Former Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath elected mayor of Hamilton after tight race

Andrea Horwath has been elected mayor of Hamilton after a nail-biting race.

"If I make one promise tonight, as I take the oath of office in a couple of weeks time, it is that I will be transparent. I will make sure city hall is transparent and accountable," she told a room full of people Monday night around 11:30 p.m., as they started cheering for her.

"Because guess what? It's not my city hall, it's not the council members's city hall, it's your city hall. This is your city," she said before supporters sang her happy birthday. Horwath turned 60 on election day.

With all 246 polls reported shortly after midnight, Horwath, the former Ontario NDP leader and Hamilton Centre member of provincial parliament, had 59,216 votes, compared to Loomis's 57,553.

The race was close throughout the night, with Horwath and Loomis taking the lead over each other at different times, after the polls closed at 9:20 p.m.

Only an hour before the final count, Loomis, the former head of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, told supporters at his event around one kilometre away from Horwath's, that he wasn't conceding. "I think there are some scenarios that may make tomorrow look quite different," he told CBC Hamilton.

As "Let's hear it for the boy" from the 1984 movie Footloose played in the background, Loomis said he found it notable that Horwath gave her victory speech before he had conceded. However, he said he is open to working with her to improve things for Hamiltonians in the future.

"I am committed to working with her in any way that I can," he said.

Speaking more generally on the election results, he said, "We knew there was a desire for change and that came out loud and clear."

Not long afterward, a campaign spokesperson indicated Loomis was in fact conceding.

"We've now see the final results and Keanin respects the outcome of the election," said Jeff Blay.

Fred Eisenberger, the outgoing mayor, issued a statement congratulating Horwath after she declared victory.

"This is a historic win for Andrea, becoming Hamilton's very first female Mayor since our founding in 1846. Andrea will be guided by new ideas, a wealth of experience in how government works at all levels, and a track record of advocating and delivering for Hamiltonians."

Bob Bratina, the former Liberal member of parliament and mayor of Hamilton, came in third, with 17,436.