Voter turnout in mayoral race about 38 per cent
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Voter turnout in Wednesday’s mayoral contest in Winnipeg was 38 per cent, based on a Free Press analysis of unofficial results.
The city has not yet provided a figure for overall turnout for the municipal and school board election.
Incumbent Scott Gillingham won a second term with 39.82 per cent of the vote. He was followed by Kevin Klein (20.71 per cent), Noah Redden (19.84 per cent) and Mike Vogiatzakis (9.66 per cent) in a field of 12 candidates.
A voter walks into the Fort Rouge Leisure Centre polling station on Wednesday. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press)
Unofficial voter turnout within the city’s 15 wards ranged from 26 per cent (Point Douglas) to 46 per cent (River Heights-Fort Garry).
Official results are anticipated Friday, city spokeswoman Tamara Forlanski said.
Gillingham told reporters Thursday he wishes turnout had been higher. Lower turnouts have occurred in other Canadian cities, he noted.
“I want to see more people engaged in democracy,” he said. “No matter what, for myself as mayor and for all councillors, we have been elected to represent all the people. Those who voted for us, those who voted for another candidate and those who didn’t vote at all.”
A record 50,767 voters cast advance ballots, a 21 per cent increase over 2022, after the city expanded early voting opportunities.
Overall voter turnout declined in Winnipeg municipal elections leading up to Wednesday’s contest — from 50.23 per cent in 2014 to 37.5 per cent in 2022. The latter figure was the lowest since a turnout of 34 per cent in 1989, which was tied with the 1986 election for the lowest since amalgamation.
Nine new councillors were elected Wednesday.
Greg McFarlane (Old Kildonan), Lora Meseman (Transcona), Kelly Ryback (St. James) and Natalie Smith (Mynarski) defeated incumbents.
Five candidates won races where incumbents did not seek re-election: Jasmine Brar (Waverley West), Ray DuBois (St. Norbert-Seine River), Sara MacArthur (River Heights-Fort Garry), Jeff Palmer (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) and Chris Sigurdson (St. Vital).
Six incumbents were re-elected: Matt Allard (St. Boniface), Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan), Evan Duncan (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood), Emma Durand-Wood (Elmwood-East Kildonan), Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre) and Vivian Santos (Point Douglas).
fpcity@winnipegfreepress.com
History
Updated on Thursday, October 29, 2026 1:16 PM CDT: Adds comment from Scott Gillingham