Doug McCallum defeats Brenda Locke to win a fifth term as Surrey mayor

Doug McCallum has been elected Surrey’s mayor for a fifth term, defeating incumbent Brenda Locke by a wide margin and leading his Safe Surrey Coalition to an almost complete victory. With 163 of 164 vote tabulators counted, McCallum received 42,241 votes, or 31.78 per cent, compared with Locke’s 30,750 votes, or 23.14 per cent. Mike Starchuk and Linda Annis placed third and fourth, respectively, among mayoral candidates.

A smiling McCallum waved to an exuberant crowd at Bombay Banquet Hall after his win as supporters cheered, whistled and waved campaign signs. He thanked the crowd and spoke briefly, saying he would address public safety and infrastructure. He thanked his family for putting up with his political career over the years, his many friends around the world, all the candidates and their families, and the volunteers and supporters who backed his campaign. He said he loves Surrey, but loves its people even more, and that they would build a great city together where families could enjoy sport and joy. He said they would work together to make Surrey one of the world’s best global cities, ending with, “Go Surrey, go!”

McCallum was first elected Surrey mayor in 1996 and served until 2005. He was elected again in 2018 with the Safe Surrey Coalition, then defeated by Locke in 2022. He did not give interviews after this victory. Media had been directed to wait in a designated area at the banquet hall, but after an hour they were told McCallum had left the building.

The Safe Surrey Coalition also dominated the city council race, winning seven of eight seats. Doug Elford, Meera Gill, Mandeep Nagra, Suhana Gill, Allison Patton, Laurie Guerra and Cheney Cloke were elected. Harry Bains of Surrey Connect was the only candidate to break the coalition’s hold on the seats and topped the polls, providing one bright spot for Locke’s nearly wiped-out slate. Election Night coverage is available at https://surreynowleader.com/2026/10/17/election-night-live-in-surrey-eyes-on-the-race-for-mayor-council-school-board/.