The Žilina mayoral race remains closely contested ahead of the October 24 Slovak local elections, with incumbent Peter Fiabáne holding a modest edge as the only candidate backed by a coalition of center-right parties including Progresívne Slovensko, KDH, SaS, and Demokrati. Multiple independents—Peter Cibulka, Miroslav Sokol, Rastislav Johanes, and Anton Kozlík—have entered the field, splitting opposition votes around local priorities such as infrastructure maintenance, housing development, transport modernization, and transparency in municipal contracting. Fiabáne’s record since 2018 and explicit pledge of a final term provide continuity advantages, yet the fragmented candidate list and absence of dominant polling keep implied probabilities tight. Late-campaign events, including candidate debates or shifts in voter turnout among key blocs, could widen gaps before resolution.