Jeromy Farkas is poised to become Calgary's next mayor, according to unofficial results from the city's municipal election. After a competitive campaign, Farkas, a former Ward 11 councillor, emerged ahead of Sonya Sharp, leader of the Communities First party, in a close race that included incumbent Jyoti Gondek, former Ward 6 councillor Jeff Davison, and former police commission chair Brian Thiessen.

As vote counting continued into the early hours of Tuesday, Farkas secured 91,065 votes, while Sharp trailed closely with 90,480 votes. Gondek finished third with 71,397 votes. This election marks a significant moment in Calgary's political history, as it is the first time since 1980 that a mayoral challenger has unseated an incumbent.

Farkas expressed gratitude to his supporters shortly after midnight at a watch party in Inglewood. "I just want to say thank you to everyone who believed in me, who gave your time, your voice and your trust," he said. He emphasized the importance of integrity and optimism in campaigning, stating, "You’ve reminded Calgary, and honestly me, what’s possible when good people come together for the right reasons."

At her campaign headquarters, Sharp was not ready to concede the race. "It’s still a really close call," she told reporters around midnight. "Clearly Calgarians want change, but we’re just not sure what that change looks like quite yet."

Gondek, who made history as Calgary's first female mayor in 2021, acknowledged her defeat in a concession speech at The Palomino. "This didn’t end up the way that we had all hoped, but I’m standing here very proud of what we have built together," she said. Gondek expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the city and highlighted the positive nature of her campaign.

Davison and Thiessen also made concession remarks, with Davison urging the next mayor to collaborate with the council. Thiessen praised his team for fostering a movement focused on prioritizing Calgarians' needs.

Other candidates in the race included Inglewood business owner Sarah Elder, oil and gas worker Grant Prior, acupuncturist Jaeger Gustafson, and social conservative candidate Larry Heather. The election focused on key issues such as zoning regulations, public safety, and accountability at city hall.

Vote counting began slowly after polls closed at 8:45 p.m., as all ballots were required to be counted by hand due to new provincial legislation. Pre-election polls indicated a tight race among Farkas, Gondek, and Sharp, with Farkas initially taking the lead. However, Sharp's support surged after 10 p.m., creating a competitive two-horse race as Gondek's numbers began to decline.

As of 1:25 a.m., Elections Calgary reported that over 323,000 votes for mayor had been processed. Voter turnout was affected by various factors, including a provincewide teachers' strike, a postal workers' strike, and the election coinciding with Diwali, a significant holiday for many.

While the outcome for Calgary's next mayor remains unofficial, results for city council and school board trustee positions will be finalized once advanced ballots are counted on Tuesday morning.