Here's who's running in the federal election in Windsor-Essex, Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton

Canadians are heading to the polls Sep. 20 to elect their members of Parliament.

The nomination process established by Elections Canada closes Aug. 30 and confirmed candidates will be known by Sept. 1.

Here is a breakdown of the local ridings as well as the candidates:

Windsor West

Population: 122,988 (2016)

Registered voters: 94,944

Candidates:

• NDP: Brian Masse (incumbent)
• Liberal: Sandra Pupatello
• Conservative: Anthony Orlando
• People's Party of Canada: Matthew Giancola
• Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada: Margaret Villamizar

In the 2019 election, longtime MP Brian Masse won his seat with about 2,000 more votes than the next most popular candidate, Sandra Pupatello. In the 2021 vote, the former provincial cabinet minister is challenging Masse once again. 

The Conservatives, who won 19 per cent of the vote in 2019, will be represented by business owner Anthony Orlando. The Green Party has not named a candidate.

Windsor–Tecumseh

Population: 117,429 (2016)

Registered voters: 95,668

Candidates:

• Liberal: Irek Kusmierczyk (incumbent)
• NDP: Cheryl Hardcastle
• Conservative: Kathy Borrelli
• People's Party of Canada: Victor Green
• Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada: Laura Chesnik
• Green Party: Henry Oulevey

In 2019, Irek Kusmierczyk, then a Windsor city councillor, unseated NDP incumbent Cheryl Hardcastle to represent the riding, which includes Tecumseh and some of east Windsor and Essex County.

The 2019 campaign was a tight three-way race between the Liberals, NDP and Conservatives.

Essex

Population: 125,442 (2016)

Registered voters: 102,796

Candidates:

• Conservative: Chris Lewis (incumbent)
• NDP: Tracey Ramsey
• Liberal: Audrey Festeryga
• Green Party: Nancy Pancheshan
• People's Party of Canada: Beth Charron-Rowberry
• Christian Heritage Party of Canada: Jeremy Palko
• Independent: Andrew George

Conservative Chris Lewis defeated the NDP's Tracey Ramsey to claim this seat in the last election, and they're both on the ballot this time around, along with Liberal Audrey Festeryga, who came in third place in 2019.

Chatham-Kent–Leamington

Population:  109,619 (2016)

Registered voters:  86,586

Candidates:

• Conservative: Dave Epp (incumbent)
• Liberal: Greg Hetherington
• NDP: Dan Gelinas
• Green Party: Mark Vercouteren
• People's Party of Canada: Liz Vallee

First-term MP Dave Epp is seeking re-election in an area that has been a Tory stronghold since 2006 (though the riding has changed its name and boundaries since then).

Mark Vercouteren of the Green Party is seeking the seat for the third time.

Sarnia–Lambton

Population: 105,337 (2016)

Registered voters: 85,266

CANDIDATES

• Conservative: Marilyn Gladu (incumbent)
• NDP: Adam Kilner
• Liberal: Lois Nantais
• Green: Stefanie Bunko
• People's Party of Canada: Brian Everaert
• Christian Heritage Party of Canada: Tom Laird

Marilyn Gladu is seeking a third term as MP for a riding that has elected Conservatives since 2006.

Her opponents include a Lambton College professor, Lois Nantais, and United Church minister Adam Kilner. Kilner and Brian Everaert of the PPC also ran against Gladu in the last election.

Lambton–Kent–Middlesex

Population: 105,331 (2016)

Registered voters: 88,838

Candidates:

• Conservative: Lianne Rood (incumbent)
• Liberal: Sudit Ranade
• NDP: Jason Henry
• Green: Jeremy Hull
• People's Party of Canada: Kevin Mitchell

Lianne Rood is looking to take on a second term. She'll face some high-profile challengers: Dr. Sudit Ranade, the area's medical officer of health who is taking leave during the campaign, and Jason Henry, chief of Kettle & Stony Point First Nation.