2026 Hamilton, Ontario, municipal election

2026 Hamilton municipal election
October 26, 2026
 
Candidate Andrea Horwath Keanin Loomis
Ward boundaries of the City of Hamilton
Incumbent Mayor

Andrea Horwath


The 2026 Hamilton municipal election will occur on 26 October 2026, as per the Ontario Municipal Elections Act, 1996.[1][2] This will be the 136th municipal election in the history of Hamilton and the 8th election since Hamilton's amalgamation in 2001.

Residents of Hamilton will elect one mayor and members of the Hamilton City Council using a first-past-the-post electoral system in single-member constituencies, called wards.[3]

Based on their electoral registration, voters may be eligible to elect one of 11 Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board trustees, nine Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board trustees, one Conseil scolaire Viamonde trustee, or one Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir trustee.[3] The status of school trustee elections may be impacted by proposed provincial changes to school boards, which could possibly include reducing the number of trustees or abolishing the office of school trustee altogether.[4]

Mayoral election

Candidates

Declared

Rob Cooper

Rob Cooper has been the Ward 8 councillor since winning a by-election in 2025. He is a former organizer with the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and Conservative Party of Canada, and a Chartered Professional Accountant who decided to run for mayor to oppose tax increases.[5][6][7]

Candidacy announced: March 3, 2026[5]
Candidacy registered:
Campaign website:
Campaign slogan:
Andrea Horwath

Andrea Horwath is the incumbent, serving as the 58th mayor of Hamilton. After taking office, Horwath has maintained a more "cautious" approach to governing.[8]

Candidacy announced: July 10, 2025[9]
Candidacy registered:
Campaign website:
Campaign slogan:
Keanin Loomis

Keanin Loomis was a mayoral candidate in 2022. Since his narrow loss to Horwath, he has served as the CEO of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction.

Candidacy announced: February 25, 2026[10]
Candidacy registered:
Campaign website:
Campaign slogan:
Scarlett Gillespie (Jelena Vermilion)

Scarlett Gillespie, also known by her performance name Jelena Vermilion, is a local sex worker, artist, and activist. While accepting an award from the Hamilton YWCA in 2024, Vermilion made comments regarding the Hamilton Police Service that resulted in volunteer committees pulling back from fundraising for the local YWCA.[11]

Gillespie initially announced her candidacy for mayor in July of 2025 and reaffirmed her decision to run for mayor in March of 2026. Gillespie told CHCH News that she had made the decision to run using her legal, rather than her performance, name and that he campaign would focus on "housing, tenant protections, climate justice, community-led safety initiatives, strengthening local arts and City Hall accountability, accessibility and transparency."[12]

Candidacy announced: July 29, 2025[13]
Candidacy registered:
Campaign website:
Campaign slogan:

Potential

Declined or Ineligible

  • Bob Bratina - Mayor of Hamilton (2010-2014), Liberal Member of Parliament for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek (2015-2021)[16]
  • Monique Taylor - Member of Provincial Parliament for Hamilton Mountain (2011–2025)[14][15]

Opinion polls

Polling firm Last date
of polling[a] 		Link Chad Collins Andrea Horwath Keanin Loomis Other Undecided Margin
of error[b] 		Sample
size[c] 		Polling method[d] Lead
Liaison Strategies October 23, 2025 [17] 9 33 38 2 17 ±3.46 pp 800 IVR 6
2022 election October 24, 2022 [1] - 41.68 40.51 17.79 - N/a 142,058 N/a 1.17

City council election

Ward 1 - Chedoke-Cootes

Two-term incumbent councillor Maureen Wilson won re-election in 2022 with 74.96% of the vote. She announced her intention to run for a third and final term in October of 2024.[18]

2026 Hamilton, Ontario municipal election: Ward 1 - Chedoke-Cootes
Candidate Popular vote Expenditures
Votes % ±%
Total valid votes
Total rejected, unmarked and declined votes
Turnout
Eligible voters
Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources:

Ward 2 - Downtown

Incumbent councillor Cameron Kroetsch was elected in 2022 with 49.25% of the vote. He announced his intention to seek re-election in July of 2025.[19]

Local social media personality Daniel Myles announced his intention to seek the Ward 2 council seat on his Instagram page in 2025. Myles has found online fame posting videos captured from his home surveillance cameras in Hamilton's Central Neighbourhood.[20] Myles falsely claimed that his attempt to prematurely solicit campaign donations through GoFundMe was stopped because of political interference from the incumbent councillor. This followed the City of Hamilton's elections office informing him the fundraiser violated election laws.[21][22]

In November of 2025, Kroetsch posted a lengthy thread on the social media site Bluesky reflecting on the threats, violence, and bullying he has experienced since taking office. The thread drew attention to Myles' history of making homophobic and misogynistic comments and targeting community members with differing political viewpoints.[23] Myles later told CHCH News that he stood by his use of a homophobic slur, telling a reporter "I can say whatever I want whenever I want to."[24]

In June of 2025, former Ward 2 councillor and 2022 Ontario Liberal Party candidate in Hamilton East—Stoney Creek Jason Farr told the Hamilton Spectator that he was considering a bid for the Ward 2 seat.[25]

2026 Hamilton, Ontario municipal election: Ward 2 - Downtown
Candidate Popular vote Expenditures
Votes % ±%
Total valid votes
Total rejected, unmarked and declined votes
Turnout
Eligible voters
Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources:

Ward 3 - Hamilton Centre

Two-term incumbent councillor Nrinder Nann was re-elected in 2022 with 50.33% of the vote. She declared her intention to run for re-election in January of 2026.[16]

Quantitative data analyst and activist Andrew Selman announced his intention to seek the Ward 3 council seat in a June 2025 interview with The Hamilton Spectator.[25] Selman is a frequent delegate to Hamilton City Council, focusing on issues of transparency, city spending, and homeless encampments. Selman is vocal in his opposition to encampments, having made national news for his campaign against the makeshift communities.[26]

Stipley resident Graham Schreiber announced a bid for Ward 3 councillor on Facebook in July of 2025. In his posts regarding his candidacy, he has expressed opposition to the city's homeless population and to the proposed LRT project while indicating support for Real Estate Investment Trusts and the involuntary incarceration of people with addictions. His posts also indicate support for President Donald Trump and include anti-Islam and anti-gay comments.[27][28][29]

On February 19, 2026, Christine Cayuga, a local business owner, announced her intention to run for the Ward 3 council seat. Cayuga indicated she would be running on a platform that prioritizes affordability and opposes tax increases.[30][31]

2026 Hamilton, Ontario municipal election: Ward 3 - Hamilton Centre
Candidate Popular vote Expenditures
Votes % ±%
Total valid votes
Total rejected, unmarked and declined votes
Turnout
Eligible voters
Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources:

Ward 4 - Hamilton East

Incumbent councillor Tammy Hwang won the 2022 election with 23% of the vote. She announced she would seek re-election in July of 2025.[32]

In August of 2025, Hwang alerted the community to a flyer being circulated by Hayden Lawrence, a staffer for Conservative Party of Canada Hamilton East-Stoney Creek MP Ned Kuruc. Lawrence previously sought the office of councillor for the Merriton ward in St. Catharines in 2018 and was the 2025 Conservative candidate for MP in Hamilton Centre. In the letter, Hwang suggested that Lawrence was distributing the letter in anticipation of running for the Ward 4 council seat in 2026.[33]

2026 Hamilton, Ontario municipal election: Ward 4 - Hamilton East
Candidate Popular vote Expenditures
Votes % ±%
Total valid votes
Total rejected, unmarked and declined votes
Turnout
Eligible voters
Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources:

Ward 5 - Red Hill

Incumbent councillor Matt Francis won the 2022 election with 43.61% of the vote. He announced he would be running for re-election in January of 2026.[16]

2026 Hamilton, Ontario municipal election: Ward 5 - Red Hill
Candidate Popular vote Expenditures
Votes % ±%
Total valid votes
Total rejected, unmarked and declined votes
Turnout
Eligible voters
Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources:

Ward 6 - East Mountain

Eleven-term incumbent councillor Tom Jackson won the 2022 election with 63.45% of the vote. He has not announced whether be seeking re-election.

2026 Hamilton, Ontario municipal election: Ward 6 - East Mountain
Candidate Popular vote Expenditures
Votes % ±%
Total valid votes
Total rejected, unmarked and declined votes
Turnout
Eligible voters
Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources:

Ward 7 - Central Mountain

Incumbent councillor Esther Pauls won re-election in 2022 with 50.91% of the vote. Despite early indications Pauls would not seek a third term, she announced her intention to run for re-election in January of 2026.[16]

2026 Hamilton, Ontario municipal election: Ward 7 - Central Mountain
Candidate Popular vote Expenditures
Votes % ±%
Total valid votes
Total rejected, unmarked and declined votes
Turnout
Eligible voters
Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources:

Ward 8 - West/Central Mountain

Incumbent councillor Rob Cooper won the 2025 by-election with 19.6% of the vote.[34] In January of 2026, Cooper told the Hamilton Spectator's Scott Radley that he was considering a mayoral bid due to his frustration with Mayor Horwath's handling of the 2026 budget.[6]

2026 Hamilton, Ontario municipal election: Ward 8 - West/Central Mountain
Candidate Popular vote Expenditures
Votes % ±%
Total valid votes
Total rejected, unmarked and declined votes
Turnout
Eligible voters
Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources:

Ward 9 - Upper Stoney Creek

Incumbent councillor Brad Clark won re-election in 2022 with 51.56% of the vote. He announced his intention to run for a fifth term in January of 2026.[16]

2026 Hamilton, Ontario municipal election: Ward 9 - Upper Stoney Creek
Candidate Popular vote Expenditures
Votes % ±%
Total valid votes
Total rejected, unmarked and declined votes
Turnout
Eligible voters
Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources:

Ward 10 - Lower Stoney Creek

Incumbent councillor Jeff Beattie won the 2022 election with 39.69% of the vote. He announced his intention to seek re-election in January of 2026.[16]

2026 Hamilton, Ontario municipal election: Ward 10 - Lower Stoney Creek
Candidate Popular vote Expenditures
Votes % ±%
Total valid votes
Total rejected, unmarked and declined votes
Turnout
Eligible voters
Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources:

Ward 11 - Glanbrook

Incumbent councillor Mark Tadeson won the 2022 election with 37.99% of the vote. He announced he would be seeking re-election in January of 2026.[16]

2026 Hamilton, Ontario municipal election: Ward 11 - Glanbrook
Candidate Popular vote Expenditures
Votes % ±%
Total valid votes
Total rejected, unmarked and declined votes
Turnout
Eligible voters
Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources:

Ward 12 - Ancaster

Incumbent councillor Craig Cassar won the 2022 election with 38.80% of the vote. He told CBC Hamilton he would seek a second term in January of 2026.[16]

In early 2026, Fred Bennink, the Ontario Progressive Conservative candidate for MPP in Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas launched a "concerned citizen" website which resembled a campaign website. This led to speculation that Bennink intended to run for the Ward 12 council seat.[35]

2026 Hamilton, Ontario municipal election: Ward 12 - Ancaster
Candidate Popular vote Expenditures
Votes % ±%
Total valid votes
Total rejected, unmarked and declined votes
Turnout
Eligible voters
Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources:

Ward 13 - Dundas

Incumbent councillor Alex Wilson won the 2022 election with 57.94% of the vote. They have not announced whether they will be seeking re-election.

Loren Lieberman, a local political activist who worked on the campaigns of Jason Farr and Vito Sgro, told the Hamilton Spectator he would be seeking the Ward 13 council seat in 2026.[25]

2026 Hamilton, Ontario municipal election: Ward 13 - Dundas
Candidate Popular vote Expenditures
Votes % ±%
Total valid votes
Total rejected, unmarked and declined votes
Turnout
Eligible voters
Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources:

Ward 14 - West Mountain

Incumbent councillor Mike Spadafora won the 2022 election with 28.48% of the vote. While Spadafora's name was floated as a potential mayoral candidate, he announced his intention to run for re-election in January of 2026.[16]

2026 Hamilton, Ontario municipal election: Ward 14 - West Mountain
Candidate Popular vote Expenditures
Votes % ±%
Total valid votes
Total rejected, unmarked and declined votes
Turnout
Eligible voters
Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources:

Ward 15 - Flamborough

Incumbent councillor Ted McMeekin won the 2022 election with 43.83% of the vote. McMeekin, who has been involved in politics since the 1970's, told CBC Hamilton in January of 2026 that he would take time to consult with his family over his political future and make a decision closer to the August 21 deadline for registration.[16]

2026 Hamilton, Ontario municipal election: Ward 15 - Flamborough
Candidate Popular vote Expenditures
Votes % ±%
Total valid votes
Total rejected, unmarked and declined votes
Turnout
Eligible voters
Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources:

Notes

  1. ^ Polls that share the same last date of polling are ordered from earliest (below) to latest 37 (above) first date of polling. Polls that have identical field dates are placed in the order in which they were released/published (earliest below, latest above).
  2. ^ In cases when linked poll details distinguish between the margin of error associated with the total sample of respondents (including undecided and non-voters) and that of the subsample of decided/leaning voters, the former is included in the table. Also not included is the margin of error created by rounding to the nearest whole number or any margin of error from methodological sources. Most online polls (because of their opt-in method of recruiting panelists which results in a non-random sample) cannot have a margin of error. In such cases, shown is what the margin of error would be for a survey using a random probability-based sample of equivalent size.
  3. ^ Refers to the total, "raw" sample size, including undecided and non-voters, and before demographic weighting is applied. Fractions in parentheses apply to rolling polls (see below) and indicate the proportion of the sample that is independent from the previous poll in the series.
  4. ^ "Telephone" refers to traditional telephone polls conducted by live interviewers; "IVR" refers to automated Interactive Voice Response polls conducted by telephone; "online" refers to polls conducted exclusively over the internet; "telephone/online" refers to polls which combine results from both telephone and online surveys, or for which respondents are initially recruited by telephone and then asked to complete an online survey. "Rolling" polls contain overlapping data from one poll to the next.

References

  1. ^ ""Municipal Elections Act, 1996", S.O. 1996, Chapter 32". ontario.ca. July 24, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  2. ^ "Municipal Elections Schedule in Canada". muniscope.ca. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "City of Hamilton - Election Information". hamilton.ca. Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  4. ^ Callan, Isaac; D'Mello, Colin (February 24, 2026). "Ford government still 'discussing' whether or not to abolish trustees". Global News. Archived from the original on February 24, 2026.
  5. ^ a b Radley, Scott (March 2, 2026). "Rob Cooper joining race for Hamilton mayor". Hamilton Spectator. Archived from the original on March 2, 2026.
  6. ^ a b Radley, Scott (January 9, 2026). "Rookie councillor disappointed in city's budget process". Hamilton Spectator. Archived from the original on January 11, 2026.
  7. ^ Beattie, Samantha (November 16, 2023). "Andrea Horwath says her 1st year as Hamilton mayor focused on transforming city hall". CBC Hamilton. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023.
  8. ^ Beattie, Samantha (November 16, 2023). "Andrea Horwath says her 1st year as Hamilton mayor focused on transforming city hall". CBC Hamilton. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023.
  9. ^ Coleman, Joey (July 10, 2025). "In response to a question asked by myself today, Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath stated she is "absolutely" running for re-election in 2026. Full Audio coming shortly on TPR. #HamOnt #yhmcc". Bluesky. @joeycoleman.ca. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  10. ^ "Keanin Loomis launches bid for Hamilton mayor". CTV News. February 25, 2026. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  11. ^ Mancini, Olivia (March 8, 2024). "Jelena Vermilion's Women of Distinction acceptance speech". CBC Hamilton. Archived from the original on September 26, 2024.
  12. ^ Laur, Bridget (March 9, 2026). "Former sex workers' rights advocate Jelena Vermilion announces bid for Hamilton mayor". CBC Hamilton. Archived from the original on March 10, 2026.
  13. ^ Vermilion, Jelena (July 29, 2025). "I have decided I am going to run for Mayor of @CityofHamilton This City deserves a Mayor who cares and who actually shows up. #HamOnt #CDNPoli #ONPoli". Twitter. @IsisIntrepid. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  14. ^ a b Radley, Scott (May 2, 2025). "How the federal election might have affected Hamilton's next mayoral race". Hamilton Spectator. Archived from the original on May 2, 2025.
  15. ^ a b c d e Radley, Scott (October 31, 2025). "It's one year until the municipal election. Who is considering a mayoral run?". Hamilton Spectator. Archived from the original on November 1, 2025.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Peesker, Saira (January 23, 2026). "Majority of Hamilton council planning to run for reelection this year". CBC Hamilton. Archived from the original on January 23, 2026.
  17. ^ "Ontario Municipal Surveys for the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada" (PDF). April 27, 2025. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  18. ^ Coleman, Joey (October 17, 2024). "Clr Maureen Wilson Unsuccessfully Calls for Term Limits Review". The Public Record. Archived from the original on October 6, 2024.
  19. ^ Coleman, Joey (July 11, 2025). "Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch Will Seek Second Term in 2026 Election". The Public Record. Archived from the original on July 21, 2025.
  20. ^ "Driver, 45, charged in downtown collision that killed 73-year-old man". CBC Hamilton. May 8, 2023. Archived from the original on May 15, 2023.
  21. ^ Coleman, Joey (July 24, 2025). "COLEMAN: Election Laws are Not a Conspiracy". The Public Record. Archived from the original on July 25, 2025.
  22. ^ Myles, Daniel (July 21, 2025). "So , I complied with the request from Tammy Reeves manager of city elections but…. It tells me camp Krotch is scared 😳 🤣 and GoFundMe told me I have every right to ignore "Unsubstantiated emails" . However I felt it was just our ward two guy manipulating the elections manager, ahhh greasy dirty slimy disgusting politics 🤣 here comes Dan and I'm going to crush you all !". Facebook. Hamilton, Ontario: Facebook. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  23. ^ Kroetsch, Cameron (November 23, 2025). "November 15 marked a full three years in my role as Councillor for Ward 2. Every year, around this time, I write about another year gone by, what I've learned in this job, what people tell me when they see me at a meeting, stop me in the street, or share their thoughts with me in an email. #HamOnt". Bluesky. @ward2hamilton.bsky.social. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
  24. ^ Ingram, Matt (November 24, 2025). "Hamilton councillor speaks out after receiving threats and homophobic attacks". CHCH News. Archived from the original on November 25, 2025.
  25. ^ a b c Radley, Scott (June 6, 2025). "Some candidates already prepping for 2026 municipal election". Hamilton Spectator.
  26. ^ "Hamilton dad says homeless encampments make parks feel unsafe-Canada Tonight". CBC News.
  27. ^ Schreiber, Graham (July 21, 2025). "#Ward3 #HamOnt #DignityProject". Facebook. Hamilton, Ontario: Meta. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
  28. ^ Schreiber, Graham (February 9, 2026). "In May, I'll be registering to run for city council, in #Ward3 #HamOn..." Facebook. Hamilton, Ontario: Meta. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
  29. ^ Schreiber, Graham (February 28, 2026). "God bless the United States, President Trump & The Departmentof War..." Facebook. Hamilton, Ontario: Meta. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
  30. ^ Cayuga, Christine (February 19, 2026). "I am excited to announce my candidacy for Ward 3 Council..." Facebook. Hamilton, Ontario: Meta. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
  31. ^ Cayuga, Christine (February 25, 2026). "Platform Ward #3 As a small business owner I have the opportunity to engage with customers and hear their concerns..." Facebook. Hamilton, Ontario: Meta. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
  32. ^ Coleman, Joey (July 12, 2025). "Ward 4 Councillor Tammy Hwang Will Run for Re-Election in 2026". The Public Record. Archived from the original on July 21, 2025.
  33. ^ Hwang, Tammy (August 28, 2025). "Recently, a letter was circulated in Ward 4 containing misleading claims..." Instagram. Hamilton, Ontario: Meta. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  34. ^ Christie, Mac (September 22, 2025). "Progressive Conservative organizer Rob Cooper wins tight Ward 8 race over Terry Whitehead". Hamilton Spectator.
  35. ^ Erl, Chris (February 24, 2026). "In Decline". The Incline. Hamilton: Chris Erl. Archived from the original on February 26, 2026. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
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