Questions & answers" section on this page lists questions voche.me would put to Josh Rachlis in a future interview. They have not been sent yet, so the page says plainly that no answer has been supplied instead of leaving the section blank.
When is the election Josh Rachlis is running in? The 2026 Ottawa municipal election, including the Mayor race, is decided on October 26, 2026.
06 / Candidate contributions ## Space for campaign updates ### No campaign updates yet Announcements, event details and messages can be added here, with their source and publication date. No campaign submission has been added. ## Sources & transparency - [City of Ottawa · certified candidates, Mayor ](https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/elections/candidates/certified-and-acclaimed-candidates/certified-candidates-mayor)Checked October 5, 2026 - [Josh Rachlis · campaign website (Substack home page) ](https://joshrachlis.substack.com/)Checked October 5, 2026 - [Josh Rachlis · Josh Rachlis' platform as a candidate for Mayor of Ottawa, September 14, 2026 ](https://joshrachlis.substack.com/p/josh-rachlis-platform-as-a-candidate)Checked October 5, 2026 - [CBC News · candidate questionnaire from Josh Rachlis, published with the August 28, 2026 candidate list ](https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/28722343/josh-rachlis.pdf)Checked October 5, 2026 - [CBC News · These are Ottawa's 2026 candidates for mayor, August 28, 2026 ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-mayor-election-race-2026-election-9.7311126)Checked October 5, 2026 - [CBC News · 2 Ottawa city councillors poised to keep seats because no one ran against them, August 21, 2026 ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-city-council-mayor-election-2026-deadline-9.7314470)Checked October 5, 2026 - [580 CFRA · City In Review, Getting to know mayoral candidate Josh Rachlis (audio page) ](https://omny.fm/shows/580-cfra/city-in-review-getting-to-know-mayoral-candidate-josh-rachlis)Checked October 5, 2026 - [CBC News · Last-minute entries pushes candidate list up over 200 for this fall's election, August 20, 2022 ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/nominations-municipal-election-closed-1.6555726)Checked October 5, 2026 - [FAIR Ottawa · survey of Ottawa-Carleton District School Board trustee candidates, October 9, 2022 ](https://www.fairforall.org/ottawa/wp-content/uploads/sites/158/2022/10/Ottawa-Carleton-District-School-Board-trustee-candidate-survey-results221009.pdf)Checked October 5, 2026 - [CBC News · Here's what you need to know for Thursday's byelection day in Kanata-Carleton, July 2023 ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-carleton-byelection-1.6892596)Checked October 5, 2026 - [VoteMate · Josh Rachlis, independent for Ottawa Centre, 2025 Ontario election ](https://votemate.org/ontario2025/candidates/11196)Checked October 5, 2026 Missing information does not imply a candidate’s position. [Read our editorial standards.](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/about) Campaign contact ## Campaign links & contact. Find the candidate’s website, social accounts and contact information. [Josh Rachlis campaign website and Substack](https://joshrachlis.substack.com/) [Josh Rachlis on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/joshrachlis) [Josh Rachlis on Instagram (SparkTheGenius)](https://www.instagram.com/sparkthegenius) [Josh Rachlis on TikTok (SparkTheGenius)](https://www.tiktok.com/@sparkthegenius) ## View more candidates. [All candidate spaces ](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/candidates) [Mayor**Alex Lawson**](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/alex-lawson) [Mayor**Ali Shayvard**](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/ali-shayvard) Candidate Q&A ## Ask Josh Rachlis a question. Give your name, email and question. We send it to the campaign, and publish their answer here if we get one. ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/on/ottawa-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.