Incumbents Ousted in Multiple Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area Municipal Races
Several long-serving mayors and councillors were defeated in the 2026 Ontario municipal elections across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
Ontario voters elected new representatives in a number of municipalities within the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area on Monday, resulting in the defeat of several incumbents who had served for years.
In Toronto, Ward 13 councillor Chris Moise, also chair of the Toronto Board of Health, lost to first-time candidate Curran Stikuts, who secured 28.6% of the vote. Ward 23 councillor and TTC board chair Jamaal Myers was defeated by former Liberal MP and TDSB trustee Shaun Chen, who led by more than 10 percentage points. Long-time York South–Weston councillor and city council speaker Frances Nunziata placed third, while social worker Chiara Padovani won with 39.1% of the vote.
In Peel Region, Mississauga mayor Carolyn Parrish, who had won a 2024 by-election, was unseated by challenger Alvin Tedjo, who captured a large plurality. Durham Region saw four-term Clarington mayor Adrian Foster lose to retired police officer Tom Dingwall, who received 53.1% of the vote.
Halton Region experienced three mayoral turnovers: Oakville’s five-term mayor Rob Burton finished third as Jeff Knoll won with 36.3%; Halton Hills mayor Anne Lawlor was defeated by Jason Brass, who earned 55.7%; and Milton’s long-standing mayor Gord Krantz was overtaken by George Minakakis, who secured 45.2%.
In Hamilton, mayor Andrea Horwath, a former provincial NDP leader, was defeated in a three-way race, with steel-industry advocate Keanin Loomis leading at 41.8% and councillor Rob Cooper second. Niagara Falls mayor Jim Diodati also lost, as councillor Lori Lococo won 51.6% of the vote.
These results signal a notable shift in local leadership across the region, with many veteran officials replaced by newcomers or challengers.