Jeromy Farkas has narrowly won the 2025 Calgary mayoral election, defeating Sonya Sharp by fewer than 600 votes — a margin so slim that Sharp says she will request a recount.
Unofficial results released Tuesday morning show Farkas with 91,068 votes to Sharp’s 90,484, a difference of just 0.17 per cent of the 348,626 total ballots cast.
“Given the razor-thin margin of victory, it makes ample sense to review and double-check that appropriate processes were followed,” Sharp said in a statement. She emphasized that her request is not a criticism of election workers but an effort to ensure accuracy after “long lines and hand-counting ballots well into the early hours.”
If the results hold, Farkas will become Calgary’s 38th mayor — and the first to unseat an incumbent since 1980.
Farkas Pledges Unity
Speaking outside city hall, Farkas thanked outgoing mayor Jyoti Gondek for her service and promised to “leave ideology at the door” as he focuses on safety, affordability, and results.
“She’s given so much to Calgary, and I look forward to building on that work,” he said. “At the end of the day, we all love this city — that’s what unites us.”
A former Ward 11 councillor and 2021 runner-up, Farkas ran as an independent, while Sharp led the Communities First party. Farkas’s campaign focused on economic recovery and public safety, while Sharp pledged to hire 500 more police officers and invest in infrastructure.
Voter Turnout and Election Delays
This year’s municipal vote saw reports of long lines and slow hand counts, following a provincial ban on electronic vote tabulators in 2024. Officials say turnout is on track to be the lowest in years, with final figures expected later Tuesday.
Farkas received fewer votes than in 2021, when he lost to Gondek with 116,698 votes, but still managed to edge out Sharp in a closer-than-expected race.
Sharp’s Next Steps
Sharp said she would “accept the outcome of the review, win or lose.” The recount request will be reviewed under provincial election law, which allows recounts where results fall within 0.5 per cent at any polling station.
Meanwhile, vote counting for city council and school trustee races continues, with official results expected later today.
