Brian Bowman has been declared Winnipeg’s new mayor. (SARAH TAYLOR / CHRISD.CA)
WINNIPEG — Brian Bowman will be Winnipeg’s next mayor.
Bowman, 43-year-old privacy lawyer and political newcomer, defeated veteran politician Judy Wasylycia-Leis by clinching 47.54% of the vote (unofficial results) in Wednesday’s municipal election.
“My friends, I am excited to tell you, positive change is coming to city hall,” Bowman said to a packed room of supporters at Inn at The Forks. “What an incredible night… when this campaign started, we made the case for positive change in Winnipeg. That negative, old-school politics had no place in our campaign or in our city.”
Bowman received 111,504 votes to Wasylycia-Leis’ 24.92% (58,440).
“I truly believe that all of us — each of the candidates who ran — truly love this city,” Bowman continued.
The married father of two attracted a younger demographic than his main opponent, campaigning on promises of transparency and technological advancement in the way the City of Winnipeg operates.
Fellow candidate Robert-Falcon Ouellette had 15.70% of the vote, followed by Gord Steeves (8.99%), David Sanders (1.59%), Paula Havixbeck (0.89%), and Michel Fillion (0.38%).
Voter turnout was 235,454 or 50.23% of eligible voters.
Read more from reporter Amanda Thorsteinsson.
