Calgary election results 2025: Jeromy Farkas edges out rivals as Calgary’s new mayor in a nail-biter

Calgary has a new mayor. In a closely fought municipal election held on October 20, 2025, former councillor Jeromy Farkas secured the mayor’s chair by a razor-thin margin over Ward 1 councillor Sonya Sharp, unseating incumbent Jyoti Gondek. Official results were certified late last week, while a recount request from the runner-up has added a final procedural step. Turnout was just over 39%, reflecting high public engagement in a campaign dominated by affordability, safety and transit.

Calgary mayoral election results: what we know now

The official tally confirms Jeromy Farkas as mayor, with the spread between first and second under 600 votes—close enough to invite a recount, but not enough to alter the initial declaration. City officials released certified results for the mayor, 14 council wards, and both school boards on October 24. A recount of the mayoral contest was scheduled for Monday, October 27; any update from that process will clarify whether minor adjustments affect the margin. Recent updates indicate the recount step is procedural and details may evolve.

Key takeaways:

• Mayor: Jeromy Farkas (Independent) declared elected; margin under 600 votes over Sonya Sharp (Communities First).

• Incumbent defeated: Jyoti Gondek becomes the first Calgary mayor in decades to lose a bid for a second term.

• Turnout: 39.04%, with 349,815 ballots cast.

• City council: A mix of returning and new councillors signals a reset on several files, from budgeting to mobility.

Jeromy Farkas platform: affordability, safety, and a business-friendly City Hall

Jeromy Farkas campaigned as an Independent with an emphasis on pocketbook issues and pragmatic city services. His platform highlighted:

• Fiscal restraint and “respect for every dollar”: Tight cost controls at City Hall and skepticism toward new spending without measurable returns.

• Public safety: Support for measures to reduce crime and improve perceptions of safety across communities and the transit network.

• Transit access and reliability: Backing the low-income transit pass and pledges to improve service reliability, while tying any capital expansions to transparent cost-benefit tests.

• Jobs and growth: A business-friendly posture to attract investment, support the energy sector alongside diversification, and cut red tape for entrepreneurs.

• Parks and infrastructure: Protection of city parks from sale and a focus on essentials like road maintenance and snow clearing.

While the mayor’s mandate is citywide, many of these priorities will require council buy-in. Expect early budget amendments and an operating plan aimed at delivering quick wins on affordability and service reliability.

Calgary mayor 2025: why the race was so tight

Multiple structural and political factors produced a photo finish:

• Fragmented field: With several high-profile contenders, the vote split across ideological and neighborhood lines, narrowing the path to a majority and magnifying small swings.

• Affordability anxieties: Property taxes, utility costs and housing pressures sharpened contrasts on fiscal stewardship.

• Transit and safety concerns: Perceptions of disorder and reliability on transit became a decisive wedge, energizing turnout in communities that rely on the system.

• Incumbency headwinds: Voters signaled appetite for change at the top, turning the campaign into a referendum on the past term’s priorities.

Calgary election results 2025: ward and governance implications

Beyond the mayor’s office, the 14-member council will shape what the new administration can accomplish. Early signals point to a chamber that is more cautious on spending and attuned to day-to-day services. That dynamic could favor a platform centered on budgets, basic infrastructure and public safety—provided the mayor can build stable voting coalitions across wards.

Expect the following near-term tests:

1. Budget reset: Mid-year adjustments or an early fiscal update to signal a path on taxes, fees and spending.

2. Transit action plan: A timetable for service reliability, safety measures and capital priorities—potentially including audits or performance targets.

3. Housing and zoning: Calgarians will look for progress on supply and affordability without stoking neighborhood backlash.

4. Economic development: Concrete steps to speed permitting, support small businesses and maintain competitiveness for major employers.

Polls vs. results: how expectations matched reality

Pre-election polling showed a volatile, multi-way contest with Farkas consistently competitive but far from a runaway favorite. The official outcome—a narrow win—aligns with those late-campaign snapshots. The decisive factors appear to have been turnout patterns in suburbs concerned about costs and service delivery, plus modest gains in inner-city areas responsive to pledges on safety and basic services.

What happens next for Calgary’s new mayor

• Recount outcome: Any refinements from the October 27 recount will be posted by city officials. Material changes are not anticipated but will be noted if they occur.

• Transition and swearing-in: With certification complete, the mayor and council are set to be sworn in this week, followed by committee selections and a first agenda focusing on budget direction.

• First 100 days: Watch for an affordability package, transit safety initiatives, and a clear line on taxes ahead of the next fiscal cycle.

Voter guide quick answers

• Calgary mayor: Jeromy Farkas (Independent).

• Jeromy Farkas political party: Independent (municipal elections are non-partisan).

• Calgary mayoral election results: Farkas declared elected; recount requested by the runner-up.

• Calgary election results 2025: Mayor certified; council seats finalized; turnout 39.04%.

• Calgary news to watch: Recount confirmation, budget signals, transit and safety measures.

Calgary’s mandate is clear but narrow: deliver on affordability and essential services without missing the city’s ambitions for growth. With a tight margin and a watchful electorate, early execution will set the tone for the next four years.