These are the people trying to take on Valérie Plante's mantle at Projet Montréal

Several suitors have emerged to be the successor to Mayor Valérie Plante within her party, Projet Montréal.

That position is up for grabs after Plante announced that she will not seek another mandate as Montreal's mayor.

Hopefuls have until the end of January 2025 to enter the party leadership race.

Here's a list of people who have put their hat in the ring.

Luc Rabouin

Luc Rabouin is the mayor of the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough and chair of the city's executive committee.

Rabouin said that, as mayor, he would focus on the environment and housing, two areas Plante prioritized during her tenure as mayor.

Guedwig Bernier

The former president of Projet Montréal, Guedwig Bernier, also said he would run for party leader. 

In an interview with CBC News, Bernier said he wanted the city to continue on its current path, but to spend money more efficiently. Asked if he was the best person to guide the city along that path, he said he had a business background and knew how to mine the proper expertise.

"Am I the best person? I'll tell you that I'm able to surround myself well," he said. "I'm not a showman. I won't say I'm the best, but I'm able to get the right people around me to get those things done." 

Gracia Kasoki Katahwa

Gracia Kasoki Katahwa is the mayor of the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough.

In a Facebook post, Katahwa, a former nurse manager, emphasized that a deep-seated "need to help others" drove her to enter politics in 2021.

"We deserve a city that cares for its people, and I know that our movement is capable of creating that city," she said. "I want to continue building this city with you."

Maja Vodanovic

Maja Vodanovic is the borough mayor of Lachine. 

She says her top priority is to work with the province to get more money for Montreal so it can tackle expensive problems such as traffic congestion, homelessness and public safety.

Vodanovic says she also wants to pay more attention to boroughs further from downtown. 

Laurence Lavigne Lalonde

Laurence Lavigne Lalonde is the borough mayor of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension. 

Lavigne Lalonde says housing is her top priority. She is promising tax breaks for non-profits focused on housing, more funding for land acquisition and construction and a focus on the development of the city's east end.

Ericka Alneus

Ericka Alneus is a city councillor in the Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie borough, representing the Étienne-Desmarteau district. 

Alneus was first elected in 2021. As a member of the city's executive committee, she's in charge of the arts and heritage files. Alneus is the one overseeing the attempted revamp of the city's nightlife. 

Alneus's candidacy was registered on Dec. 19, but she told Radio-Canada she'll make a more formal announcement after the holidays.

To officially become a candidate, they must secure signatures from 200 of the party's members from at least seven boroughs, with a minimum of 10 signatures from each of those boroughs. 

The leadership race will end on March 15, when the party will announce the results of its internal vote. 

The municipal election will take place on Nov. 2, 2025.

Frédéric Bérard, a lawyer and political commentator, said that though the municipal race is in its early stage, the vote will likely come down to a referendum on Plante, and whether the city should continue on its current path: emphasizing spending on bike paths, pedestrianization and green space, for example.

What about the opposition?

Ensemble Montréal, the Opposition at city hall, does not yet have a leader who will run for mayor in the November election. 

"People will have to decide if they want to keep going with Valerie Plante's agenda, in a way, because each and every candidate for Projet Montreal are from the team already," Bérard said.

He added that he expects some big names to enter the race in the coming months.