2026 Hamilton, Ontario, municipal election
October 26, 2026
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The 2026 Hamilton municipal election will occur on 26 October 2026, as per the Ontario Municipal Elections Act, 1996.[1][2] 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 will also 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]
Mayoral election
Candidates
Declared
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.[4]
- Candidacy announced: July 10, 2025[5]
- Candidacy registered:
- Campaign website:
- Campaign slogan:
Jelena Vermilion
Jelena Vermilion is a local sex worker 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.[6]
- Candidacy announced: July 29, 2025[7]
- Candidacy registered:
- Campaign website:
- Campaign slogan:
Potential
- Chad Collins - Liberal member of Parliament for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek (2021–2025), Ward 5 councillor (1997–2021)[8][9]
- Peter Dyakowski - local landlord, offensive lineman for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2007-2016), 2019 Conservative Party of Canada candidate for MP on Hamilton Mountain[9]
- Keanin Loomis - 2022 mayoral candidate, CEO of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction[10][9]
- Vito Sgro - 2018 candidate for mayor, 2021 Liberal Party of Canada candidate for MP in Flamborough-Glanbrook[9]
- Mike Spadafora - Ward 14 councillor (2022–present), 2018 Ontario Progressive Conservative candidate for MPP on Hamilton Mountain[9]
Declined
- Monique Taylor - member of Provincial Parliament for Hamilton Mountain (2011–2025)[8][9]
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 | [11] | 9 | 33 | 38 | 2 | 17 | ±3.46 pp | 800 | IVR | 6 | ||
| 2022 election | October 24, 2022 | [1] | - | 41.68 | 40.51 | 17.79 | - | — | 142,058 | — | 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.[12]
| 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.[13]
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.[14] 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.[15][16]
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.[17] 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."[18]
| 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: | ||||||||||||
Potential:
- Jason Farr, city councillor for Ward 2 (2010–2022) and 2022 Ontario Liberal Party candidate in Hamilton East—Stoney Creek[19]
Ward 3 - Hamilton Centre
Two-term incumbent councillor Nrinder Nann was re-elected in 2022 with 50.33% of the vote. She has not announced whether she will be seeking re-election.
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.[19] 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.[20]
| 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.[21]
| 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: | ||||||||||||
Potential:
- Hayden Lawrence, 2018 candidate for city councillor in St. Catharines, 2025 Conservative Party of Canada candidate for MP in Hamilton Centre, current Stakeholder Relations and Outreach Advisor for Conservative Hamilton East-Stoney Creek MP Ned Kuruc[22]
Ward 5 - Red Hill
Incumbent councillor Matt Francis won the 2022 election with 43.61% of the vote. He has not announced whether be seeking re-election.
| 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.
| 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. She has not announced whether she will be seeking re-election.
| 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.[23] He has not announced whether he will be seeking re-election.
| 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 has not announced whether he will be seeking re-election.
| 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 has not announced whether he will be seeking re-election.
| 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 has not announced whether he will be seeking re-election.
| 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 has not announced whether he will be seeking re-election.
| 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
Potential:
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.[19]
| 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. He has not announced whether he will be seeking re-election.
| 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. He has not announced whether he will be seeking re-election.
| 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
- ^ 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).
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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
- ^ ""Municipal Elections Act, 1996", S.O. 1996, Chapter 32". ontario.ca. July 24, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
- ^ "Municipal Elections Schedule in Canada". muniscope.ca. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
- ^ a b "City of Hamilton - Election Information". hamilton.ca. Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Mancini, Olivia (March 8, 2024). "Jelena Vermilion's Women of Distinction acceptance speech". CBC Hamilton. Archived from the original on September 26, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d e f 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.
- ^ Coleman, Joey (April 26, 2025). "Joey's Notepad: Keanin Loomis Attended Magnolia Hall Opening As a Parent". The Public Record. Archived from the original on May 9, 2025.
- ^ "Ontario Municipal Surveys for the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada" (PDF). April 27, 2025. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Coleman, Joey (July 24, 2025). "COLEMAN: Election Laws are Not a Conspiracy". The Public Record. Archived from the original on July 25, 2025.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c Radley, Scott (June 6, 2025). "Some candidates already prepping for 2026 municipal election". Hamilton Spectator.
- ^ "Hamilton dad says homeless encampments make parks feel unsafe-Canada Tonight". CBC News.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Hwang, Tammy (August 28, 2025). "Recently, a letter was circulated in Ward 4 containing misleading claims..." Instagram. Hamilton, Ontario: Meta. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
- ^ Christie, Mac (September 22, 2025). "Progressive Conservative organizer Rob Cooper wins tight Ward 8 race over Terry Whitehead". Hamilton Spectator.