Calgary voters have unofficially selected a new mayor and affirmed an overhaul of city leadership in the Oct. 20, 2025 municipal election. The mayor’s race concluded in a razor-thin finish while several incumbent councillors and trustees either retained their seats or faced new challengers.

Mayoral race

In the hotly contested race for mayor of Calgary, former city councillor Jeromy Farkas emerged as the unofficial winner. With 380 of 380 voting locations reporting, he is shown with 91,065 votes, narrowly edging out his closest rival, Sonya Sharp, who collected 90,480 votes.

The incumbent mayor, Jyoti Gondek — Calgary’s first woman to hold the office — finished a distant third with 71,397 votes.

Farkas ran as an independent candidate, emphasizing fiscal restraint, core-service delivery, public safety and downtown revitalization.

Sharp ran under the “Communities First” banner, focusing on neighbourhood-level concerns and accountability in civic governance.

Gondek sought a second term but was defeated — a significant shift in Calgary municipal politics, given that a sitting mayor being defeated is a rare occurrence in the city.

Because the margin of victory falls within a very narrow range, the campaign of the runner-up may consider the statutory provisions for a recount.

Councillors and trustees

Beyond the mayoralty, Calgarians voted across 14 city wards to elect councillors, and cast ballots for both the public and separate school board trustees. The full unofficial results listing all winners is available from Elections Calgary.

 While detailed results for each ward are still being finalized, the election has been described as featuring “historic turnover” in certain wards and challengers making serious inroads against incumbents.

What it means & what to watch

Farkas’s win ushers in a new phase for Calgary’s civic leadership. Analysts suggest his first order of business will be forging a working relationship with a newly configured council, emphasizing collaboration over partisanship.

One key test will be how the incoming mayor and council navigate core issues raised during the campaign: affordability, property taxes, transit safety, downtown renewal, and the pace of growth.

The result also signals voter appetite for change — particularly at the mayoral level — and sets up a potentially more contentious council dynamic as fresh voices enter or return to the chambers.

Certification & next steps

The published results at this stage are unofficial. The official results are expected to be certified at noon on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. Following certification, councillor and trustee results will be final, and any recount processes (if triggered) would proceed according to Alberta municipal election rules.