Rob Howard has won the Richmond mayoral race with 19,676 votes on Oct. 17, 2026, defeating runner-up Alexa Loo of Richmond Strong, who finished with 18,796 votes, and third-place Kash Heed, who received 11,111 votes. The tightly contested election follows a campaign cycle dominated by debates over public safety, supportive housing, and the cost of living.
Voters drive high turnout numbers
Howard secured the mayoral seat by an 880-vote margin over Loo, according to election results reported across outlets. Heed finished more than 8,500 votes behind the winner. Voter turnout reached a notable high as residents cast ballots up until closing time on Saturday night, following a record 17,464 advance votes cast during the five advance voting days earlier this month. That early turnout nearly doubled the advance voting numbers from the previous municipal election, which recorded a turnout of just 16 per cent — the lowest across all Metro regions in 2022.
Did You Know? The mayoral race opened up after mayor Malcolm Brodie announced earlier in the year that he would not seek re-election, following 25 years of the city having a mayor.
Platform Commitments and Key Issues
Howard ran on a Richmond Forward platform focused on responsible spending, safer streets, and a more vibrant Richmond. Loo’s Richmond Strong campaign prioritized community safety. Heed sought support by pledging to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles in development approvals, establishing a predictable property tax plan where major capital initiatives require referendums, and fostering strategic investment prospects to stimulate Richmond’s economy.
Expert Insight: Tight civic races in districts facing rapid demographic and social shifts often hinge on local turnout patterns and polarizing policy stances. Analysts note that historical low turnout baselines in Metro Vancouver make robust advance voting surges critical indicators of shifting civic engagement on polarizing issues like supervised drug consumption sites and urban development.
Voters elect mixed city council
Howard’s victory came with a twist as none of the five council candidates running on his Richmond Forward team won election. Voters instead returned a mixed city council that includes Gary Law, Carol Day, Michael Wolfe, Sheldon Starrett, Laura Gillanders, Kenny Chiu, Andy Hobbs and Kevin Lai. Law, Starrett, and Lai ran under Advance Richmond; Day, Wolfe, and Gillanders represented RITE Richmond; Hobbs ran with Richmond United; and Chiu ran on a Common Sense slate. The individuals chosen as school trustees are Ken Hamaguchi, Heather Larson, Rod Belleza, Danny Chang, Dean Billings, Alice Wong and Donna Sargent.
Election Night Reactions and Celebrations
Following his defeat, Heed addressed his supporters, prompting shouts of “We love you Kash,” in response to his speech, while Howard stated, I promise to work every day to maintain that trust.
Howard was elected with 19,676 votes. The work begins tomorrow, and Richmond’s future is worth working together for,
he added.
Candidates contest Richmond mayoral race
Who were the main candidates in the Richmond mayoral race?
The race featured three primary candidates: Rob Howard of Richmond Forward, Alexa Loo of Richmond Strong, and Kash Heed.
How many votes did each candidate receive?
Rob Howard won, Alexa Loo finished second, and Kash Heed finished with just over 11,100 votes.
What prior political experience do the candidates bring?
During his political career, Rob Howard held a seat on Richmond city council from 2001 through 2008 prior to winning election as the B.C. Liberal MLA for Richmond Centre in 2009, while both Howard and Heed served as MLAs in the former B.C. Liberal government, and Loo ran as a candidate for the party.
How will the newly elected council shape municipal policy under Mayor-elect Howard’s administration?
Worth a look