The race is on: Candidates vying to represent Peterborough-Kawartha ready to reach for voters

On your mark, get set, GO.

With Ontarians set to go to the polls on February 27th, the race to become the next Member of Provincial Parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha is underway.

Officially in the race at this point are: incumbent Progressive Conservative Dave Smith, Liberal candidate Adam Hopkins and New Democrat Jen Deck.

Smith will be seeking his third term at Queen’s Park. When asked by PTBOTODAY.ca why he believed this rare winter election was called at the right time, he said a lot has to do with what is going on down south and the threat of tariffs.

Hopkins is a senior VP at the First Nations Technical Institute. He says he’s excited to be in the mix.

Deck, who is running for a second time, says her motivation for wanting to represent the riding is anchored in what she has experienced “trying to solve the problems” as part of her union work.

According to the latest information, the Peterborough-Kawartha Riding has just over 98,000 voters and it consists of the City of Peterborough and the municipalities of Douro-Dummer, Trent Lakes, Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, North Kawartha and Selwyn plus the Curve Lake First Nation.

(Written by: Jordan Mercier with files from Paul Rellinger)