The Prešov mayoral race remains tightly contested ahead of the October 24 municipal elections, with incumbent František Oľha and challengers Pavel Hagyari and Martin Eštočák drawing comparable market support due to fragmented voter preferences in a six-candidate field. Oľha, backed by Democrats and Progresívne Slovensko, emphasizes ongoing projects and cross-party cooperation, while Hagyari, a former two-term mayor running independently, highlights past achievements and local communication gaps. Recent finalization of candidate lists in late August has underscored the competitive balance, with no decisive polling shifts or major endorsements yet creating separation. Traders reflect uncertainty over turnout, coalition alignments, and local priorities such as infrastructure and transparency that could still influence the outcome.