Bruno Marchand secured a second term as mayor of Quebec City after being re-elected under the Québec Forte et Fière party. Celebrating his victory at the Hôtel Château Laurier on Sunday, Marchand expressed gratitude and optimism towards the results, emphasizing the significance of the trust placed in him by the voters.
Acknowledging the dedication of thousands of campaign volunteers, Marchand attributed his success to their hard work. The voter turnout for the election was notably high, slightly surpassing 50%, with Marchand capturing 49% of the votes, exceeding his expectations.
Marchand interpreted the election outcome as a clear sign that residents are eager for progress and change. Stéphane Lachance emerged as the primary opposition with 23% of the vote, while Sam Hamad trailed in third place with 13%.
The election marked a challenging night for parties such as Québec d’abord and Transition Québec, which lost their council seats. Notably, the leaders of these parties, Claude Villeneuve and Jackie Smith, lost their positions. Marchand’s victory in this election was more decisive compared to his previous win in 2021.
A recent poll highlighted housing, homelessness, and transportation as key concerns leading up to the election in Quebec City. Transportation, particularly the development of the Quebec City tramway, has been a focal point of Marchand’s agenda, aiming to alleviate traffic congestion and promote sustainable urban mobility.
In a separate victory, Marie-Claude Bibeau was elected as the new mayor of Sherbrooke, leveraging her political experience as a former Liberal MP and federal minister. Steven Blaney, another former federal MP, secured the mayoral position in Lévis, succeeding Gilles Lehouillier. The election campaigns in both cities emphasized various issues such as public finances, urban planning, and transportation infrastructure.