Late last night, Keanin Loomis led by about 12,000 votes in the race for Hamilton mayor, with 163 out of 237 polls reporting.
He recorded 58,322 votes, or 41 per cent, ahead of second-place Rob Cooper with 45,069, or 32 per cent, votes following an hour and a half delay in reported polls.
Incumbent Andrea Horwath fell behind early in the polls in an unexpected third place with 14.20 per cent.
Early results showed Loomis in an early lead with 6,122 votes, 11 of 237 polls reported.
Horwath became the 58th mayor of Hamilton in 2022, defeating Loomis by a narrow one per cent.
She first ran for Hamilton's city council in 1997 before moving to Queen's Park in 2004.
Horwath ran her campaign on reducing everyday costs by lowering property taxes.
Mayor-elect Loomis said he plans to improve safety in neighbourhoods and on roads and provide cleaner public spaces.
Horwath led Ontario’s NDP starting in 2009 and became leader of the opposition in 2018 before resigning in 2022.
Meanwhile, Loomis previously served as president and CEO of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.
After the 2022 election loss, he returned to the business sector, where he became vice-president of member services at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
