Mayor · Hamilton
Who Are the Mayoral Candidates?
Explore the MacVotes profiles of candidates running for Mayor of Hamilton.
Rob Cooper
Rob Cooper is a Hamilton City Councillor and candidate for Mayor in the 2026 municipal election. A lifelong Hamilton resident, Cooper has experience in both the public and private sectors and holds professional designations including CPA, MBA, and Chartered Director.
His campaign identifies property taxes, homelessness, public safety, roads and infrastructure, housing, and City Hall accountability as key issues.
He has proposed capping taxes, accelerating housing, improving infrastructure, addressing violent crime, and focusing City Hall on measurable outcomes and financial accountability.
Scarlett Gillespie
Scarlett Gillespie is a community organizer, healthcare worker, researcher, and advocate. Since 2018, she has served as the founder and Executive Director of the Sex Workers’ Action Program Hamilton.
She is currently a graduate student in the Community-Engaged Research and Evaluation diploma program and has previous education as a personal support worker and in nursing.
She has also engaged in municipal advocacy by appearing before several City of Hamilton committees and public bodies.
As a CityHousing Hamilton resident, Gillespie’s campaign is focused on building and maintaining affordable housing, safe and accessible infrastructure, and supporting public safety through mental-health support, harm reduction, and increasing effective emergency response.
Andrea Horwath
Andrea Horwath is Hamilton’s current mayor. She is a proud mom and Hamiltonian. In 2022, she made history as the first woman elected to the role.
Born and raised in Hamilton, Horwath was the first woman to lead the Ontario NDP from 2009 to 2022 and served as the Official Opposition leader from 2018 to 2022.
During her time as a member of the opposition, Horwath held portfolios specializing in intergovernmental affairs, economic development and trade, children and youth services, women’s issues, and municipal affairs, among others.
Prior to politics, she worked in her community to teach and train workers, organize a local legal clinic, and develop co-op housing.
Horwath’s priorities during her term have included efforts to tackle the housing crisis, affordability, and community safety. Additionally, she has focused on delivering on infrastructure, public transportation, economic growth, climate action, and a more responsive City Hall.
Keanin Loomis
After moving to Hamilton in 2009, Keanin worked as the President & CEO of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce until running for Hamilton Mayor in 2022.
Following the election, Keanin served as Vice President of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, working with Queen’s Park and employers across Ontario on economic growth and investment.
Today, Keanin is President & CEO of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction and serves on the Board of the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority.
Keanin’s platform consists of his “SMART” plan to restore confidence in City Hall and build a better Hamilton.
The pillars of this plan include Safety, Mobility, Accountability, Responsive Government, and Taxpayer Respect.
His platform also focuses on Hamilton’s response to tariffs, including making “Buy Hamilton” and “Buy Canadian” a clear priority in municipal procurement, keeping cash in local businesses, protecting Hamilton’s industrial base, and selling Hamilton to Canada and the world.
Complete Candidate Listings
MacVotes profiles are being updated. For all certified candidates, wards, and school boards, visit the City of Hamilton.