Richard Carpenter and Jennifer Kyle Win Brantford and Brant County Mayoral Races
Richard Carpenter and Jennifer Kyle won the 2026 municipal elections in Brantford and Brant County, with Kyle becoming the first woman elected as Brant County mayor.
Municipal elections held on October 26 resulted in the election of Richard Carpenter as mayor of the City of Brantford and Jennifer Kyle as mayor of Brant County. Carpenter, a veteran councillor with over 30 years of experience, won the Brantford mayoralty with 45.1% of the vote, defeating candidates Rose Sicoli and Dan McCreary.
Carpenter intends to prioritize mental health, addictions, and homelessness in the downtown core, though he explicitly stated there will be no talk of amalgamation. In Brant County, Kyle won 61.2% of the vote on a platform of thoughtful growth and financial responsibility, making her the first woman to be elected as mayor of the county.
Both municipalities experienced significant council turnover. Brant County saw voter turnout increase to 35.4%, a rise officials attributed to the implementation of online voting. The new municipal terms are scheduled to begin on November 15, 2026, and will run through November 14, 2030.
