Former Ward 11 councilor Jeromy Farkas has narrowly won over Communities First leader Sonya Sharp by less than one percentage point in the 2025 Calgary mayoral election, according to unofficial results. Sharp has announced her intention to request a recount. The city’s released results show Farkas received 91,068 votes while Sharp got 90,484, with fewer than 600 votes separating them. Results indicate a slim margin of about 0.17% out of 348,626 total ballots cast citywide.
Sharp stated that she will seek a recount as per the legal provisions, emphasizing that the request is not a criticism but a precautionary measure due to the close election results. If the numbers hold, Farkas will become Calgary’s 38th mayor and the first to unseat an incumbent mayor since 1980. He expressed gratitude towards incumbent Mayor Jyoti Gondek for her service and pledged to continue the city’s progress by working with both progressive and conservative Calgarians.
The voter turnout for this year’s election appears to be the lowest in recent years, marked by complaints of long lines. Farkas, who ran independently, aimed to challenge what he perceived as a disconnected council on key issues such as jobs, housing, and safety. Sharp, running under the Communities First party, focused her campaign on public safety and infrastructure improvements.
Gondek, the incumbent mayor, thanked her supporters and expressed pride in her achievements, acknowledging the end of her mayoral campaign while affirming her dedication to Calgary’s future. Farkas, a former councilor, emphasized his commitment to bridging ideological divides and focusing on tangible outcomes for the city’s safety and affordability challenges. The full election results, including new council members and trustees, are to be revealed later.
