Here's who's running so far in Windsor-Essex, Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton

The next Ontarioelection is right around the corner.

To help you stay informed, CBC Windsor is keeping on top of each local riding and who'salready announcedthey'll run for the June 2 vote.

History could be made in Windsor-Essex this yearaswomen of colour are running in threeridings, and the Progressive Conservatives, who have been unsuccessful for several years, are fielding three well-known candidates in the ridings.

The Liberals, New Democratsand Progressive Conservativeshave nominated most of their candidates in the fourWindsor-Essex ridings. The Green Party has not yet nominated any candidates in our ridings.

There will definitely be new MPPs in Windsor Tecumseh and in Essex, where incumbents Percy Hatfield and Taras Natyshak aren'trunning.

Confirmed candidates are listed below, but that list is expected to grow. Candidates must have paperwork in to Elections Ontario by 2 p.m. ET on May 12. The candidate list below is based on publicly available information and responses from the parties. CBC Windsor has contactedall registered political parties in Ontario.

We want to hear from you. At the bottom of this article, you will find a form thattofill out to let us know what your top issues are in this election. If you'd be willing to speak with a CBCWindsorreporter or be part of a voter panel in the coming weeks, please leave your contact information.

Windsor West

The provincial riding of Windsor West had a population of122,990 as of the 2016 census. The riding spans the west end of Windsor and borders on Essex County. By area, it is the smallest riding in Windsor-Essex, at83 square kilometres.

Since 2014, the area has been represented by Lisa Gretzky of the New Democratic Party. She is facing off against high-profile challengersincluding lawyer Linda McCurdy and John Leontowicz, the former police chief in LaSalle.

The following candidates have announced they will run in Windsor West (in alphabetical order by last name):

• Krysta Glovasky-Ridsdale, Green.
• Lisa Gretzky (incumbent), NDP.
• Josh Griffin, New Blue Party.
• John Leontowicz, Progressive Conservative.
• Linda McCurdy, Liberal.
• Jeremy Palko, Ontario Party.

WindsorTecumseh

WindsorTecumseh, which covers the east end of Windsor and Tecumseh,is one of two ridings in this region where the incumbent candidate is not seeking re-election.The population was117,430as of the 2016 Census, and the riding spans 189 square kilometres.

NDP MPP Percy Hatfield, whopicked upthe seat nearly a decade ago in a2013 byelection, announced last year that he is not seeking re-election this time around.

Stepping up to claim the open seat so far areTecumseh town councillor Andrew Dowie, Windsor city councillorGary Kaschakand advocate Gemma Grey-Hall, who works at the University of Windsor.

The following candidates have announced they will run in WindsorTecumseh:

• Giovanni Abati, Independent.
• Nick Babic, Independent.
• Laura Chesnik, Independent.
• Melissa Coulbeck, Green Party.
• Andrew Dowie, Progressive Conservative.
• Steven Gifford, Ontario Party.
• Gemma Grey-Hall, NDP.
• Gary Kaschak, Liberal.
• SophiaSevo, New Blue Party.
• David Sylvestre, None of the Above Party.

Essex

The riding of Essex consists of LaSalle, Lakeshore, Kingsville, Amherstburgand Essex. It has an area of2,272 square kilometres and a population of125,440 as of 2016. By population, it's the largest riding in Windsor-Essex.

In December, NDP MPPTaras Natyshak announced he would not run in the 2022 electionafter serving in the riding since 2011.

The party has tappedRon LeClair, aschool trustee and former police officer, as they look to hold onto the seat, while Anthony Leardi, a lawyer and former Amherstburgdeputy mayor, is running under the PC banner.

Manpreet Braris running for theLiberal party. She is an IT professional and active volunteer.

The following candidates have announced they will run in Essex:

• Manpreet Brar, Liberal.
• Frank Causarano, Ontario Party.
• Anthony Leardi, Progressive Conservative.
• Ron LeClair, NDP.
• Kevin Linfield, None of the Above Party.
• Danielle Sylvester, New Blue Party.
• Nicholas Wendler, Green.

Chatham-KentLeamington

Chatham-KentLeamingtonincludes Chatham-Kent, Leamington, Lakeshore and the Township of Pelee. Its population was109,620 as of 2016 and the riding occupies3,036 square kilometres.

It's currently represented by MPP Rick Nicholls, who is seeking re-election, but not as a Tory.

Elected as a PC MPP in 2011, Nicholls was kicked out of caucus last year forrefusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

He later joined the Ontario Party led by former MP Derek Sloan which bills itself aspolitically to theright of the other mainstream parties, including the PCs.

Nicholls is the party's first member to sit in the legislature, and if re-elected he would be the first person to be elected under its banner.

The PCs, however, are looking to hold onto the riding, nominatingLeamingtonCoun.Trevor Jones. The NDP has nominated another municipal politician, Chatham-Kent Coun. Brock McGregor.

Liberal candidateAlec Mazurekwas replaced bylawyer Audrey Festeryga, who ran for the party federally in Essex in the fall. Hewas removed as a candidate afteroffensive social media postscame to light that Mazurek said date back to when he was 15 years old.

A week before the election date, Festeryga withdrew from the race following allegations from the NDPthat the Liberals broke electoral rules when filing her nomination papers.

The following candidates have announced they will run inChatham-KentLeamington:

• Trevor Jones, Progressive Conservative.
• Rhonda Jubenville, New Blue Party.
• Brock McGregor, NDP.
• Rick Nicholls(incumbent), Ontario Party.
• Jennifer Surerus, Green.

SarniaLambton

The riding ofSarniaLambton includes Sarnia, Petrolia, Point Edward,Plympton-Wyoming, Enniskillen,St. Clair and Oil Springs.

It has a population of 105,335 and spans 1,755 square kilometres,as of the 2016 census.

PC MPP Bob Bailey, who has been in office since 2007, is seeking another term at Queen's Park.

So far, Keith Benn, a geologist, is running under the banner of the New Blue Party of Ontario, which is led by JimKarahalios.

The party's president, Cambridge MPP Belinda Karahalios, was ousted from the PC caucusfor voting against an emergency measures bill.

Dylan Stelpstra is running for the NDP in the riding.Stelpstrais a children services worker and active union member.

When asked about several local ridings without a Liberal candidate, a party spokesperson indicated that candidates will be announced"in the coming weeks."

The following candidates have announced they will run in Sarnia-Lambton:

• Bob Bailey (incumbent), Progressive Conservative.
• Keith Benn, New Blue Party.
• Mason Bourdeau, Green.
• Carla Olson, Populist Ontario.
• Ian Orchard, Ontario Party.
• Mark Russell, Liberal.
• Dylan Stelpstra, NDP.

Lambton-KentMiddlesex

This riding spans a large, mostly rural area 5,708 square kilometres witha population of105,335 according to the 2016 census.

It's been represented by PC MPP Monte McNaughton since 2011. McNaughton has been Ontario's labour minister since 2019, a role that has taken on added prominence during the pandemic.

His competitors include the NDP's Vanessa Benoit, a library worker, singer-songwriter and music educator, and Bruce Baker of the Liberals.

The following candidates have announced they will run inLambton-KentMiddlesex:

• Bruce Baker, Liberal.
• David Barnwell, New Blue Party.
• Vanessa Benoit, NDP.
• Wanda Dickey, Green Party.
• Dean Eve, None of the AboveParty.
• Monte McNaughton(incumbent), Progressive Conservative.
• Aaron IstvanVegh, Ontario Party.

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