By Kezia Royer-Burkett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Just before 10 p.m. on Oct. 26, Marianne Meed Ward was declared re-elected as mayor of Burlington, winning another term at City Hall as voters also elected several new faces on council.
Of Burlington’s 160,089 eligible voters, 56,863 cast ballots in the 2026 municipal election, representing a voter turnout of approximately 35.5%, up from 27.6% in 2022.
Meed Ward received 25,025 votes, representing 44.29% of the vote. Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns finished second with 17,070 votes, or 30.21%, followed by Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan, who received 12,650 votes, or 22.39%.
Although Meed Ward secured another term as mayor, both Kearns and Nisan reflected on the campaign, the demand for change they heard from residents, and what comes next for them and Burlington.
Kearns said the campaign demonstrated that many residents are looking for change and want to see new possibilities for the city’s future.
“We changed the conversation in Burlington, there is a demand for change: more than half of the people voted for change. We reminded people that City Hall works for them, that they can dream bigger for Burlington, and that there’s more for Burlington if we just keep working, keep working hard. And working together,” Kearns said.
Nisan, who was also preparing to leave his position as Ward 3 councillor, said he intends to remain involved in Burlington despite the election outcome.
Asked whether he planned to stay active in Burlington, Nisan responded, “Absolutely. Yeah, I love Burlington, you know, I grew up here, so I’ll keep helping the community in different ways. There are still things I can do and ways I can help still here in Burlington. Change, changes are necessary, right?”
Reflecting on the outcome and his departure from council, Nisan added, “I was ready to move on from being a councillor, so it’s obviously not the results we wanted, but I will be getting some change.”
The election results also signal a changing landscape at Burlington City Hall, with four new councillors set to join the six-member council.
In Ward 1, Kelvin Galbraith was re-elected. Sean Campbell won Ward 2, defeating Gary Carr. Mark Carr, a former Burlington city councillor, won Ward 3, returning to council in a different ward after several years away. Olivia Duke won Ward 4, while Alex Don was elected in Ward 5. In Ward 6, Angelo Bentivegna was re-elected.
Ward 6 attracted the largest field of candidates in this year’s municipal election and saw several contentious moments during the campaign, including candidate Rowen Fraser’s removal from a mayoral debate.
The incoming councillors will officially take office at the inaugural meeting and swearing-in ceremony on Nov. 16, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. The ceremony is open to the public.
The first regular council meeting with the newly elected councillors is scheduled for Nov. 17, following post-election orientation.
With the mayor’s race decided and new councillors preparing to take their seats, Burlington enters its next municipal term with questions about how the incoming council will respond to residents’ calls for change and how the city’s elected representatives will work together to shape its future.
