This study explores how political leadership shapes policy innovation and sustainable urban governance, with a focus on achieving SDG 11 in Bangkok. Despite growing attention to sustainable cities, limited empirical evidence exists on the mechanisms linking leadership, governance, and citizen satisfaction. A quantitative survey of 650 Bangkok residents was conducted. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to test hypothesized relationships among political leadership, policy innovation, sustainable governance, and citizen satisfaction. Findings show that political leadership significantly promotes policy innovation, which in turn enhances urban governance performance. Citizen satisfaction emerged as a key mediating factor, highlighting the importance of people-centered governance. The study underscores that visionary leadership and inclusive innovation are crucial for sustainable urban development. Practical implications include strengthening citizen engagement, embedding innovation into governance systems, and aligning reforms with SDG 11 to foster resilient and sustainable cities.