Surrey voters return mayoral power to Doug McCallum after Brenda Locke’s defeat

Surrey voters shifted the city’s political power back on Saturday night, as incumbent mayor Brenda Locke lost to Doug McCallum, the man she defeated four years ago. Locke’s Surrey Connect slate was nearly wiped out; Harry Bains was the sole exception and topped the polls. McCallum’s Safe Surrey Coalition (SSC) defeated rival slates and won a majority of eight seats on the nine-member council. The new council’s first meeting is set for Nov. 2.

McCallum, 82, is set to begin his fifth term as mayor. He received 42,741 votes, or 31.94 per cent, to Locke’s 30,886, or 23.08 per cent. They were followed by Imagine Surrey’s Mike Starchuk with 17,282 votes (12.92 per cent); Surrey First’s Linda Annis with 16,574 (12.39 per cent); Surrey NOW’s Troy Van Vliet with 15,090 (11.28 per cent); Conservative Party of Surrey’s Honveer Randhawa with 10,610 (7.93 per cent); and New Surrey+’s Igal Ammons II with 615 (0.46 per cent).

Addressing supporters on election night, McCallum said, “We will address your safety and we will address your infrastructure.” He thanked his family for putting up with him and his political career over the years, as well as the many friends he has around the world. “I love Surrey, but I even love the people of Surrey more,” he said. “Together we’re going to build a great city and our families will live in a town that goes to sport and joy and we’ll work together to make it one of the best global cities in the world. So go Surrey, go!”

Locke conceded quickly that night. “I’m proud of the work that me and my council did,” she said. “We’ll see what happens moving forward.” She added that voters had spoken and, although the result was not what her team had hoped for or expected, she wanted to congratulate the newly elected mayor and incoming council. Asked whether she was finished with politics, Locke replied, “Y’know, never say never.”

Starchuk, who did not win the mayor’s race or a council seat, said, “Thank you, Surrey. Thanks to the people behind me. It was an amazing campaign.” Annis and her Surrey First slate also failed to win council seats. She told the Now-Leader the result was “a bit of a shock” and that she had not seen it coming. She said she would move forward and hope McCallum would make Surrey a better place, and planned to do a lot of volunteer work and stay as active in the community as she could.

McCallum previously served one term as a councillor. In 1996, he ran for mayor under the now-defunct Surrey Electors Team (SET) and ended the nine-year mayoralty of Bob Bose, who was tied to the NDP. McCallum won again in 2002 and served until 2005. During that election year, he promised the city would contribute $50 million toward a new hospital if he and SET were re-elected with a majority, but he lost to former political ally Dianne Watts.

Afterward, McCallum withdrew from public life until 2014, when he formed the Safe Surrey Coalition and ran for mayor again, losing that race. He won in 2018, with Locke on his slate, before she formed Surrey Connect and defeated him in 2022 by 973 votes. Locke received 33,311 votes to McCallum’s 32,338. Gordie Hogg placed third with 24,916, followed by Jinny Sims with 14,895 and Sukh Dhaliwal with 9,629. The final three spots went to Amrit Singh Birring (2,270), John Wolanski (646) and Kuldip Pelia (385).

Turnout was 34.54 per cent in the 2022 election and 37.35 per cent in 2026, when 134,437 votes were cast at 164 polling stations. On election night in 2022, Locke was asked why she had beaten McCallum. “Doug McCallum embarrassed our residents,” she replied. “I am a much more collaborative person,” she said. McCallum conceded then that it might be time to relax. “I’ve worked hard for the city for many years,” he said. “And maybe it’s time for me to finally put my feet up a little bit and enjoy life.” McCallum could not be reached for comment.