Russ Wyatt faces four challengers in Winnipeg’s Transcona council race
The incumbent is seeking another term in the Oct. 28 municipal election as challengers raise concerns about communication, recreation and city services.
Russ Wyatt faces four challengers for Winnipeg’s Transcona council seat in the Oct. 28 municipal election, Global News reported on Oct. 26. The contest will decide who represents the ward at City Hall, with candidates debating communication with residents and priorities for city services.
The challengers are former Transcona councillor Shawn Nason, Lora Meseman, Chris Giesbrecht and Nathine Dagdick. Winnipeg elects one councillor from each of its 15 wards, according to the city’s election information.
What Transcona’s challengers are saying
Nason represented Transcona from 2018 to 2022, when he lost to Wyatt by more than 900 votes, Global News reported. He told the outlet that residents had asked him to return and said a lack of communication had left people feeling unrepresented. Nason said his previous council term gave him experience working with other levels of government, and that he had become more willing to learn and compromise since his defeat.
Meseman told Global News that what she saw as underfunding of recreation centres prompted her to run. She also criticised Wyatt’s communication with residents, saying people were frustrated because they were not getting information or hearing back from their councillor.
Giesbrecht, 31, told Global News he believed Winnipeg was declining and that younger residents would live with the consequences. He identified affordability, downtown safety and Transcona’s changing population as priorities. He criticised rising water bills and property taxes, and called the revamped Winnipeg Transit system a ‘disaster.’
Dagdick said he had considered running since the 2022 election and believed Transcona was still being forgotten. He told Global News that collaboration at City Hall could address ward issues, but suggested Wyatt’s conduct might make that difficult.
Wyatt’s record and the charges he faces
In an emailed statement to Global News, Wyatt described himself as a strong representative who had stood up to the mayor and the executive policy committee. He pointed to his votes against changes to Winnipeg Transit, higher water rates and reopening Portage Avenue and Main Street.
Global News reported that Wyatt faces two counts of sexual assault and other offences from earlier in 2026. Wyatt maintains he has done nothing wrong. The outlet reported that he was removed from several city committees after the initial charges were laid last spring.
Voting is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 28. The result will determine whether Wyatt keeps the Transcona seat or one of the four challengers takes it.
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Sources and context
- Transcona incumbent Russ Wyatt facing 4 challengers in Winnipeg electionGlobal News
- Wards & electionsCity of Winnipeg
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.