Josh Morgan wins mayor's race, incumbents Hamou, Van Holst, Fyfe-Millar lose council seats

Josh Morgan was elected as London's next mayor on Monday, with the two-term councillor easily defeating challenger Khalil Ramal and a field of eight other candidates.

With all 202 polls reporting, Morgan had 46,283 votes, while Ramal had 15,912. 

"I intend to serve as a mayor for all Londoners," Morgan said on a Twitter thread posted shortly after his victory. "Londoners that voted for me, Londoners that voted for other candidates, and Londoners who voted for no one at all."

Morgan is a staffer at Western University and married to Melanie, a principal at a London high school. They have four children.

"My moral compass is guided by my children," he told supporters after the win. "When I say that politics is a force for good, I am undeniably influenced by the moral and ethical example I set for my children. It shapes who I am not only as a father, but my politics as your next mayor." 

Morgan has served on council for two terms, after being first elected to city council in 2014. He was appointed deputy mayor in 2020. As councillor, he represented Ward 7, in the city's north west. 

Morgan was the favourite out of the gate, getting endorsements from current Mayor Ed Holder, MPPs from all three parties, and the London and District Labour Council, among others. 

During the campaign Ramal tried to make gains by criticizing Morgan for voting against the western leg of the bus rapid transit system. He also chided Morgan for not doing enough to help those who sleep rough and struggle with addiction and mental health issues in the downtown core. 

But Morgan built a campaign around his city hall experience, portraying himself as the best choice to address the city's struggles with homeless and falling housing affordability.

And while the race for mayor wasn't close, there were a number of surprising results in the council races. 

The biggest upset came in Ward 13, where incumbent John Fyfe-Millar fell to David Ferreira. Fyfe-Millar was appointed when a vacancy opened in the downtown ward last year. Ferreira's margin of victory, pending any potential recounts, was just 34 votes. 

Another incumbent to fall was Michael van Holst in Ward 1. He lost to Hadleigh McAlister, an NDP campaigner who's lived in the ward for eight years. 

Also losing her seat Monday was Mariam Hamou in Ward 6. She lost to Western University law professor Sam Trosow. Hamou was appointed last fall when Phil Squire stepped down from the seat.

In seats where the incumbent chose not to run again, the following new councillors were elected.