B.C. posts highest defeated incumbent mayors so far

October 18 2026 - Voters in British Columbia replaced 44 sitting mayors in Saturday’s municipal elections, the highest pure total of defeated incumbents among provinces that have already completed their current municipal cycle.

In Vancouver, Pete Fry defeated incumbent Ken Sim. In Surrey, Doug McCallum returned to unseat Brenda Locke. Kamloops councillor Mike O’Reilly topped the polls over Reid Hamer-Jackson, and long-time Prince George councillor Garth Frizzell defeated Simon Yu.

The total of 44 is higher than B.C.’s usual pattern, where incumbents who run again have historically been re-elected about 80 per cent of the time.

Among other provinces that have already voted, Alberta’s October 2025 elections produced the next-highest recent figure, with more than a dozen sitting mayors defeated. Quebec’s November 2025 results and New Brunswick’s May 2026 elections showed lower pure defeat counts.

Ontario, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island have not yet held their municipal elections and are excluded from the comparison.

Results in B.C. remain unofficial until final declarations by local chief election officers on October 21.

B.C. posts highest defeated incumbent mayors so far