Hamilton: Prominent business leader Keanin Loomis has been elected as the new Mayor of the City of Hamilton. Loomis achieved a historic victory by defeating the incumbent mayor and former Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath by a resounding majority in a hotly contested race.
With around 60 percent of the vote count completed, Loomis surged ahead securing 41 percent of the votes. Hamilton City Councillor Rob Cooper came second with 32 percent of the votes, while incumbent mayor Andrea Horwath managed to secure only 14 percent.
A Massive Comeback: Lead of Over 35,000 Votes
In the 2022 mayoral election, Horwath had narrowly defeated Loomis by a mere 1,600 votes. However, this time Loomis handed Horwath a decisive defeat with a massive margin of over 35,000 votes.
Loomis, the former head of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, had until recently been serving as the President and CEO of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction.
‘A Five-Year Journey, A City of Comebacks’: Keanin Loomis
Speaking after his electoral victory, Loomis described the win as the culmination of his “five-year journey.”
“Hamilton is a city that loves a comeback. This marks the beginning of a new direction. Congratulations to everyone newly elected to the council. I eagerly look forward to working alongside the new city council,” Loomis said.
He added that the city had lacked strong leadership to realize its incredible development potential, and that it was now time to fill that void.
Protecting the Steel Industry and Future Plans
The mayor-elect stated that he would work closely with provincial and federal governments to protect the steel industry—a vital sector for local employment—and its workforce. He also assured that he would coordinate local businesses and labor unions to safeguard jobs across the city.
