Former Ward 11 councilor Jeromy Farkas has narrowly won over Communities First leader Sonya Sharp by a margin of less than one percentage point in the unofficial results of the 2025 Calgary mayoral election. Sharp has announced her intention to seek a recount following the close race. The city’s released results indicate that Farkas received 91,068 votes, while Sharp garnered 90,484 votes, with fewer than 600 votes separating the two candidates. As per provincial law, a recount may be requested if the results are within half a percentage point of the total number of ballots cast at a specific polling station.
Preliminary results city-wide show that the difference in votes between Farkas and Sharp is approximately 0.17% of the total 348,626 ballots cast. In a statement to the media, Sharp emphasized that her recount request is not a criticism of the election workers but a precaution to ensure accuracy due to the slim margin of victory. Farkas, on the verge of becoming Calgary’s 38th mayor and the first to unseat an incumbent since 1980, expressed gratitude to Jyoti Gondek for her service as mayor, highlighting a commitment to building on her work and uniting the city.
The mayoral candidate Sharp, from the Communities First party, focused her campaign on public safety and infrastructure improvements, including a pledge to hire 500 additional police officers. Gondek, who also ran independently like Farkas, finished third in the race. Farkas, who previously served as Ward 11 councilor and is poised to become Calgary’s new mayor, stressed his dedication to collaborating with a diverse range of Calgarians and prioritizing issues such as safety and affordability, leaving ideology aside.
The election, marked by lengthy lines, is projected to have the lowest voter turnout in recent years. Farkas, who was the runner-up in the 2021 election, rallied support by positioning himself against what he perceived as a disconnected council on critical matters like jobs, housing, and safety. The new city council composition, including at least eight new councilors due to incumbents not running for reelection, is yet to be fully determined as the votes are being manually counted following a provincial ban on electronic tabulators in 2024.
Farkas, a University of Calgary graduate and former councilor with a background in political science, emphasized a commitment to collaboration and bridge-building in his new role as mayor. His journey from a contentious councilor to a consensus-builder was a focal point in the election debates. Gondek, the first female mayor of Calgary, gracefully conceded the race, expressing pride in her campaign and optimism for the city’s future. Other candidates, such as Davison and Thiessen, also extended their gratitude and commitment to continue advocating for community-driven priorities.
The new councilors and trustees are expected to be announced later on Tuesday, providing a clearer picture of the city’s leadership landscape. Readers can follow the election results for city council and school trustee races as they unfold.