On Saturday, three candidates vying for the mayoral position in Hamilton made their final efforts to engage with voters ahead of the municipal election set for Oct. 26.
Mayor Andrea Horwath kicked off her day at Victoria Park with a campaign event titled Showing Up for Women Canvass, celebrating her role as Hamilton’s first female mayor.
This gathering united women who have dedicated 30 to 40 years to community involvement, and their ongoing contributions continue to inspire Horwath.
The event also happened to be on the incumbent mayor’s birthday.
Together with several women volunteers, she went door-to-door along Breadalbane Street, chatting with residents and handing out campaign flyers.
“With a city like this, I don’t think there’s ever gonna be a ‘not challenging’ time. Anybody who runs for office needs to know that. If you’re gonna make a difference, it’s not a cakewalk,” Horwath said.
Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath is pictured with supporters in Victoria Park on Oct. 24, 2026. (Harry Corro/CHCH News)
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Meanwhile, Keanin Loomis and his team gathered at Gatesbury Park in Waterdown for their last canvassing session, returning to the same spot where they kicked off their campaign.
“It’s great to finish up where we started. This is when the plan is about getting out the vote. All of that energy, all of those doors that we’ve knocked, all of those events that we’ve been to – all of that work now leads to this moment. The team that wins is the one that shows up,” Loomis said.
Running for mayor again after his first attempt in 2022, Loomis believes the groundwork laid during his previous campaign is paying off in 2026.
“From the very beginning, people recognized me as the candidate for change in this community,” he said.
Hamilton mayoral candidate Keanin Loomis thanks volunteers in Gatesbury Park on Oct. 24, 2026 (Harry Corro/CHCH News)
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Rob Cooper’s campaign team was also busy canvassing neighborhoods and delivering door hangers to locals on Saturday.
Cooper took Saturday off himself to prepare for Monday’s election.
His campaign manager, Grant Mac Lean, mentioned it has been an extensive six-month campaign working six days a week and that they’ve done everything possible before election day arrives.
“We’re very confident. We had a strong turnout of our supporters in the advance polls, and that’s always a good sign. We’ll be out there making sure people know where to vote, when to vote, and how to vote, and we’ll make sure that they get out,” Mac Lean said.
The final push comes as Hamilton sees a reported 13 percent increase in advance ballots compared to the municipal election held in 2022.
The City of Hamilton states that during advance voting periods this year there were 34,996 ballots cast compared with just 30,893 two years ago.
As election day approaches quickly, all mayoral candidates are urging residents not to forget about casting their votes.
The polls will open on Monday, Oct. 26 from 10 a. m. until 8 p. m.
The City clarifies voters don’t need a voter information card but must present one form of ID showing both their name and home address.
Rob Cooper’s volunteers are pictured at campaign headquarters at Upper James Street North on Oct. 24, 2026. (Harry Corro/CHCH News)
For further details about voting procedures visit the City of Hamilton’s election website.
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