Calgary Mayoral Candidate Sonya Sharp Requests Recount After Narrow Defeat

In the tightly contested Calgary mayoral election held on October 20, 2025, Sonya Sharp narrowly lost to Jeromy Farkas by a margin of just 585 votes. Due to the razor-thin margin and challenges such as long voter lines and new hand-counting procedures, Sharp has requested a recount to ensure the accuracy of the election results. She emphasized that her request is not a criticism of election workers but a precaution given the stressful conditions and the importance of every vote being accurately counted. The recount request has been submitted to the city's Chief Returning Officer, who has yet to respond publicly. Election rules allow for recounts under specific conditions, including margins under 0.5 percent and claims of inaccuracies or administrative errors, with deadlines for filing varying by type of recount. Sharp has stated she will accept the outcome of the recount regardless of the result, underscoring the importance of voter legitimacy in local government.