Marianne Alto secured a second term as Victoria’s mayor with 44.69% of the vote, while civic slates like Save Our Saanich reshaped councils across southern Vancouver Island in the 2026 municipal elections.
Victoria’s mayor, Marianne Alto, was re-elected with 44.69% of the vote, defeating challenger Bruce McGuigan who garnered 34.3%. Alto’s council saw significant turnover, with six of nine seats won by the Save Our Saanich slate, including new mayor Rishi Sharma.
In Langford, Stew Young and his slate cleaned up in the results.
Metchosin’s Steve Gray ousted incumbent Marie-Térèse Little for the mayor’s seat after campaigning against her push for a new fire hall.
Civic Slates Dominate Council Races
Civic slates dominated the election, with Save Our Saanich capturing six of nine council seats and the mayoral race. Royal Roads University Associate Professor David Black noted these groups used anti-establishment rhetoric, framing themselves as alternatives to entrenched councils. Slates have the ability, if successful, to evict basically not just a mayor or a couple of councillors, but the entire council,
Black said, highlighting the move toward organized campaigns against current leadership.
The Sustain our Central Saanich slate was very strong, with all four candidates working together being elected to council. It obviously was a time for change and this new energy,
Sharma told CHEK News Saturday night, reflecting the electorate’s appetite for fresh faces.
Victoria’s non-binding referendum on amalgamation saw 61.64% support in the city, contrasting with Saanich’s 68% opposition.
Stew Young and his team dominated the Langford outcomes, leaving Colby Harder as the sole returning member from the prior council. The Sustain our Central Saanich team also showed great strength, successfully placing all four allied candidates onto the council. In Central Saanich, Zeb King is moving into the mayor’s seat after 21 years around the Central Saanich council table, securing about 52% of the vote in the race against Pat Bryant. Incumbent Ryan Windsor did not run for election.
Alto’s Re-Election and Amalgamation Stance
Alto’s re-election showed her popularity despite a council reshuffle. She emphasized the need for a good balance from what it looks like to start,
acknowledging the shift in voter sentiment. Alto stated, I think it’s important for me to acknowledge that and to confirm the fact that I have heard that message,
vowing to incorporate public feedback.
City of VictoriaMayor: Marianne Alto (re-elected)Council: Mix of incumbents and newcomers (Stephen Hammond, Matt Dell, Marg Gardiner, Jeremy Caradonna, Dave Thompson returned; Melissa Cseszko, Jack Sandor, Wendy Bowkett new)School Board: Maiya Beech and Ann Whiteaker…
The mayor also reiterated her long-standing support for municipal amalgamation, stating, I have for many years been someone who has believed very strongly that amalgamation is the right way forward.
The divide in public opinion—61.64% in Victoria versus 68% in Saanich—highlighted regional tensions over the issue.
Saturday night marked a decisive victory in Saanich as Rishi Sharma assumed the mayoral office alongside a full slate of five council members under the Save Our Saanich banner.
Voter Turnout and Regional Results
Vancouver Island’s elections saw a 38.25% voter turnout in Victoria, with candidates like Stephen Hammond (13,729 votes) and Jeremy Caradonna (13,257) securing council seats. In Saanich, the “no” vote on amalgamation signaled resistance to consolidation, while Central Saanich’s Zeb King is moving into the mayor’s seat after 21 years around the Central Saanich council table.
The results also featured notable upsets, such as Steve Gray unseated Marie-Térèse Little for the mayor’s seat in Metchosin. In Oak Bay, incumbent Kevin Murdoch is back as mayor of Oak Bay.
Victoria voters cast 13,729 ballots for Stephen Hammond, 13,421 for Matt Dell, 13,257 for Jeremy Caradonna, 12,951 for Jack Sandor, 12,880 for Marg Gardiner, 12,720 for Melissa Cseszko, 12,297 for Wendy Bowkett, and 12,266 for Dave Thompson. For the Capital Regional District, Caradonna (17.9 per cent), Gardiner (16.49 per cent) and Thompson (8,688) were selected.
In other areas, Lorne DeLarge — 16,615, Nancy Di Castri — 16,319, Colin Plant — 16,174, Laurie Lidstone — 15,389, Graham Wright — 15,101, Matt McGeachie — 14,591, Nathalie Chambers — 13,027, and Teale Phelps Bondaroff — 12,735.
Victoria's Mayor Marianne Alto is running on delivering housing. Did she? Or did she just keep developers building? Density, no public hearings, heritage scrapped. Read the article on substack now. https://t.co/GrQ2gtL8Fq pic.twitter.com/AYVUS88uwY
In Langford, Stew Young and his slate cleaned up.
In Central Saanich, the Sustain OUR Central Saanich slate elected all four of its candidates, including *Susan Zedel, Sustain OUR Central Saanich — 4,159, *Sarah Riddell — 4,157, *Kathleen Zimmerman, Sustain OUR Central Saanich — 3,976, and *Ben Michell — 3,893.
Other notable results included Mauricio Curbelo — 12,632, Susan Brice — 11,462, Judy Brownoff — 10,473, Colette Baty — 9,428. Following Saturday night’s polls closing, Rishi Sharma assumed the Saanich mayoral seat accompanied by a five-person council ticket representing Save Our Saanich.
In Metchosin, Councillor Steve Gray unseated Marie-Térèse Little for the mayor’s seat. The election also saw the departure of several long-serving councillors, including Ryan Windsor in Central Saanich, who did not run for election.
Public reaction to the results highlighted a desire for change, with many voters citing concerns over growth, development, and council conduct. Black noted that slates ran on platforms opposing these issues, resonating with voters. Running against growth, running against development, keeping taxes low and often making council conduct, hence running against council, a major talking point,
Black said.
Alto acknowledged the shift in voter sentiment, stating, I think it’s important for me to acknowledge that and to confirm the fact that I have heard that message and as part of moving forward, we will definitely need to incorporate that information,
she said Saturday night. She stressed the importance of the council adapting to the new dynamics, describing the city as very eclectic and a very diverse city.