Recount to be held in Calgary mayoralty race after request from runner-up

CALGARY — A recount in Calgary’s mayoralty race is scheduled to take place Monday.

Sonya Sharp requested the recount after losing to Jeromy Farkas by 581 votes in the recent civic election.

The city says the returning officer will make a recount of the votes cast at all voting stations after being satisfied that the margin of victory was within the required 0.5 per cent threshold.

Sharp had said her request under the Local Authorities Election Act was about ensuring transparency and confidence in the democratic process.

She says it could also highlight areas for improvement within the province’s municipal framework.

Sharp says there’s nothing unusual in asking for a recount and that in Edmonton’s election, a recount uncovered a discrepancy of more than 600 votes due to a data entry error that reversed the initial result.

Calgary’s mayor and council are scheduled to be sworn in Oct. 29.

“Calgarians deserve absolute confidence that every vote has been counted accurately and that the process is beyond reproach,” Sharp said.

“The request is about strengthening trust in the system.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2025.

Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press