Former Ward 11 councilor Jeromy Farkas has emerged as the winner of the 2025 Calgary mayoral election, edging out Communities First leader Sonya Sharp by a slim margin, according to unofficial results. Sharp has expressed her intention to request a recount following the close race. The city’s preliminary results reveal that Farkas secured 91,068 votes, slightly surpassing Sharp’s 90,484 votes by fewer than 600 votes. The difference between the two candidates stands at approximately 0.17% of the total 348,626 ballots cast city-wide.
In response to the results, Sharp stated that she will pursue a recount as permitted by law, emphasizing the need to ensure accuracy given the tight outcome. If the margin falls within half a percentage point of the ballots cast at a specific polling station, a recount can be requested under provincial regulations. Farkas, poised to become Calgary’s 38th mayor and the first to unseat an incumbent since 1980, expressed gratitude towards outgoing Mayor Jyoti Gondek for her service and pledged to continue building on the city’s progress.
The election, marked by lengthy queues and anticipated to record the lowest voter turnout in recent years, is under scrutiny. Farkas, who previously ran for mayor in 2021 and lost to Gondek, re-entered the race to challenge what he perceived as a disconnected council. Notably, this election allowed party affiliations on the ballot for the first time at the local level. Sharp’s platform emphasized public safety and infrastructure improvements, advocating for the hiring of additional police officers.
Gondek, the incumbent mayor, conceded the race at a campaign event, expressing pride in the accomplishments made during her tenure and optimism for Calgary’s future. Farkas, a former city councilor, highlighted his commitment to collaborating with diverse political perspectives to address critical issues such as safety and affordability. The final composition of the new council, which includes several new members due to incumbents not seeking reelection, will be revealed as the hand-counting of ballots progresses.