Farkas and Sharp in Tight Race for Calgary’s Mayoral Seat

Unofficial results from Calgary’s municipal election indicate that former Ward 11 councillor Jeromy Farkas and former Ward 1 councillor Sonya Sharp are in a closely contested race for the position of mayor. With results still being reported, Farkas held a lead of approximately 600 votes over Sharp as of 1:00 a.m. on October 17, 2023, with 330 of 380 polls counted. Both candidates received around 27 percent of the votes.

The election night unfolded with considerable anticipation as voters awaited to see if either Farkas or Sharp could achieve a significant milestone. A victory for either candidate would represent the first instance of a mayoral challenger unseating an incumbent in Calgary since 1980 when Ralph Klein defeated Ross Alger.

Candidates Reflect on Campaign Journey

At a watch party held at Festival Hall in Inglewood, Farkas expressed his gratitude to supporters shortly after midnight. He stated, “I just want to say thank you to everyone who believed in me, who gave your time, your voice and your trust. I know that you want the best for the city. You’ve proven that campaigns can be run with integrity and optimism.”

Sharp, at her campaign headquarters on 9th Avenue S.W., remained resolute, indicating she was not ready to concede. “It’s still a really close call,” she told the media around midnight. “Clearly Calgarians want change, but we’re just not sure what that change looks like quite yet. The race is very tight between me and Mr. Farkas, and it looks like we’ll probably get the results in the morning.”

Incumbent mayor Jyoti Gondek, who made history as Calgary’s first female mayor in 2021, was projected to finish third. Former Ward 6 councillor Jeff Davison and former police commission chair Brian Thiessen rounded out the top five candidates.

In her concession speech at The Palomino watch party around 11:45 p.m., Gondek expressed her pride in the campaign. “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, and I’m profoundly grateful for the privilege of having served this incredible city — the best city in the world,” she commented.

As the results continue to come in, the city of Calgary remains on edge, awaiting the final outcome of a campaign that has captivated its residents. The election results are expected to provide a clearer picture of Calgary’s political future in the hours ahead.